Companies are always looking to get their products noticed over that of its competitors -- which is something that all of these September 2016 brand activation ideas seem to have in common.
By using exclusive pop-up shops as a way to market new apparel and other products, companies and celebrities alike are able to generate a sense of urgency among buyers that turns a retail spot into an anticipated event. An example of this that's included is the 21 tour merchandise stores that Kanye West set up around the globe -- prompting people to wait outside for hours just to get their hands on some of the branded clothing.
Companies in the food industry are taking similar ventures as well -- hosting limited-time events with elaborate menu options that consumers don't want to miss out on. Also included in this series of September 2016 brand activations are a number of branded events that get consumers actively involved -- ensuring that the name of a product and the positive memories that become associated with it are ingrained.
Top 80 Brand Activations in September
From Company-Hosted Croquet Events to Flavored Sun Lotion:
Riley von Niessen — Sep 6, 2016 — Marketing
80
Campaigning Doll Kits
Mezco's Living Dead Doll 'Sadie' is Running for President
79
Multi-Sensory Liquor Shops
Pernod Ricard's Cruise Ship Store Educates and Inspires Consumers
78
Floating Beer Gardens
Hoegaarden's Pop-Up Beer Garden Offers a Multi-Sensory Experience
77
Broccoli Sampling Booths
Tenderstem's #GetTenderTonight Campaign Shares a Taste of Vegetables
76
Relaunched Jean Celebrations
The 505 Levi's Jeans Were the Center of an Elaborate New York Party
75
Multi-Sensory Beauty Installations
teamLab's Interactive Gallery Explores L’Occitane's Products
74
Razor-Printing Pop-Ups
Gillette's 'RZR MKR' Showcases the History and Future of Razors for Men
73
Game-Embedded Pizza Boxes
The New Pizza Hut Box Features a Flick Football Field on Top
72
Holiday Soda Bottles
Coca-Cola's Gift Bottle Transforms Its Label into a Chirstmas Bow
71
Vodka Cafe Pop-Ups
Grey Goose Opened a Pop-Up Vodka Bar, Cafe & Bakery in New York
70
DIY Dining Pop-Ups
'The Dining Club' by IKEA Has Guests Prepare Their Own Meals
69
DJ Pizza Boxes
The Pizza Hut Box Was Revitalized as Part of a Creative Marketing Technique
68
Celebrity Sneaker Pop-Ups
The Under Armour Curry Lux Will Be Featured at a Limited-Time NYC Shop
67
Commuter-Cooling Fan Installations
This Currys PC World and Dyson Stunt Helps Travelers Cool Off
66
Rapper-Endorsed Streetwear Pop-Ups
Illegal Civilization's Tokyo Store Will Host Exclusive Apparel
65
Pop-Up Rum Bars
ZINC Apartments is Celebrating National Rum Day 2016 with a Pop-Up Tasting
64
Supermarket Wine Pop-Ups
Tesco Launched the 'Finest' Pop-Up Wine Bar to Showcase Its Wines
63
Historical Hip Hop Activations
Netflix Paints Graffiti in Toronto for Its Series 'The Get Down'
62
Automotive Gin Bars
'Gin and Bear It' Operates Out of a Classic Converted Car
61
Box Truck Retail Pop-Ups
Foulplay Will Leave Its Portable Shop Open for a Limited Time Only
60
Historic Rum Pop-Ups
The 'Casa Havana' Club Pop-Up Features a VR Storytelling Experience
59
Fried Chicken-Scented Lotions
KFC's Extra Crispy Sunscreen Features the Scent of Fried Chicken
58
Back-to-School Pop-Up Shops
The Kikkerland Pop-Up Showcases Whimsical School Supplies
57
Pop-Up Kitchen Concepts
R. House's Rotating Kitchen Will Allow Chefs to Test Out Different Dishes
56
Kaleidoscopic Cookie Trucks
Oreo is Using a 'Flavor Mobile' to Launch Its Newest Flavored Cookies
55
Lickable Breathalyzer Cards
This Uber Driving Campaign Reveals If a Bar-Goer Has Overindulged
54
Beer-Branded Sneakers
Budweiser and ALIFE Created These Promotional Limited-Edition Sneakers
53
Sporty Technology Pop-Ups
Samsung's Galaxy Studio Lets Fans Experience the Olympics in VR
52
VIP Ticket Geofilters
Toyota Used a Snapchat Filter to Offer an Exclusive Lollapalooza Concert
51
Pop-Up Seawater Shops
'The Bottle' by RNLI Stocks Salt Water Drinks for Water Safety Awareness
50
Tiled Pop-Up Kiosks
This Mobile Shop's Design is Inspired By Public Swimming Pools
49
Rap Label Pop-Ups
Cash Money Records & VFILES Joined to Offer Apparel from Hip-Hop's Biggest Names
48
Commercial Social Media Tools
Instagram's Business Tools Help Companies to Engage on the App
47
Pet-Friendly Art Galleries
Pet Insurance Provider 'More Than' Created Interactive Art for Pets
46
Updated Rapper Apparel
The Kanye West Tour Merchandise Now Includes New Graphic Designs & Colors
45
Back-to-School Retail Events
Macy's is Preparing Students for College with Special In-Store Events
44
Worldwide Rapper Pop-Ups
Kanye West is Opening 21 of The Life of Pablo Pop-Ups Simultaneously
43
Social Good Selfie Walls
Cadillac Fairview is Launching 'Pledge Walls' for Back-to-School Season
42
Artful Snack Campaigns
A New Cheetos Snack Contest Challenges Consumers to Identify "Art Pieces"
41
Collaborative Streetwear Pop-Ups
Anti Social Social Club and Period Correct are Planning an Event
40
Mattress-Advertising Airport Lounges
This Airport Seating Lounge Provides Ultra-Comfortable Seats
39
Festival Tent Cafes
This Lavazza Shop Shares Barista-Made Coffee at a Festival
38
Soda Brand Gaming Competitions
Coca Cola Hosted a Seven Hour Gaming Event at Its Headquarters
37
Promotional Beer Popcorn
Lav Created a Popcorn Beer to Celebrate a Change in Ingredients
36
Interactive Street Food Guides
Expedia Created London's Ultimate Street Food Guide
35
Customer-Oriented Retail Campaigns
Nordstrom's 'You First' Ads Put the Emphasis on the Customer
34
Branded Social Media Stickers
Twitter's 'Promoted #Stickers' Include Brands like Pepsi
33
Promotional Fortune Cookies
Supreme Created Exclusive Treats as a Part of Its Apparel Marketing
32
Collaborative Launch Parties
Travis Scott Joined with Apple to Host an Album Release Event
31
Album-Promoting Food Trucks
Rapper Gucci Mane is Promoting His New Album with a Food Truck
30
Impromptu Rapper Pop-Ups
Drake's New York Pop-Up Store Amassed Tons of Fans Despite Short Notice
29
Video Streaming VR Promotions
This Netflix Clip Introduces People to the 'Stranger Things' Series
28
Coffee Rideshare Programs
The Lyft & Starbucks Promotion Rewards Customer with Incentive Deals
27
Branded Croquet Events
Pimm's is Running 'Pimm's Cider Cup' Croquet Games for the Public
26
Promotional AR Kids Games
'Dragon Spotting' Helps Promote 'Pete's Dragon' to Kids with Smartphones
25
Whisky Personality Quizzes
The 'Flavour Behaviour Test' Helps People Find the Perfect Drink
24
Rewarding Coffee Shop Contests
The 'Starbucks for Life' Game Allows Customers to Win Free Coffee
23
Student-Targeted Fragrance Campaigns
The Ecko Unltd. 72 Campus Tour Targeted College-Age Men
22
Mobile Cake Campaigns
The Launch of Fibre 1 Cheesecake Bars Involved a Literal 'Cake Walk'
21
Coffee Shop Loyalty Cards
The Dunkin' Donuts Black Card is Reserved for Special Customers
20
Personified Food Pop-Ups
This Human Fast Food Vending Machine Surprises People at a Laundromat
19
Charitable Burger Geofilters
A&W's Campaign on Snapchat Brings Attention to 'Burgers to Beat MS'
18
Branded T-Shirt Challenges
Oasis Promises Rewards to a Fan Who Wears a Promotional Tee for a Month
17
Celebratory Park Promotions
Parks Canada is Marking Canada's 150th Birthday with Free Admission
16
Competitive Sports Webseries
EE is Collaborating with YouTubers for the 'The Wembley Cup' Series
15
Magazine-Branded Campus Tours
The 2015 Essence College Tour Aimed to Inspired College Students
14
Summer-Centric Beer Activations
This Beer Campaign Focuses on Millennial Summer Activities
13
Student-Targeted Tech Giveaways
The #GetCollegeReady Campaign Helped Prepare High School Grads
12
Animated Character Livestreams
Hasbro Created a Facebook Live Broadcast Starring Mr. Monopoly
11
Branded Anime Beverages
These Pokemon-Inspired Starbucks Drinks Take After Popular Characters
10
Fast Food Luggage Ads
Bojangles Gave Travelers Full Meals on Airport Luggage Conveyor Belts
9
Exam-Based Brand Activations
'Bojangles' Restaurant Surprised Students with Food After Their Exams
8
Vegan Night Markets
Los Angeles is Set to Host Its First Ever All-Vegan Street Food Market
7
Stadium-Inspired Lounges
Panasonic's Olympic Marketing Stunt Introduces a 'Stadium of Wonders'
6
Telecom Travel Pop-Ups
Three Mobile Offered Free Trips to People with Winning Stories
5
Student-Targeted Restaurant Promotions
Chipotle is Celebrating Back-to-School with Free Drinks
4
Cultural Pop-Up Events
Ignite 150 Will Bring Surprise Events to Ottawa for Canada's 150th Birthday
3
Child-Written Promotional Campaigns
Target's Back-to-School Ads were Written and Directed by Kids
2
Oversized Burger-Eating Challenges
The Triple Triple Challenge Caters to Those with Big Appetites
1
Rice-Oriented Cooking Contests
The 'Rice to the Occasion' Contest Involves Minute Rice Recipes
Related Ideas
Autumnal Business-Themed Campaigns
The Fenwick Back to Business Campaign Arrives This Fall
Sorority Beauty Bodegas
Sephora at Kohl’s Returns with the 'Beauty Corner' Activation
Ice Cream Beauty Pop-Ups
MERIT x Ruru Baked Hosted a Thematic Ice Cream Activation in Toronto
Blue-Toned NYC Pop-Ups
ANUA Hosted the 'Dew on the Go' Pop-Up to Spotlight its PDRN Mist
Wellness Brand Experiences
Pilates and Influencer Events Are Shaping Lifestyle Marketing in Peru
Summer Fragrance-Inspired Pop-Ups
Maison Margiela Launched a Pop-Up Café in Amsterdam
Festival Vodka Brand Activations
Absolut Launched Its Heat Haus & New RTD Line at Coachella 2026
Event-Inspired Luxury Spirits
Clase Azul Releases a World Cup-Themed Collectible Tequila
Luxury Eyewear Pop-Ups
Prada Opens an Immersive Eyewear Boutique at The Grove
Branded Power Banks
Reale Actives Created a Wireless Battery Pack for Recharging on the Go
Experiential fragrance
CPL Aromas Creates Interactive Scent Worlds for Emotional Engagement
Music Competition Cafes
Hard Rock and Coca-Cola launch a global artist competition
Fashion-Inspired Food Marketing
Magnum Blends Beauty, Music and Luxury Culture into Its Brand
Mobile Cafe Pop-Ups
Coach Introduced a Vibrant Coffee Truck in Gotemba, Japan
Multi-Sensory Nail Polish Activations
Beetles Gel Polish Runs the Taste of Spring Event
Experiential Brand Cafés
Nutella Reimagines Its Chicago Café with Digital Ordering and a New Menu
Immersive K-Beauty Pop-Ups
TIRTIR Brings Jeju Matcha Skincare to NYC with a Sensory Experience
Fashion-Branded Café Experiences
Vogue Blends Retail with Immersive Hospitality Spaces
Sensorial Cafe Pop-Ups
Glow Lab's Café Creamy Shared Treats Inspired by Body Care Fragrances
Summery Lip Balm Activations
e.l.f. Cosmetics Spotlights Its Melting Lip Balm at Coachella
Fitness-Integrated Skincare
MONCLOS Blends Fitness, Skincare and Social Wellness Experiences
Experiential K-Beauty Retail
Yepoda Opens an Immersive Flagship Store in Seoul
Licensed Flavor Collaborations
Conagra Blends Celebrity and Brand Partnerships Into Snacks
Immersive Denim-Focused Fashion Pop-Ups
Pacsun Debuts Its Denim Starts Here Campaign
Tennis-Inspired Summer Pop-Up Stores
Lacoste Launches a Summer Pop-Up Store in Ibiza
Pop-Up Beauty Picnics
The Daise Summer Picnic is Bringing a Feel-Good Escape to London
Luxe Wellness Apparel Activations
alo Yoga Featured a Minimalist French Riviera Takeover
Clinical K-Beauty Pop-Ups
Rejuran Debuts Science-Led Skincare Through a Sephora LA Activation
Entertainment-Powered Retail Experiences
AT&T Brings Toy Story 5 to Interactive Store Activations
Culturally Provocative Sponsorship Campaigns
La Roche-Posay Debuts the Shadow Sponsor Campaign
Industrial-Inspired Brand Events
Reitmans Reimagined its Distribution Centre for a Curated Event
Festival Brand Activations
American Eagle Opened Its Denim Desert Activation at Stagecoach 2026
Soccer Streetwear Collaborations
Carré and Coca-Cola Launched a Soccer Streetwear Collection
Grocery-Inspired SPF Pop-Ups
Beauty of Joseon's Morning Moisturizer SPF Grocery is Experiential
Festival Beauty Activations
Medicube Brings Skincare Tech and Experiences to Coachella
Experiential Brand Stores
New Era Creates Interactive Retail Space With Custom Cap Design
Beauty-Founder Delivery Experiences
Sephora Launches its 'Beautiful Deliveries' Campaign
Creator-Led Beauty Retail
rhode Expands Across Sephora Europe After Strong Viral Demand
Beauty Cafe Pop-Ups
The Morphe Coffee Shop Highlights the Custom Blends Brush Collection
Back-to-School Beauty Activations
Sally Beauty's COLORfest on Campus Inspires Gen Z Students
Playable Brand Universes
adidas and Brawl Stars Connect Gaming, Apparel and Live Fan Experiences
Window-Fashion Design Brand Celebrations
TWOPAGES Curtains Hosted a Special Brand Day
Heritage Lifestyle Collections
Canadian Tire Releases Hudson’s Bay Stripes into a Summer Lineup
Health-Focused Interactive Pop-Ups
Ancient + Brave Ran the Live Bravely Pop-Up in California
Expansive eCommerce Events
The Amazon Prime Day Promotion Will Offer New Deals Every Five Minutes
Mobile Luxury Boutiques
Mytheresa Tours the Hamptons with a Curated Mobile Boutique
Mobile Beauty Retail Activations
Cardi B Debuts Beauty Truck for Her Haircare Brand
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
High-Energy Snack Activations
This Takis Activation Will Offer 360-Degree Visibility and More
Content-Driven Flagship Retail
GARAGE Builds an Immersive Flagship in New York's Flatiron District
Streetwear Collector Events
VANDYTHEPINK Pop-Up Offers Exclusive Apparel and Trading Cards
Large-Scale K-Beuaty Pop-Up Events
MIXSOON Hosts a Large-Scale Pop-Up Event at Koreatown Plaza
Nostalgic Summer Snacks
Entenmann's Launches Childhood-Inspired Seasonal Treats
Social Media-Driven Brand Partnerships
Target and Parke Join Forces on a Limited Style Capsule
Month-Long Luxury Jewellery Pop-Ups
Anne Sportun Fine Jewellery Opens a Month-Long Pop-Up in June
Sofa-Centered Marketing Activations
This Sofa Club Activation Encouraged Consumers to Take a Seat
Immersive Character Experiences
Sanrio Brings Kuromi to Life with an Interactive KCON Activation
Running Footwear Showrooms
The Brooks Spring/Summer 2027 showroom previews upcoming footwear
RGB-Themed Pop-Up Activations
Hisense Debuted a Pop-Up FIFA Activation at Hudson Yard
Production-Led Live Commerce Events
P.Louise Launches Get Unteddy With Me on TikTok Shop
AI Notetaking Activations
Goodnotes x YMC Launched a Campus Tour Across the U.S.
Culture-Driven Product Launches
Church’s Texas Chicken launches Churchie Sauce with a local event
Clay Bar Beer Activations
This Stella Artois Roland-Garros 2026 Activation is Immersive
Curated Discovery Stores
The Shelf Spotlights Emerging Food, Drink and Wellness Brands
Experiential Grocery Campaigns
No Name launches a multi-city grocery goss campaign
Polo Shirt Marketing Campaigns
U.s. Polo Assn. Launches a Global Campaign Highlighting Its Origins
Sports Hospitality Programs
American Express Expanded Its 2026 US Open Experience
Athlete-Led Marketing Strategies
Forta Cosmetics Uses Athlete Network to Launch Its Setting Spray
Olympian-Backed Livestream Events
Walmart Hosted Her Day Made Easy With Laurie Hernandez and P&G
Seasonal Peach Beverages
Whataburger Launches a Peach Refresher and Peaches & Cream Shake
Charitable Restaurant Launches
Zam's Celebrates Its U.S. Debut with Events and Meal Donations
Subway Station Fashion Takeovers
Reitmans Hosts its Spring 2026 Lower Bay Station Preview
Mobile Retail Experiences
Duluth Trading Brings Apparel Shopping to Events with a Mobile Showroom
Sports Lifestyle Retail
Nordstrom Blends World Cup Fashion with Immersive Pop-Ups
back-to-school retail campaigns
Target rolls out its back-to-school & back-to-college campaigns
Interactive Artisan Coffee Campaigns
The Illy Summer Campaign Will Immerse Consumers
Activity Gear Billboards
Ocean Spray's Reclaim Happy Hour Activation Got Australians Up & Moving
Athletic Event-Timed Tech Campaigns
TCL Ran a Comprehensive Ad Campaign During the Olympics
Korean-Focused Multi-Sensory Brand Activations
House of CJ Hosted a Big Multi-Sensory Activation
Experiential Flavor Campaigns
McCormick Launches a Multi-Sensory Black Currant Dining Experience
Mobile Brand Experiences
M&M's Brings an Interactive Caravan to the Tour De France
Snack Bar-Promoting Experiential Campaigns
Einstein Energy Super Snack Bars Ran a Campaign at SXSW
Experiential Loyalty Programs
Lowe's and Live Nation Reward Members with Concert Perks
High-Profile Skincare Launch Parties
Clarins Celebrated Beauty Launch with Maroon 5 and Others
Drop-Culture Sport Campaigns
Easton and Dick's Launched Its Limited Edition Equipment Drop
Health-Focused Sports Activations
Raisin Bran Brings Gut Health to Major League Pickleball
Fashion-Beauty Convergence
Première Vision and Cosmetic Valley Unite Fashion and Beauty Brands
Customized Restaurant Campaign Platforms
OpenTable Has Launched OpenTable Media
Anniversary Brand Collaborations
Jones Soda Marks Its 30th Anniversary with a Crayola Partnership
Sports-Inspired Beverage Collaborations
Kung Fu Tea and Red Bull Launch Soccer-Themed Bubble Tea
Fandom Retail Experiences
TOUS les JOURS Transforms Bakery Cafés into BTS Fan Destinations
Limited-Edition Beer Campaigns
San Miguel launches a Limited-Edition Beer Campaign for Summer
Month-Long Color Celebration Events
Sally Beauty is Running the Exciting COLORfest
Cultural Heritage Beauty Branding
KATE Blends Kabuki Artistry with Shadow-Enhancing Makeup
Anti-Screen Summer Social Events
Eventbrite Presents 'The Offline Summer' Initiative
Honest Back-to-School Activations
The Brutally Honest Kids Stand Popped Up at Lincoln Park Zoo
Branded App Takeovers
TikTok Introduces Logo Takeover Ads That Dominate the App’s Opening Screen
Soccer-Themed Entertainment Events
Sky Zone Turns Global Soccer Excitement into Active Play
Sports Fandom Beauty
E.l.f. Creates Immersive Beauty Experiences Around Global Soccer
Fan Culture Activations
StubHub Launched Its World Cup Cuts a Multi-City Barbershop Campaign
Experiential Wine Campaigns
Avaline Partners with Proper Hotels for a Summer Music Series
Protein Cheese Activations
Armstrong Cheese Celebrated its Protein Offerings with a Fridge Pop-Up
Destination-Branded Transportation
Themed Taxis Promote Scottish Travel During Major Soccer Events
Self-Expression Retail Campaigns
Tillys Marked Ten Months of Its Discover Your Style Campaign
Gamified Discount Events
Build-A-Bear Uses Mystery Offers to Drive Engagement
Franchise Commerce Marketing
poppi Connects Retail Products with Love Island Experiences
Luxury Hotel Residencies
EDITION and American Express Launch an Exclusive Montauk Cultural Weekend
Creator-Led Beauty Commerce
Amazon India Combines Creator Content and Beauty Shopping
Immersive Festival Art
Absolut and Yinka Ilori Create an Interactive Experience at Tomorrowland
Arena Beauty Activations
L'Oréal Brings Immersive Beauty Experiences to Europe's Largest Arena
Festival Season Refreshment Campaigns
The Capri-Sun Festival Feeling Campaign is Running in the UK
Locker Room Fashion Events
Pacsun Hosted an Event in the Los Angeles Rams Locker Room
Participatory Brand Platforms
Crown Royal Builds a Community-Driven Cultural Platform
Unbranded Sun Protection Campaigns
The Sun Responsibly Campaign Advocates for Daily UV Protection
Attention Economy Agencies
VaynerX Launches Tamara Group to Drive Social-First Brand Relevance
Immersive K-Culture Expos
K-EXPO USA Combines K-Pop, Food and Lifestyle Experiences
Back-to-Campus Wellness Tours
The Locked Into Wellness Tour Will Visit Six Universities
Urban Activewear Activations
The Merrell Get Outside Activation Took Over Union Square
Social-to-Outdoor Campaigns
Tribesigns Extends TikTok's Super Wish Campaign to Times Square
Seasonal Value Campaigns
Huey Magoo's Combines Value Meals with Collectible Cups
Cooking-Inspired Cosmetic Events
Lush's Fresh Kitchen Live Makes Products with Fruits & Veg
Seasonal Reservation Street Installations
Uber UK Launches 'Reserve' by Mother
Phygital Loyalty Experiences
Lush Links App Rewards to In-Store Events and Services
Omnichannel Seasonal Support Campaigns
Bestway Wholesale Launches 'Buzz About the Sweetest Deals'
Experiential Trade Shows
Wines Experience Reinvents Industry Networking in London
Patriotic Beverage Releases
REIGN Celebrates America's 250th with a Limited-Edition Drink
Event-Centric Camping Experiences
Huttopia Hosts World Cup Viewing and Activities at Its Campsites
Integrated Summertime Cider Campaigns
The Kopparberg Bring Me Sunshine Campaign is Arriving Soon
Tangerine-Themed Skincare Activations
A Volcanic Island Inspired Skin Cupid's Summer Jeju Roadshow
Dedicated Outlet Shopping Initiatives
Simon Premium Outlets is Hosting a Four-Day Shopping Event
Data-Led Brand Creation
AS Watson Builds Brands Using Shopper Insights and Loyalty Data
Music Festival Refreshment Campaigns
This Lipton Summer Campaign Offers VIP Festival Experiences
Superstitious Soccer Campaigns
Sedano's Supermarkets Launched Where Superstitions Are Born
Festival-Inspired Experiential Retail Concepts
Outcast Clothing Expands Its Le Club Outcast
Experiential Brand Roles
Lagunitas Recruits a Beer Roadie for the Iron Maiden Tour
Brandless Packaging Campaigns
McDonald’s Tested a Name-Free 'Famous Order' Promotion
Community Fashion Events
Free People Hosts a Charitable Summer Gathering with Film and Activities
Marketplace Showrooms
StockX Combines Shopping, Seller Services and Community Events in New York
Event-Driven Instant Retail
JD Sports Delivers England Shirts Through Uber Eats Before Kick-Off
Retail Conversation Marketing Campaigns
Tesco Launches 'Need Anything From Tesco' Platform