RETAIL ACTIVATION MARKETING and Why It's Effective
Generate attention, visits, and engagement with experiential retail activations
Promote grand openings and seasonal sales
Engage people with sharable brand activities
Connect with people outside the store
Influence people's perception and purchase behavior
Track effectiveness with call-to-actions, promo codes, and sales
What is retail activation marketing?
Retail activation uses experiential marketing to promote store openings, engage shoppers, create shareable moments, and stimulate purchases.
It is often classified as experiential retail, in-store events, or shopper marketing activations by companies.
It is a subset of your ongoing retail marketing - activations are special events that occur once a month, during holidays, or for certain seasons.
Experiential activations are components of retail grand openings and a way to celebrate anniversaries.
Retail activations occur in-store, on city sidewalks, inside malls, at nearby commuter stations, and in other strategic locations to engage people.
The tactics range from unique in-store experiences to street teams to interactive store window performances.
Retail marketing activations are implemented on the public sidewalks in major cities (e.g., New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington DC, etc.) without city permits.
When activating inside a mall, permission is required.
A well-equipped retail marketing activation involves:
- A unique brand experience
- Standout outfitting
- Custom props or signs
- An incentive for people to make purchases
Effective retail marketing activations are leveraged via social media and influencer integrations.
Retail activation marketing services
1.) Creation of retail activation strategies and ideas to achieve your goal
2.) Design and fabrication of your retail marketing assets - outfits, activities, etc.
3.) Planning, staffing, training, outfitting, management, and real-time reporting
4.) Activation assessment, recap, and improvements for your next outing
Top benefits of retail activation marketing
1.) Find new customers and reaffirm relationships with existing ones
2.) Promote shop openings, sales, and special events
3.) Get shoppers to engage with your brand on Instagram
4.) Extend your brand experience beyond the store
5.) Gather firsthand insights on shopper behavior, opinions, and actions
6.) Generate authentic brand content
7.) Drive incremental sales - when people are enjoying themselves, they make more purchases
8.) Create stronger relationships and brand loyalty
Availability
Retail activations are available in every big city from New York to Chicago to Los Angeles and every one in between.
Process
Share with us your goals and any ideas you'd like to bring to life.
Receive a retail activation recommendation within three days.
Enhance the recommendation with your insights and ideas.
Once we have a retail marketing concept you'd super psyched about, we'll create an agreement.
Planning and production to start four weeks before your first retail event date.
Takeaways
One-of-a-kind retail activations make your brand memorable and unique.
It works for all retail types - fashion, technology, grocery, entertainment, restaurant, etc.
Integrating social, influencers, and other forms of digital marketing dramatical increase your outcomes.
Retail activation is essential to building interest, traffic, community, and sales.
Connect
We'd love to hear about your retail activation dreams.
Explore
If you'd like to explore more retail marketing ideas, check out Mall Activations
Experiences are essential!
Retail Activation Marketing FAQ
Retail event marketing is hosting an activation inside your store to attract, engage, and incentivize people to make purchases.
It is a form of experiential marketing, taking place inside stores.
Retail marketing events are often accompanied by online promotion, street teams, influencer partnerships, and other ways to enhance awareness and impact.
Best retail marketing event ideas are those that align with your brand, products you sell, and customer profile interests.
Here are a few retail marketing event ideas, strategies, and tactics:
1.) Access to limited-edition product release
2.) Onsite product customization or personalization
3.) Free workshops or classes
4.) Influencer meet-and-greets
5.) Purchase-to-participate brand experiences
6.) Host a brand cause or charity event
The cost for a retail marketing activation varies depending upon the concept, duration, size. and scope.
Although, most experiential retail marketing activations are in the $3,500 to $7,500 range
Due to the high investment, it is essential for retail marketing activations to build-in an irritable call-to-action offer, plus promote it digitally prior, during, and post to increase brand sales.
