36 Nostalgic Brand Activations

From Custom LP Retailers to Arcade-Themed Pop-Up Eateries

— January 26, 2017 — Marketing
These nostalgic brand activations range from custom LP retailers to arcade-themed eateries that take attendees back in time to the 80s and early 90s. Standouts include McVitie's Jaffa Cakes tower -- a nostalgic snack installation created to celebrate Father's Day 2016 -- as well as Benefit Cosmetics beauty-themed tea party which revived the British afternoon tradition.

Other notable examples include analog popup shops like American Greetings' SXSW activation. The popup allowed visitors to take part in crafts like printmaking, card making and even featured a stitched selfie station that was created with a sewing machine.

Vintage soda bars, porridge breakfast cafes and nostalgic ice cream trucks round off this list of nostalgic brand activations. Appealing to lovers of all things retro, these marketing examples illustrate the importance of the past and showcase its power to shape the experiences of new generations.
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Activity
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36
Television-Inspired Draft Ads
Television-Inspired Draft Ads
The 2018 NFL Draft Ad Pays Homage to the Classic TV Show 'Dallas'
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35
Nostalgic Automotive Pop-Ups
Nostalgic Automotive Pop-Ups
Renault is Introducing Its Clio Model as "the Original Millennial"
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34
TV Network Dessert Pop-Ups
TV Network Dessert Pop-Ups
Food Network UK's Ice Dream Van Served Nostalgic Flavors on Its Tour
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33
90s Boy Band Pop-Ups
90s Boy Band Pop-Ups
NSYNC is Launching #TheDirtyPopUp to Share an Official Merch Capsule
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32
Sitcom-Inspired Cafes
Sitcom-Inspired Cafes
'Rue La Rue' Will Become New York's First Golden Girls-Themed Restaurant
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31
Nostalgic Neon-Lit Bars
Nostalgic Neon-Lit Bars
The Convenience Bar in Toronto Revives Everything About the 90s
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30
Space Arcade Pizza Restaurants
Space Arcade Pizza Restaurants
Disneyland is Opening a Real-Life Toy Story Pizza Planet
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29
Phone Booth Salad Shops
Phone Booth Salad Shops
This Pop-Up Salad Shop is Housed Inside an Old UK Telephone Booth
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28
Nostalgia-Inducing Customization Campaigns
Nostalgia-Inducing Customization Campaigns
Pepsi Boasts a Create-Your-Own-Can Branding Initiative
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27
Pop-Up Memorabilia Museums
Pop-Up Memorabilia Museums
A Disney Pop-Up Showcases Disney Park's Amazing Artistry and History
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26
Puppet-Themed Cafes
Puppet-Themed Cafes
This Harajuku Cafe Theme Celebrates Elmo and Other Sesame Street Friends
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25
Custom LP Pop-Ups
Custom LP Pop-Ups
Urban Outfitters' Crosley Pop-Up Lets Visitors Create Their Own Vinyl Records
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24
Analog Sun Health Campaigns
Analog Sun Health Campaigns
The Solar Intensity Meter Was Installed by Unimed Pelotas
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23
Geeky Gaming Hotels
Geeky Gaming Hotels
The Arcade Hotel in Amsterdam Features Rooms Outfitted with Gaming Systems
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22
Analog Pop-Up Shops
Analog Pop-Up Shops
Analog by American Greetings Offers Low-Tech Entertainment to SXSW Attendees
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21
Cookie Dough Pop-Up Shops
Cookie Dough Pop-Up Shops
The 'Dough TO' Shop Serves Fresh Cookie Dough with a Shot of Milk
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20
Nostalgic 90s Pop-Up Diners
Nostalgic 90s Pop-Up Diners
The 'Saved by the Max' Pop-Up Offers Fans a Taste of Bayside Cuisine
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19
Hazelnut Spread Pop-Ups
Hazelnut Spread Pop-Ups
This Temporary Nutella Store Offered Personalized Jars for Consumers
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18
Porridge Breakfast Cafes
Porridge Breakfast Cafes
Quaker Oats' 'Oat Café' Serves a Different Porridge Every Half Hour
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17
Nostalgia-Inducing Record Shops
Nostalgia-Inducing Record Shops
Chicago's 'Bric-a-Brac' is a Record Collector's Dream Destination
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16
Rap Label Pop-Ups
Rap Label Pop-Ups
Cash Money Records & VFILES Joined to Offer Apparel from Hip-Hop's Biggest Names
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15
Nostalgic VR Advertisments
Nostalgic VR Advertisments
Pepsi VR is a Pop-Up Marketing Booth at the Super Bowl LII
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14
Vintage Soda Cocktail Pop-Ups
Vintage Soda Cocktail Pop-Ups
Soda Brand Fentimans Has Launched a Pop-Up Ahead of Six Nations
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13
Female Superhero Children's Pop-Ups
Female Superhero Children's Pop-Ups
The Powerpuff Girls Emporium Offers an Immersive Experience
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12
Debuting Designer Pop-Ups
Debuting Designer Pop-Ups
Cherry Los Angeles' Introductory Pop-Up Store is Red-Accented
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11
Edible Snack Cake Installations
Edible Snack Cake Installations
McVitie's Launched a Jaffa Cakes Tower for Father's Day 2016
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10
American Anime Cafes
American Anime Cafes
The Hello Kitty Cafe is Now is Opening as a Semi-Permanent LA Cafe
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9
Playable Arcade Game Buildings
Playable Arcade Game Buildings
This Building's Facade was Turned into a Playable Tetris Monitor
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8
Gamified Pop-Up Eateries
Gamified Pop-Up Eateries
The 'Meal of Fortune' Pop-Up is Part Restaurant and Part Arcade
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7
Awkward School Photo Lookbooks
Awkward School Photo Lookbooks
Cherry Los Angeles Debuts Its Graphic Range in a Nostalgic Manner
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6
Mobile Ice Cream Shops
Mobile Ice Cream Shops
This Cobranded Food Truck Treated SXSW Atendees to Vegan Fruit Pops
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5
Board Game Pop-Up Hotels
Board Game Pop-Up Hotels
The McDonald's Monopoly Hotel Publicity Campaign Brings the Game to Life
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4
Underground Sneaker Events
Underground Sneaker Events
adidas Originals' EQT Sneaker Release Was Hosted in a Parking Garage
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3
Beauty Branded Tea Parties
Beauty Branded Tea Parties
Benefit Cosmetics Created an Activation Around a British Tradition
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2
Nostalgic Food Truck Branding
Nostalgic Food Truck Branding
Grilled Cheese Wonderland's Concept is a Nod to 90s Youth Culture
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1
80s-Inspired Fashion Pop-Up Stores
80s-Inspired Fashion Pop-Up Stores
STAYCOOLNYC Hosts Its First Pop-up Location in New York
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