Safe Product Sampling for the Holiday Season

Posted on October 29, 2020June 11, 2024 by britney

Experiential Marketing

There’s no bigger season for product sampling than the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, where shoppers are anxious to “try before they buy” gifts for loved ones.

A post-COVID world has created challenges for brands wanting to let consumers personally test their goods. But, there are new, creative, and safe ways brands can continue getting their products in-front of consumers.

Whether pre-packaged samples, contactless sampling, PPEs, practicing safe social distancing and more, it’s more than possible for traditional high-touch retail environments and events to adjust. And, this is the best time of year to do so.

Let’s take a look at why product sampling still works in 2020 and how your brand can make the most out of an activation, without sacrificing customers’ safety and security.

Five Reasons to Choose Product Sampling

Product sampling is hardly a new concept, but there’s a reticence to giving anything away for free. Will the end result justify the time and cost of putting a team together and getting the product into consumers’ hands? Sounds like a tall order, but successful product sampling is easier to execute than you may think. Done right and your customer base will grow, making the effort well worth it.

1. Product sampling is effective

It’s hard to argue with the numbers and product sampling is one of the best experiential marketing practices. In a 2015 report from Sampling Effectiveness Advisors, 73% of respondents said they were likely to buy a product after trying it.

2. Saves time and is cost-effective

Instead of taking the risk of officially launching a product that needs to be pulled back, creating costly corrections and negative PR, promotional product sampling saves time and money, ensuring you have a winning product before it hits the shelves.

3. Reaches potential new customers

When you allow consumers to sample your product on their terms, you create a level of comfort that increases the prospect of winning over customers. Targeted product sampling also allows brands to focus on new demographics that may not be familiar with their product.

4. Builds customer loyalty

Experiential marketing is a key component to securing long-term customers and product sampling is a powerful tool for brands to meet that goal. When consumers can try your product for free – and feel good about it – the positive association they take away will stay with them.

5. Receive valuable feedback

A key component to a product’s success is customer feedback. Letting your target audience sample your product along with having the ability to comment on it can weed out any opportunities that could potentially hold back the success of its launch.

Three Ways to Keep Consumers Safe

Traditional product sampling has long been a way for brands and retailers to introduce customers to new products. With enhanced precautions in effect around the world, product sampling is getting a makeover that puts a premium on safety, without trading in engaging and memorable experiences.

Virtual sampling

Hit especially hard by the pandemic is the cosmetics industry, which relies heavily on in-store traffic and in-person product sampling. But, brands like Ulta Beauty, L’Oreal, and Estee Lauder have created virtual sampling tools, allowing customers to try on products for their lips, eyes, and hair without ever entering their stores.

Dry demos

Brands that want to keep the “sampling experience” alive for consumers have turned to pre-packaged samples of dry goods that can be prepared at home. By utilizing brand ambassadors to talk to customers and also distributing coupons, consumers can still take products for a test drive without putting themselves at risk.

Drive-thru and online samples

In an effort to entice more consumers toward alternatives to in-store shopping, some retailers are rewarding customers by offering free add-ons with online orders and samples for “drive-thru” or pickup orders.

Brands Reimagining Product Sampling

Several brands have taken innovative steps in an effort to adapt to the changing landscape of product sampling. Take Coca-Cola, for example. When Coca-Cola Energy debuted this past January, the soft-drink brand could hardly have anticipated the pandemic’s impact on existing marketing plans to introduce their new product to consumers, including in-store sampling.

Yet, Coca-Cola adapted and leaned into the growth of online grocery shopping, as well as utilizing an element of “cause marketing.” Giving free samples of Coca-Cola Energy in customers’ online orders and donating the product to hospitals and first responders has led to a widespread trend, with a number of brands utilizing similar tactics that helped Coca-Cola capitalize on the marketing and sales of its newest product.

Sometimes, humor is the best medicine during challenging times and KIND found inspiration earlier this year ahead of the release of its KIND Frozen Bars. With a dearth of in-person, summertime events, KIND held a unique contest for customers with lucky winners getting their very own samples delivered via trained bird, drone, and hot air balloon.

Putting a humorous spin on the stay-at-home orders and its effect on the sudden ubiquitousness of “delivery,” KIND was able to drive the conversation on social media while building consumer loyalty with its quirky product sampling campaign.

You Can Still Try Before You Buy With Safe Product Sampling

The inability to conduct in-person, traditional product sampling has caused a ripple effect across many industries, but brands have found creative ways to still get samples in consumers’ hands.

With the holidays just around the corner, now is the time to maximize your reach with consumers. As millions safely shop in-store and even more shopping online, there are plenty of ways to get your products noticed. All it takes is out-of-the-box thinking and always keeping safety in mind to ensure your next product sampling event is a crowd-pleasing success.

Food Truck Promotions

Want to learn more about product sampling? Explore our services and contact us today to get all of the information you need to get started with your mobile product sampling tour.

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Three 2020 Experiential Marketing Trends That Are Here to Stay

Posted on October 27, 2020October 27, 2020 by britney

Experiential Marketing

Throughout 2020, the experiential marketing industry has had to reimagine how it captures audience attention and engagement while redefining what successful experiences look like.

But, necessity breeds innovation. And, experiences that are grabbing headlines, trending on social media, and winning over consumers have successfully adapted to today’s environment.

Now is not the time to shy away from experiential, but to lean into it. Let’s take a look at three of the biggest experiential trends in 2020 that are imaginative, ingenious, and here to stay.

Drive-In Experiences: Reinventing a Retro Recreation

As the world continues to cope with coronavirus, the experiential marketing industry is looking ahead, by turning to the past.

Drive-in theaters were once considered a novel throwback, a shout out to its heyday in the 1950s and 60s. But, that’s all changed in 2020. And, if you think about it, the idea is appealing on many levels.

More than just a creative reason to leave the house, drive-ins automatically come with an added level of security. When you don’t have to leave the safety and comfort of your car, the fear of interacting in close contact with large groups dissipates. On the flip side, drive-ins still provide a sense of participating in a collective experience. You also can’t go wrong with the nostalgia factor of going to the drive-in. The comfort and consolation of enjoying a simpler time.

Toronto’s “Immersive Van Gogh” art exhibition didn’t begin as an event to be experienced in a car, but organizers quickly shifted to accommodate their response to the pandemic. Displaying some of theDutch painter’s most famous works through the use of light, sound, and high-resolution digital projections, 14 vehicles at a time can drive in, turn off their engines, and watch the 35-minute show from inside their cars.

Even as Canada has eased restrictions, “Immersive Van Gogh” is sticking with drive-in engagement. By figuratively “driving into the artwork” itself, organizers say visitors get a highly immersive experience that’s unlike any other installation in the world.

Hybrid Experiences: The Best of Both Worlds

Hybrid experiences combine the best of face-to-face engagement and the exciting innovation of virtual technology. A hybrid event is essentially any event, whether a conference or workshop, trade expo or seminar, that combines live, physical components with digital, online elements. Think about an industry convention that launches an in-person conference and also live streams keynote addresses and breakout sessions to a worldwide virtual audience.

While hybrid events have gained a lot of traction this year, as a way to mitigate the risks associated with coronavirus, they’ve been a mainstay throughout the 21st century. Look no further than Apple, arguably the pioneer for hybrid events.

At the forefront of innovation and tech trends, it’s no surprise their annual events announcing latest products have pushed the envelope of industry conferences for well over a decade. Always making front-page news, Apple’s in-person “Special Events” have been live-streamed around the world since their inception in 2006.

From Calvin Klein, the NBA, ASICS and more, brands throughout 2020 have harnessed the global reach of hybrid events to launch new products and capture the widest audience possible through the power of innovation and technology.

Brands Making In-Person Experiential Marketing Safer

The trend with the most far-reaching impact that will likely remain is making in-person events generally safer for attendees. Over the course of this year, brands and agencies have had to balance the protections and precautions needed without impacting an activation’s overall experience.

This past Mother’s Day, WalMart reinvented their annual “Mom’s Appreciation Event” with a COVID-friendly twist. Featuring a unique “retailtainment” event at participating stores, drive-thru sampling and demo stations were activated to celebrate moms across the country, but in a safe and responsible way.

Whether continued social distancing, complimentary PPE, individually packaged swag or food and beverages, expect to see additional messaging in the future that’s health-conscious without feeling sterile, cold, and impersonal.

The Future is Here With 2020’s Biggest Experiential Marketing Trends

Even amid the pandemic, experiential marketing remains popular with U.S. consumers. In a recent YouGov survey, nearly three-quarters of respondents agreed that engagement is key for brands to be successful.

While nothing beats creating human connections that we can touch, see and feel, there are a variety of solutions to executing experiential marketing campaigns that are innovative, memorable, and rise to the challenges we face today.

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5 Effective Experiential Marketing Events That Elevated Brand Perception

Posted on October 20, 2020June 12, 2021 by britney

Experiential Marketing

At its core, experiential marketing focuses less on a brand’s singular product or service and more on its overall message or mission through active consumer engagement.

Designed to foster an emotional connection, the goal of any effective experiential marketing campaign is to facilitate a long-lasting relationship between consumer and brand.

While almost every company employs these interactive marketing strategies in some capacity, these five brands not only enhanced brand loyalty with current customers, but elevated brand perception with memorable unique experiences that captured the emotions and senses of new audiences.

Into the “Stratos-phere”

Considered one of the most popular (and effective) experiential marketing campaigns ever, Red Bull took it’s famous slogan “… gives you wings” to the test in a seriously “out of this world” way.

In 2012, the Austrian energy drink company sent professional skydiver Felix Baumgatner into the farthest reaches of our stratosphere to break the record for the world’s highest parachute jump (as well as become the first person to break the sound barrier in freefall), with their “Stratos” campaign.

Since its inception in 1987, Red Bull has been synonymous with extreme sports and activities. And with “Stratos,” Red Bull sought to firmly cement their ownership of that identity by pushing that concept to the limit.

Descending from a staggering height of 127,851 ft. at a maximum speed of nearly 840 MPH, Baumgatner’s historic jump was broadcast live on the Discovery Channel, becoming the highest-rated, non-primetime program in the network’s history, with nearly eight million viewers watching. To date, Red Bull’s video of the event on YouTube has over 46 million views.

While the cost of “Stratos,” at $30 million, seems like a king’s ransom, it’s still a fraction of the $300 million Red Bull spends annually on marketing. With so many people watching, along with worldwide news coverage, “Stratos” not only gave Red Bull a global marketing boost, but exposed them to tens of millions of potential new consumers, and securing their position as the brand leader in all things “extreme.”

A Splash of Color with Dulux

Making paint interesting is a tough challenge. There’s a reason why the old adage, “… watching paint dry” is considered the litmus test for “something boring.” But. U.K. paint company Dulux has decided to use the power of it’s vibrant color palette to motivate and inspire.

On a mission to “bring people together and make the world a happier, healthier place,” Dulux’s “The Color Run” is an untimed 5K run held several times a year since 2011 in major cities around the world.

Participants start the 5K in white, but they don’t stay that way for long. Like human blank canvases, at each kilometer mark, they’re doused from head-to-toe in a different colored powder.

After the 5K run, Dulux hosts a “Finish Festival,” a celebratory gathering for all runners featuring music, dancing, activity booths, and “massive color throws” designed to create “millions of vivid color combinations.” Plus, “The Color Run” has donated $5 millon to more than 80 charities over the years.

Aside from hosting a creating and inclusive event to build Dulux’s brand-recognition, they’ve managed to separate themselves as a fun, lively, and colorful brand in the paint industry.

A Niche Beer Boasts “Probably The Best Poster in the World”

Carlsberg may not be the most recognizable beer brand, but since 1847 they’ve boasted they’re “Probably the Best Beer in the World.”

In 2015, they set out to prove that theory with a billboard set-up along London’s famed Brick Lane that read “Probably the Best Poster in the World,” in a cheeky nod to their classic slogan.

So, what made their “poster” so great? Well, you can’t go wrong with a billboard that dispenses free beer from a branded Carlsberg tap.

While the experiential marketing gimmick of a “free pint” is never a bad idea if you want to attract thirsty pub crawlers on a busy street in one of the world’s biggest cities, Carlsberg’s innovative interactive introduced consumers to a niche brand they may have been previously unfamiliar with.

Lean Cuisine’s Feel Good Experiential Campaign

In an age of health and wellness (along with a lot of deceptive Photoshop edits), looking and feeling your best is difficult, even with a rising trend in body positivity.

Lean Cuisine, the popular frozen food brand focusing on calorie-conscious meals, took a refreshing approach to “dieting” and its impact on societal views of “the dreaded scale” by asking consumers how they would prefer to be weighed.

Their #WeighThis campaign, held in the middle of New York’s Grand Central Station, allowed women to have a professional sign-painter “weigh them” based on aspects of their life they felt were most important to them, like: their compassion for others, dedication to their careers and families, how hard they worked to achieve a goal, and more.

Devoid of any product samples of promotional teams, this experiential installation inspired participants to share their experience via a branded hashtag on social media, and broadcast to the world that beauty is much more than a number on a scale.

Lean Cuisine’s #WeighThis campaign became a viral success with over 210 million impressions online and a 428% increase in social media mentions.

Louis Vuitton’s “Legendary” Partnership

Last September, Louis Vuitton announced a partnership more head-turning than anything you’d find on the catwalk.

“League of Legends,” an online multiplayer game is the most-played PC game in the world. It’s popularity is so prevalent there’s even an annual “League of Legends World Championship,” showcasing the talents of the best players and teams from around the world.

For that year’s winners Louis Vuitton created a case for the “League of Legends World Championship” trophy. Louis Vuitton’s bespoke truck, the first of its kind for an esports championship, featured the luxury French fashion house’s iconic branding, along with high-tech elements inspired by the “League of Legends” “universe.”

The unlikely partnership between Louis Vuitton and “League of Legends” publisher Riot Games received so much attention that a limited-edition collection (LVxLOL) designed by Louis Vuitton’s artistic director of women’s collections was released at the end of the year.

Elevate Your Brand’s Perception with Experiential Marketing

It’s never too late to show the world who you are. It just takes a bit creative flair and some out-of-the-box thinking. That’s why experiential marketing is the perfect way to not just sell a product, but to introduce (or re-introduce) yourself to your consumers and beyond.

Regardless of your brand’s goals, you can elevate your brand perception with innovative strategies that engage emotionally and capture the senses and imaginations of audiences, both old and new alike.

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Branding on Wheels: Why Food Trucks are the Perfect Way to Promote Your Brand

Posted on October 6, 2020May 16, 2024 by britney

Experiential Marketing

Need to give your next experiential marketing campaign a jump start that’s eye-catching and stands out? A food truck promotion is your new go-to for creating an experience that captures your consumers senses in an unforgettable way.

Experiential marketing with a branded food truck is one of the hottest and most in-demand ways to get your brand directly in front of consumers.

And, food trucks can be utilized for much more than sampling food and beverage items. From fashion to financial services, the uniqueness that a branded food truck brings to your experiential marketing campaign will turn heads along with a team of smiling faces to bring the essence of your brand to life.

A Food Truck Promotion Heats Up Your Brand

You’ve probably seen food trucks cruising the streets in your area or parked in the perfect spot to grab lunch or a late-night snack. But can food trucks also be used as an effective experiential marketing platform?

With custom-wrapping that draws attention and branding that engages your audience, food trucks are some of the most creative and effective promotional tools for sampling, giveaways, retail promotions, and more.

When Chanel launched their Le Rouge campaign in December, 2018, they wanted to heat things up by giving their customers a special treat. For the entire month, vintage Tuks were parked along three different locations in SoHo serving piping hot, luxurious cups of hot chocolate. In a tongue-in-cheek nod to the eponymous founder of Chanel, these cups of “hot coco” (sporting Chanel-branded sleeves) not only drove brand awareness, but also endeared them to New Yorkers in need of a warm pick-me-up just in time for the holidays.

A Food Truck Promotion Gets You #Trending

Looking to increase your brand’s reach with consumers on a mass scale? Social media is today’s “word of mouth,” so it goes without saying that connecting with your audience across the digital space is necessary in 2020.

Food truck marketing provides an experiential marketing strategy that helps make your brand relevant and favors personalized interactions with consumers over “one-size-fits-all” mass marketing. Last summer, Calvin Klein wanted to take advantage of those always-trending “national calendar days” (think, “National Pizza Day” or “Talk Like a Pirate Day”) by creating a campaign celebrating “National Underwear Day” with a branded food truck.

On a hot August day last year throughout Manhattan, Calvin Klein and Van Leeuewen Artisan Ice Cream handed out custom MyCalvins and ice cream cones that coordinated with the colors of the custom underwear.

What better brand to drive the conversation on “National Underwear Day” across social media (and beyond) than the company that made boxers and briefs “cool”? By utilizing a well-timed and meaningful experience, Calvin Klein capitalized on a day (practically) made just for them.

A Food Truck Promotion Changes the Perception

Using a branded food truck can be a unique method to test out or launch a new product in a way that captures consumer interest, allowing them to see your brand in a new light.

When one thinks of “trendy” and “cutting-edge,” credit card companies are not the first industry that comes to mind. But, Mastercard wanted to change consumers’ perceptions when they used experiential marketing to promote their Tap & Go™ contactless technology.

Partnering with Capital One, Mastercard utilized a branded food truck featuring mouth-watering fare from renowned chef JJ Johnson of Harlem’s FieldTrip to interact with New Yorkers and show them how to use their Tap & Go™ cards through interactive stations located in front of the customized truck.

An added bonus? Along with delicious (and complimentary) eats, participants were also treated to free Metrocards just for stopping by and seeing what Mastercard had to offer.

Drive the Conversation with a Food Truck Promotion

Food trucks are an ideal solution for brands looking to promote themselves in an unexpected and out-of-the-box way. Whether you want to test out a new market, launch a new product, raise money for a good cause, or get trending on social media, food trucks are an innovative mobile billboard for your brand.

Gone are the days when customers would automatically come to your brick-and-mortar location. We live in a society where the world is at our fingertips and at the touch of a button. It’s become necessary for brands to create personalized interactions in order to increase brand loyalty (and sales).

By incorporating food into experiential marketing, you can create a memorable, multi-sensory experience for consumers. So, whether you’re planning your next marketing campaign or hoping to make a splash with a one-time experience, a food truck promotion is the perfect way to invite customers to fully experience all that your brand has to offer.

Food Truck Promotions doesn’t have it’s name for no reason. Reach out to us today to start working with experts in planning your next brand activation.

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How Experiential Marketing Can Help Rebrand Your Image

Posted on September 29, 2020June 12, 2021 by britney

Experiential Marketing

It’s true that almost every generation in modern times experiences the world in different ways from its predecessor. Whether it’s due to how global events shape our lives or the rapid development of technology, the world we’re born into is never the same as the one we leave.

Companies that can effectively rebrand their image and adapt to changing times are often the ones that transcend the forward-movement of time.

As Millennials and Get Zers dominate the consumer market, “experiences” over “legacy” is what drives them to open their wallets and spend.

Take a look at these brands who are harnessing the ever-changing experiential landscape, and turning their businesses into enduring powerhouses.

The Age of Experience

In a 2018 study by Expedia and the Center for Generational Kinetics, 74% of Americans surveyed said they prioritize “experiences” over products and “things.” According to the report, “Baby Boomers are entering a stage where ‘less is more,’ while younger generations, particularly Millennials, are leading the charge in placing a newfound value on experiences, more than things.”

In this “experience economy” it’s all about sharing moments with family, friends, and the public at large across social media. What was once thought to be a trend, now dominates our lives online and influences our actions IRL. Last year, the Pew Research Center found that “seven-in-ten Americans use social media to connect with one another, engage with news content, share information, and entertain themselves.”

With these rapid (and sustaining) shifts in tastes and attitudes, brands have recognized that in order to have staying power and drive the cultural conversation it’s crucial to adapt to changing times and consumer appetites.

Innovative experiential marketing can successfully both define and redefine your brand’s image as the “experience economy” continues to evolve.

12 years ago, Airbnb revolutionized the hospitality industry, essentially giving anyone the opportunity to be the next Conrad Hilton. But, fast-forward to 2020 and the home-sharing industry is flooded with alternatives like, VRBO, Flipkey, and Homestay. Even major hotel companies, like Marriott International’s Homes and Villas have launched their own home-sharing businesses.

But, Airbnb is still just as popular and still synonymous with “home-sharing” as it was over a decade ago. Even with a net loss of $322 million between January and September of last year, the company’s revenue increased to $1.65 billion in the third-quarter of that same year. So, how were they able to (more or less) successfully adapt to an ever-increasingly competitive field?

Through an eventual partnership with Facebook back in 2016, Airbnb launched “experiences” to go-along with their home-sharing options for travelers. Celebrating its launch, six different “Airbnb Experiences” in Cape Town, Paris, L.A., Miami, Seoul, and Tokyo were broadcast on Facebook Live.

Airbnb hoped this creative marketing strategy would inspire viewers to book their own trips though the company and add-on their own unique experience.

“As Airbnb launches a range of products that enables unique experiences around the world, it’s important that we lead change and reinvent the way we approach experiential marketing,” Aibnb’s Chief Marketing Officer Jonathan Mildenhall said at the time. “We are creating unique experiences that are lived by a few, shared by millions and encourage participation from around the globe.”

And, it looks like Airbnb’s gamble’s paying off. With over 30,000 trips booked in 2019, “Airbnb Experiences” saw a massive 295% growth as more and more travelers are redefining how they see the world through Airbnb’s ingenious rebranding strategy.

Make Your Brand Fashion-Forward

There may be no industry that adapts as continuously as the fashion industry, often leading the charge when it comes to how the rest of society evolves culturally.

Founded in 1993, by Prada’s Miuccia Prada, Miu Miu was affectionately known as the “little sister” to Italian fashion giant Prada. But, in recent years the label has catapulted into the major leagues of Europe’s fashion scene, while still keeping its independent roots firmly planted.

Yet, with that new prestige came the need to refresh their image. In 2018, Miu Miu unveiled a new logo at that year’s Paris Fashion Week. But, in keeping with their identity, described as “raw elegance with a youthful, maverick, and carefree soul,” Miu Miu wanted to take their rebranded logo directly to the masses.

Last spring, featuring a branded truck showcasing their new logo parked in front of their flagship store in SoHo, Miu Miu turned heads and turned up the heat on a brisk March day to roll-out their new look.

Handing out cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows (both branded with their new label, of course), Miu Miu engaged consumers face-to-face, by providing a meaningful experience that stayed true to their “independent and unconventional spirit.”

Turn Your Brand Into a Destination

If you think about it, the savviest of brands generally don’t limit their identities to one specific theme, understanding that evolving is an integral part of not only staying relevant, but staying in business.

You can do a cursory Google search and easily find Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald’s thoughts on how he views the yoga behemoth.

“We view Lululemon as an experiential brand versus a lifestyle brand. We are going to test and learn,” he told CNBC in 2019.

Recognizing that the “yoga” industry (online and in-store) is rife with both luxury and more affordable options in an market valued at an annual $16.8 billion globally (including, classes, clothing, equipment, and accessories), Lululemon has rebranded their image through curated experiential events.

With brick-and-mortar stores featuring yoga studios, meditation spaces, and space for community gatherings, Lululemon hosts 4,000 events worldwide each year in an effort to immerse their target audience in the brand’s three “experience elements” of “Sweat, Growth, and Connection.”

By creating a more personalized connection between “brand” and “consumer,” Lululemon hopes that as their experiences evolve, their customers will evolve with them. By 2023, Lululemon estimates that 10% of their entire product fleet will be considered “experiential,” including yoga retreats, running clubs, and 5k marathons.

Rebrand Your Image with Experiential Marketing

You don’t need to be a Fortune 500 company in order to rebrand your image in a successful way that resonates with consumers and strengthens brand loyalty. It’s really as simple as creating experiences your target audience will love and experiential marketing hits all the right notes.

Times have and always will change, and the same goes with how we want to experience the world because material goods come and go, but experiences become memories that last a lifetime.