Women of Impact:  Genevieve Marie Salazar, Owner of 818 Pop Up

Before bringing her pop-up events to the San Fernando Valley, Genevieve Marie Salazar, owner of 818 Pop Up, was no stranger to the world of event planning.  It was all familiar territory for her.

In 2006, she started working with the Arena and the Circus, doing promotions for the club scene.  Events were a daily occurrence for her, promoting, working behind the scenes, and logistics.  She ran Groove Thursdays with DJ SoleFresh at the Arena as well as other events in Hollywood.

Hired by a high-end company in 2010, Marie started working with the LA Convention Center, curating, and organizing various events.  She gradually transitions to event planning food festivals from the Calabasas Food and Wine Festival to the Las Vegas Food Festival.  She’s also done event planning for several Beer Festivals in LA.

Photo by 818 Pop Up

“Event planning has been a part of my young adult years from working with top tier annual events at the Convention Center, Hollywood, Calabasas, all the way to Vegas.” 

In 2018, she started her own company, 818 Pop Up, bringing pop-up events to the San Fernando Valley.

“I got to know the high-end market of events.  I was happy with that.  And I didn’t see that here in the Valley.  I knew that I could do this by myself.  I started with small vendors.  My first pop-up was five vendors.  It was nerve-wracking because after event planning for actual big businesses, then taking it to small businesses; I wanted to know what they experienced from me.  So, I went all out,” shares Marie in a recent interview with Valley Views, a local radio station.

As an event planner, Marie always examines the event experience as a host, as a vendor, and as a guest.  It’s her philosophy to see all angles for an event to be successful.  She brings her knowledge and experience as an event planner to connect small businesses to the community and with each other.

“I have done everything in my power—no handouts, no investors— with only my  own funds, to create a platform for the small business community to be able to encourage locals to shop small, love, and repeat.”

To date, the 818 Pop Up Shop worked with over 500 small businesses (and still counting).  What makes her events unique is the connection and relationships she builds with the vendors and the community.  During her past couple of pop-ups this year, she’s teamed up with Valley Views to bring in local performers at her Great Gatsby event in January then again at the St. Patrick’s Pop-Up event in March.

“Every pop-up is a networking experience.  If you’re not making money that day, at least consider it as a networking experience.  There’s an opportunity in every connection,” said Marie.

On April 9th, she’s hosting the Boss Babe Expo networking event at Cities Restaurants in Los Angeles, benefiting small businesses and startups. Connect with them on Facebook and Instagram @818_popupshop!