The retail industry is rapidly changing. Experiential reporter Ian Zelaya writes: “More retailers are using experiential techniques to evolve and compete with online shopping.” He joins co-hosts David Griner and Ko Im to discuss the new mall, food hall and IRL shopping. Together with emerging tech reporter Patrick Kulp, we also discuss the world of…
The most anticipated attraction opening in Las Vegas this year isn’t a resort or nightclub–it’s a shopping complex. Area15 is an upcoming retail and live entertainment venue anchored by interactive art and technology experiences. The 200,000-square-foot site, which opens in April, is a joint venture from real estate development firm Fisher Brothers and creative agency…
As brands continue to explore the hospitality space by producing their own overnight experiences, hotel brands are still getting creative with how they engage their guests. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants made photography the focus of its latest in-hotel experience as part of a new partnership with Fotografiska, a Swedish photography museum that recently opened its…
Dove is making a significant push to reduce its environmental footprint, and the brand recently spread the word by encouraging consumers to recycle. The Unilever-owned beauty brand launched a vending machine-style installation in New York’s Grand Central Terminal to celebrate its move to 100% recycled plastic bottle packaging across Dove, Dove Men+Care and Baby Dove…
While multiple brands chose to produce Super Bowl activations in Miami instead of airing ads on Sunday, Budweiser has opted for both as part of its Big Game marketing strategy. Along with the brand’s patriotic Super Bowl ad, Budweiser opened the BudX Hotel, a three-day experience in Miami that filled Nautilus by Arlo hotel in…
The beer commercials will be out in full flow this Sunday. Bud Light and Michelob Ultra are already sharing their wares. Meanwhile, one European beer brand is opting out of the TV Bonanza. Stella Artois is betting on the power of experiential instead. Debuting in Miami during Super Bowl LIV week, Port de Stella features […]
The Sundance Film Festival is a buzzy opportunity for brands to interact with film fans, actors and directors and industry execs in between screenings. The 36th annual festival, which kicked off Jan. 23 and runs through Feb. 2, is screening 118 feature films with premieres including Taylor Swift’s Netflix documentary Miss Americana and Zola, which…
Chase has tapped someone who knows a thing or two about music to be the brand’s music supervisor for a new campaign: Mark Ronson. The financial services company has named Ronson one of its Sapphire Creators, a group of celebrity ambassadors featured in the brand’s new Sapphire credit card campaign titled “Same Planet More World.”…
With Super Bowl 54 less than two weeks away, more brands are teasing their plans for the Big Game. We’ve been keeping tabs on the most anticipated commercials in our Super Bowl 2020 Ad Tracker since Fox sold out its entire in-game inventory last November. But what’s in store for major brands that don’t have…
As its name implies, Color Factory provides an ideal opportunity for splashy Instagram posts–but it also offers more than just social media fodder. The ticketed experience, which launched in San Francisco in 2017, celebrates color through interactive site-specific installations created by local artists. After its initial run, the pop-up expanded to a second temporary exhibit…
With so many CBD-infused products on the market, first-time CBD users or curious onlookers might need a little help–and motivation–in choosing which brand to try. Charlotte’s Web, a leader in the CBD space that sells hemp-based products, wants to educate consumers about how their CBD products are made by inviting them to trade in their…
Commuters on New York’s 7 subway line this morning were treated to some amusing train announcements from a voice that sounded eerily similar to Awkwafina–because it was. To promote the comedian and actress’s upcoming Comedy Central series, Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens, the ViacomCBS-owned network has partnered with MTA New York City Transit to have…
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit has been a launching pad for automakers to announce new vehicles and product innovations for more than three decades. But recently, the influential auto industry event, known for kicking off the global show circuit every January, has seen a slowdown in engagement. In 2019, the show…
The retail industry is struggling, but the upside is that millennials and Gen Z still prefer to shop in stores–if those stores offer unique and engaging shopping experiences. As brands seek to continue evolving the in-store experience for their target demographics–experts predict retail leaders will invest in better consumer experiences in 2020–a new concept in…
Booking.com is ringing in 2020 with a hotel experience themed around 20 popular New Year’s resolutions. The travel company will open Resolution Resort, a stayable experience in New York with 20 suites that each align with a resolution, such as being more active, reading more and practicing self-care. Beginning Monday, Jan. 13 consumers can reserve…
LAS VEGAS–If you could give a company access to your data so it can help you choose a particular path in life, would you? This is the mission of Incite, a company expected to play a central role in the third season of HBO’s Westworld, whose premiere is still under wraps. Incite will predict what…
Hinge is inviting fans to destroy Hingie, the brand’s mascot that dramatically dies when users find a match, in the comfort of their own homes. The dating app has launched an online merchandise store called The Hingie Shop, featuring products that are an extension of the brand’s ongoing “Designed to Be Deleted” messaging. The international…
An estimated one in five Americans abstain from drinking alcohol during Dry January, but the booze-free lifestyle trend isn’t just limited to the first month of the year. According to market research firm Nielsen, 66% of U.S. millennials and 47% of all American consumers 21 and older said they reduced their alcohol consumption in 2019,…
Brand activations have come a long way in achieving consumer engagement. The last few years, in particular, saw experiential marketing steadily mature, from a quirky niche tactic to a full-on, multiplatform strategy. And in this new decade marketers will only see more pressure to drive creativity to achieve a successful ROI and social media traction….
It’s fitting that in a year that closes out a decade, marketers were more creative, ambitious and outlandish than ever with strategies to build brand buzz beyond the traditional ad. While we already ranked our 25 best ads of the year, we’d be remiss not to highlight some of the most culturally impactful stunts and…
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