11.23.19
By Lisa Major
It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week and before we know it, we’ll be ringing in the new year. Now is the time to reflect back on the current year while looking ahead to the new one. In this week’s Happy Hour, we take a peek at the trade show exhibit trends to watch for in 2020 and look back at the best charitable campaigns of 2019. We’ll also dive into the benefits of pop-up shops and immersive retail experiences during the holiday season.
Trade shows have long been a popular and effective choice for companies who seek to connect with customers and potential customers face-to-face. Exhibitions give companies the opportunity to show off their products and services while giving attendees the chance to experience them first hand. However, as consumer expectations shift and evolve, the importance of staying on top of the latest trends is extremely important for trade show marketers. Today’s consumers expect more than just a demonstration, they expect interactivity, conversations and personalized experiences within the exhibition space. Here, we take a look at the top trends that will impact the trade show floor in the new year.
Oklahoma City Holiday Pop-Up Festival (Photo: Metro Family Magazine)
As Thanksgiving approaches, retailers are gearing up for their most lucrative shopping season. According to the National Retail Federation, the 2019 holiday season will bring in $730.7 billion in sales, a slight increase over 2018. But with so much competition in the air, retailers cannot solely rely on old school tactics like early bird sales or discount coupons to draw in customers. Instead, they need to focus on the customer by creating unique, engaging, and most importantly, joyful experiences. In this article, MC² offers tips on how retailers can use pop-up shops and immersive brand activations to bring happiness back to the holiday shopping experience.
#BringArtBackToSchools: LIFEWTR/Mackelmore/Scholastic (Photo: O Hello Media)
Experiential marketing is successful because it creates an emotional tie between brands and consumers. That connection offers a highly memorable moment that consumers won’t soon forget, and oftentimes it turns those consumers into customers. While we often discuss the effectiveness of experiential marketing activations for B2B and B2C brands, charities and nonprofits are also benefitting from this powerful strategy. Charities already have a powerful story to tell and it’s those stories that touch people and pull at their heartstrings. By bringing that story to life through an in-person experience, charities can reach people on an even deeper emotional level. As a result, the experience makes a lasting and meaningful impression, igniting a passion for the cause which leads to support, volunteerism, and/or monetary contributions. Here, we take a look at the best charitable experiential campaigns of 2019.
From a launch party for the beloved Motorola Razr to a sustainable cocktail party, check out which campaigns made BizBash’s it list this week.
We hope you have a great Thanksgiving and while we won’t be meeting for Happy Hour next week, we’ll return the following week with the latest and greatest news in experiential and event marketing. Cheers!
