The top December 2019 publicity stunts explore ideas like insect influencers on Instagram, completely clear cocktails and hair salons specifically for newly single people. A number of brands are launching unexpected pop-up experiences, including the LaDainian Tomlinson’s Arby’s Steakhouse, which was only open for one day, and the New York Knicks-themed pizza parlor opened by BuzzFeed and Chase Bank.
Gearing up for the holiday season, brands are creating everything from scented wrapping paper and musical product packaging to food-holding holiday sweaters and branded baubles. Those who love the movie Elf will be especially delighted by the hotel suite Club Wyndham created based on the modern holiday classic—right down to the fact that the kitchen in the suite is stocked with all of the ingredients to make Buddy the Elf’s signature spaghetti with maple syrup dish.
Top 25 Publicity Stunts in December
From Parody Inclusion Ads to Surprise Sandwich Giveaways:
Laura McQuarrie — Dec 29, 2019 — Marketing
25
Cheeky Marketing Strategies
The McDonald's Paper Bag is Eerily Similar to Alexander Wang's Design
24
Oversized Dog-Carrying Bags
Klarna Collaborated with Menswear Dog to Support Pet Owners in NYC
23
All-in-One Mobile Cocktail Kits
The Wild Turkey 101 Old Fashioned Barpack Has a Built-In Bar
22
Branded Scented Wrapping Paper
Taco Bell Returns with Its CrunchWrapping Paper, but with a Twist
21
Hand-Painted Fast Food Baubles
Deliveroo is Sharing Free Fast Food Ornaments with Orders
20
Branded Recipe Text Generators
Rao's Will Send You a Recipe If You Text the Brand a Food Emoji
19
Rapper-Owned Cannabis Companies
Drake's Marketing Tactic for More Life Growth Co. is Toronto-Based
18
Personal Care Recycling Initiatives
Burt’s Bees & TerraCycle Launched the 'Recycle on Us' Program
17
Elf-Inspired Hotel Suites
Club Wyndham Has Created a Hotel Suite Inspired by the Movie 'Elf'
16
Ingredient-Focused Clear Cocktails
Burger & Lobster Launched Five 'Colorless Cocktails'
15
Chocolate Spread-Themed Hotels
Nutella is Opening the Very First 'Hotella Nutella' in Napa Valley
14
Branded Basketball Pizza Popups
BuzzFeed and Chase Launched a New York Knicks-Themed Pizza Parlor
13
Fundraising Insect Influencers
The World's First Bee Influencer is on a Mission to Save the Bees
12
Storybook-Inspired Ham Sandwiches
Subway Teamed Up with Netflix on a Green Eggs and Ham Sandwich
11
Friend-Powered Dating Apps
The Ship App is Developed in Partnership Between Betches & Match Group
10
Poverty-Reduction Campaigns
United Way's Unignorable Tower Campaign Highlights Poverty in the GTA
9
Fast Food-Branded Steakhouses
The LaDainian Tomlinson’s Arby’s Steakhouse Will Open for One Day
8
Newly Single Hair Salons
Pantene Launched the Interactive Popup Called the Breakup Salon
7
Hilarious Honest Marketing Campaigns
Beauty Brand OUAI Makes Fun of Itself By Reading Bad Reviews
6
Festively Musical Pizza Boxes
Boston Pizza Promotes Its Christmas 'Za in a Very Unconventional Way
5
Biscuit-Holding Holiday Sweaters
Red Lobster's Festive Holiday Sweater Has an Insulated Pocket
4
Restaurant-Branded Home Goods
The #ChilisMyHouse Starter Pack is Filled with Some Great Swag
3
Talking Rugby-Themed Water Coolers
The Heineken Water Cooler Offers World Cup Facts
2
Suprise Sandwich Giveaways
Jimmy John’s Launched a Surprise National Sandwich Day Deal
1
Parody Inclusion Ads
Valuable 500's 'Diversish' Campaign Promotes Hiring People with Disabilities
Related Ideas
Gifting-Ready Cafe Merch Lines
Starbucks Holiday Merchandise for 2025 Has New and Returning Faves
Creative Ad Responses
Kiehl’s Response to Censorship Embraces Bold Creativity
Newsstand-Style Pop-Up Series
Uber Eats x ALDI Celebrated Their Partnership with 'The Daily Feed'
Ultra-Festive Holiday Pop-Ups
Miracle Toronto is Expanding Its Operations for the 2025 Season
Cocktail-Themed Holiday Campaigns
Aperol is Initiating 'Aperolidays' in 2025
National Holiday Marketing Campaigns
Revlon Debuted a Month-Long National Lipstick Day Celebration
Irish Stout Campaigns
Guinness Unveiled its St. Patrick’s Day Campaign
Humorous Snack Commercials
The RITZ Salty Club Brings Together Well-Known Personalities
Series-Inspired Newspaper Pop-Ups
Peacock Featured a Custom Newsstand for ‘The Paper’
Luxurious Holiday Experiences
St. Regis Toronto Debuts Seasonal Programming Across Multiple Venues
Festive Film-Inspired Coffee Menus
Scooter’s Coffee Elf Menu Will Arrive November 1
Humorous Menswear Ads
Men’s Wearhouse Goes Full Funny with its 'Love the Way You Look' Campaign
90's Archival Footwear Pop-Ups
Dr. Martens Hosted a 'Buzz Bus' in NYC
Comedic E-Commerce Brand Spots
Instacart Unveiled a Teaser for its Super Bowl Commercial
Sensory Supermarket Pop-Ups
ALDI will Host a 'A Very ALDI Holiday' Pop-Up in NYC
Pristine Fast Food Campaigns
McDonald's All Flavour, No Mess Spotlights a Tidy Snack
Major Fan-Centric Candy Campaigns
Skittles Debuts the Playful Skittles Obsessed Initiative
Late-Night Text Campaigns
The IKEA "U Up?" Stunt Reached Sleepless Social Media Users
Holiday-Flavored Snack Chips
These PepsiCo Christmas Snacks are Arriving in the UK
United Mascot Commercials
The First-Ever Instacart Super Bowl Ad Unites Beloved Brand Icons
Spring Cocktail Menus
Applebee's Launched a Drink Menu With Celebrity Spirit Collaborations
Gamified Holiday Promotions
Starbucks for Life Merrython Blends Gameplay with Prize Giveaways
Festival-Ready Celebrity DJ Activations
Absolut Vodka Welcomes Paris Hilton at the House of Cosmo
Holiday Blind Box Campaigns
Buffalo Wild Wings Debuts its 'Hank the Halls' Spot and Campaign
Soda-Inspired Beauty Sets
The Tower 28 x poppi Fizz + Frost Holiday Duo Shares a Festive Color
Re-Energized Snack Campaigns
J.M. Smucker Co Introduced the ‘Speakie Snackie’ Campaign
Humorous Sandwich Commercials
Jersey Mike's Subs Spotlights Eli Manning and Danny DeVito
Branded Apparel Vodka Campaigns
Smirnoff Partners with Aleali May for We Do Game Days
One-Night-Only Dining Events
The Saratoga Supper Club Turned a Convenience Store into a Speakeasy
Dynamic Basketball-Informed Marketing Campaigns
March Madness' New Campaign Features NCAA Athletes
Festive Snack Packaging Designs
Kellanova Debuts Its Seasonal Assortment of Snacks
Telenovela-Inspired Beauty Campaigns
e.l.f. Cosmetics' Big Game Ad Airs Ahead of Halftime
Cheeky Coffee Ads
Starbucks' New Ads Celebrate Personal Connections Through a Modern Twist
Pop-Culture-Inspired Soda Drinks
Cool Sips Embraces Pop Culture Moments with Themed Drinks
Gourmet Lunch Pop-Ups
Uber Eats' Sandwich Studio Elevated the Classic Combo Meal
Delivery Driver-Centric Pizza Ads
Pizza Hut's New Commercial is Cheeky and Playful
Brighton Retail Launch Ads
IKEA Brighton Uses Seagull Splatter Campaign to Win Local Attention
Modern Hustle-Inspired Food Campaigns
StarKist Co. Positions Itself as Fuel for the Modern Hustle
Silly Restaurant Chain Ads
German Doner Kebab Brings Bold Flavors and Quirky Ads to America
Cheeky Bar-Focused Campaigns
Heineken Advocates for Financial Support for Bars with Starring Bars
Customer-Starring Billboards
Bobbie's Campaign Spotlights Moms as "the OG Influencers"
Swedish-Style Kitchen Pop-Ups
IKEA House Warming Showcases Cooking & Eating Essentials
Experiential Marketing Campaigns
MIKE AND IKE, HOT TAMALES, and Marvel Team Up for Campus Tour
Luxury Festive Campaigns
Bloomingdale’s Unveils Its 2025 Holiday Campaign
Cheeky Baking Apparel
Betty Crocker Turns Cake Mix Nostalgia Into Wearable Merchandise
Home-Centric Beauty Campaigns
Sally Beauty Debuts the Holiday Beauty at Home Campaign
Film Franchise Pizza Collaborations
Papa Johns and Disney Launched Its Toy Story 5 Personal Pizzas
Pink Beauty Advent Calendars
IPSY Debuts Its Coveted 25-Day Advent Calendar
Nostalgic Sports-Focused Grocery Campaigns
Instacart Debuts a Campaign in Kansas City
Timely Delivery-Centric Billboards
Pizza Pizza Creates a Truck-Side Billboard Inspired by the LRT
Chocolate Chip Cookie-Inspired Billboards
Tate's Bake Shop Debuts an Ambitious Marketing Campaign
Music Scene-Informed Luxury Campaigns
Burberry Taps Twiggy for Spring 2026 Advertising Campaign
Stylish Sweater Pizza Products
Pizza Hut Debuts a New Triple Treat Box Onesie for Ugly Sweater Day
Festive Convenient Store Offerings
7-Eleven Gears Up for the Holidays with Food, Beverages & More
Curated Holiday Experiences
The St. Regis Toronto Introduces 'The House of Celebration'
Traveling Fashion Showcases
The Guess Bus in Sydney is an Example of Experimental Marketing
Barista-Inspired Holiday Cup Spots
Starbucks Launched its 'Drawn Together' Campaign
Basketball Championship-Themed Convenience Promotions
7-Eleven is Offering Deals for March Madness
Playful Hockey Campaigns
Beard in a Box Campaign Lets Hockey Fans Join the Playoff Beard Tradition
Burger Ad Campaigns
Burger King’s New Campaign Suggests Even Babies Can’t Resist the Whopper
Songstress-Inspired Cold Drinks
Dunkin’ Unveils 'Sabrina’s Strawberry Dream Refresher'
Honorary Irish Restaurant Menus
Bennigan's Blarney Blast 2026 Celebrates St. Patrick's Day
Holiday Baking Retreats
The Pillsbury Let It Dough Suite Invites Fans into a Whimsical Escape
Humorous Wet Wipes Campaigns
goodwipes Partnered with Hallie Batchelder on Wet January
Nostalgic QSR Advent Calendars
The 2025 BK Advent Calendar Inspires Reminising
Chicken Wing Teasing Campaigns
This Pizza Hut Wings Campaign Pokes Fun at Competitors
Wintery Dessert Coffee Ranges
The Starbucks Holiday Menu Features Drinks and Treats
Coordinated Convenience-Focused Promotional Campaigns
7-Eleven Runs Promotions for Two Events
Curated Discovery Stores
The Shelf Spotlights Emerging Food, Drink and Wellness Brands
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Celebrity-Starring Super Bowl Ads
Taco Bell Recruits Doja Cat for its New Super Bowl Advertisement
Edgy Holiday Beverage Campaigns
Dutch Bros Coffee Debuts Its New Beverages for the Holiday Period
Basketball Film-Inspired Pizza Campaigns
Pizza Hut Debuts Space Jam-Inspired Menu Bundle & Recipes
Humorous Star-Studded Chip Campaigns
Pringles Unveiled its 'Call of the Mustaches' Campaign
Humorous Hotel Campaigns
Marriott Bonvoy x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Launch a Social Ad
Inaugural Vodka Billboard Campaigns
ALB Vodka Introduces Its First Billboard in New York City
No-Nonsense Frozen Snack Campaigns
Yasso's Foolproof Freezer Challenges April Fool's Day Pranks
Comedian-Fronted Tequila Campaigns
Espolòn Tequila Taps Ken Jeong for Nine Days of Short Kings
Restaurant-Focused Beverage Campaigns
Surfside Introduces Its Promotional Surf N' Turf Campaign
Brand Refresh Campaigns
The 'Walmart. Who Knew?' Campaign Challenges Retail Perceptions
Cheeky Food-Made Beauty Ranges
Warburtons Spoof Beauty Range Creates Picture-Perfect Lunches
Pop Culture-Inspired Mayo Ads
Hellmann’s Releases 'Sweet Sandwich Time' Ahead of the Big Game
Community-Focused Holiday Pizzeria Promotions
MOD Pizza Together for the Holidays is Festive
Thanksgiving-Focused Sweepstake Initiatives
Omaha Steaks Wine Marks Thanksgiving Celebrations
Nostalgic Branded Pop-Up Events
AriZona Iced Tea Launches a New York City Pop-Up Event
Ultra-Elegant Holiday Fashion Campaigns
Stuart Weitzman & Keke Palmer Present 'Life of the Party'
Whimsically Festive Menus
Betty Buzz/Betty Booze & Serendipity3 Debut Limited-Edition Holiday Menu
Spontaneity-Inspired Travel Campaigns
Wyndham Debuts 'Where There's a Wyndham, There's a Way'
Festive QSR Deal Promotions
The Whataburger 12 Days of Whatacheer Promotion is Running Now
Icon-Approved Hot Sauce Ads
Paris Hilton x Frank’s RedHot Bring the Heat to Game Day
Festive Bakery Merch Shops
The Paris Baguette Shop is Launching December 1
Illusory Ice Cream Pop-Ups
Häagen-Dazs Celebrated St. Patrick's Day with an O'Häagen's
Retailer-Branded Holiday Apparel
7-Eleven's New Seasonal Merchandise is Themed Around Christmas
AI-Enhanced Y2K Ads
Starwash by Carl's Jr. Recalls a 2000s Ad with Paris Hilton
Pampering Festive Salons
Drybar's Holiday Bow Bar Elevates Blowouts with Wine & Gift Wrapping
Local Eatery-Elevated Soda Campaigns
Pepsi is Running Immersive Experiences for the Super Bowl LIX
Bartering-Focused Frozen Pizza Promotions
RED BARON® Launches the Stuff for Stuffed Campaign
Health-Themed QSR Menu Campaigns
Arby's New Year, Same You Menu Rebrands Classic Items
Nourishing Comfort Kits
Bob Evans' Giveaway Helps to Alleviate the Stress of Tax Season
Opulent Holiday Apparel Lineups
Brunette The Label Launches its Festive New Holiday Collection
Quirky Pizza Chain Ads
Little Caesars X Eugene Levy Join To Promote Super Puffs at the Super Bowl
St. Patrick's Day Promotions
7-Eleven Celebrates the St. Patrick's Day Holiday
Show-Inspired Burger Menus
Burger King Spongebob Menu Brings Animated Flavor to Fast Food
Outdoor Cooking-Focused Campaigns
Solo Stove Debuts the 'Squash the Beef at the Big Game' Campaign
Post-Game Breakfast Campaigns
McDonald's Flipped Its Ads Sideways for Super Bowl Recovery
Subway Cabin Makeovers
British Airways NYC Subway Turns Commute into an In-Flight Experience
Basketball-Themed QSR Promotions
Arby's is Launching a March Madness Promotion
Mascot-Forward Newspaper Campaigns
Ellie the Elephant Becomes a New York Times Subscriber
Plant-Based Cuisine QSR Campaigns
This Burger King UK Campaign Stars Pete Wicks
Festive Fairytale Campaigns
Boots' Gift Happily Ever After Celebrates Meaningful Gifting
Pizzeria Present Wrapping Services
PizzaExpress Christmas Concierge Will Wrap Gifts While You Dine
Fesitve Holiday Pizza Bundles
Pizza Hut & Josh Allen Celebrate the Return of the Triple Treat Box
Hair Salon-Powered Sports Campaigns
Great Clips Ties Its Latest Campaign to the Stanley Cup
Co-Branded Holiday-Inspired Burgers
Irv’s Burgers & Smash Kitchen Boasted the Friendsgiving Burger
Post-Holiday Retail Promotions
The One Stop Big Brands Low Prices Campaign is Packed with Savings
Cheeky Wrap-Focused Campaigns
Jimmy John's Introduced the Wrap Exchange
Whimsical Desk Rituals
Starbucks Created a Small, Celebratory Post-CNY Activation
Holiday-Ready Pizza Menus
Domino’s Festive Range is Launching in the UK
Christmasy Customer-Rewarding Retailer Campaigns
The One Stop 2025 Christmas Campaign Gives Back
Comforting Cartoon Drink Collaborations
HEYTEA Partners with POP MART’s Twinkle Twinkle IP
Cheeky Holiday-Inspired Sofa Campaigns
The Lovesac Company Highlights the Comfort of Couchmas
Celebrity-Backed Luxe Fashion Campaigns
Burberry's Holiday Film is Dubbed ’Twas the Knight Before…
Holiday-Themed Restaurant Events
Dave & Buster's Debuts Holiday Events and Promotions
Elf-Sized Festive Feasts
Omaha Steaks' Elf's Steakhouse Box Shares a Tiny Steakhouse Set
Omnichannel Seasonal Support Campaigns
Bestway Wholesale Launches 'Buzz About the Sweetest Deals'
Summer-Forward Food Billboards
Waitrose Launched its 'Let Your Summer Side Out' Campaign
Island-Inspired Supplement Ads
Bucked Up Launches a Sizable Campaign Called 'Castaway'
Holiday Hotel Pop-Ups
Hilton to Launch Gingerbread Express and a New Christmas Island Today
Cheeky Gift-Wrapping Campaigns
Scotch Brand and Ego Nwodim Embrace the Resting Gift Face
Festive Musician-Led Campaigns
Smirnoff ICE Partners with Troye Sivan for the Holidays
Guaranteed Prize Dining Campaigns
Hot Head Burritos Cinco de Montho Campaign Will Offer Rewards
Athlete-Inspired Chicken Sandwiches
Big Chicken Inside The Sandwich Wars has Four Items
Anniversary-Celebrating Sweepstakes Campaigns
Swig Marks Its 16th Anniversary with a Sweepstakes
Holiday Binge Watching Cookies
Chip City Cookies and TBS Partnered for Themed Cookies
Brandless Packaging Campaigns
McDonald’s Tested a Name-Free 'Famous Order' Promotion
Garish Holiday Dining Experiences
TGI Fridays TGI Elf Days Embraces Over-the-Top Decorating
Seasonal Sports Bar Cocktails
The Greene Turtle Tinseltown Toasts Menu is Here for the Holidays
Purpose-Driven Brand Contests
Publicity for Good is Supporting Goodness with Its Contest
Alternative New Year Celebrations
Premier Protein & Michelle Buteau Set a New Start to the Year
15-Minute NYE Deliveries
Gopuff's Chief Delivery Boss Promotes Stocked Year-End Celebrations