Sampling

Halloween is one of the most wonderful times of the year for the experiential industry, with brands often willing to take bigger creative risks, and consumers increasingly embracing the holiday. This season, audiences around the U.S. were haunted by pop-ups, stunts, tours and theatrical performances that delivered memorable moments, and a healthy dose of mayhem.

The essence of aperitivo culture is wending its way into sampling experiences, offering attendees a slice of the beloved Italian social ritual of gathering for light, pre-dinner drinks and bites, and unhurried conversation, within vibrant branded settings. And a host of consumer behaviors and appetites is feeding the trend, from the rising popularity of early-evening […]

Most cannabis events are centered around trying products, according to Justin Miller, svp-brand marketing at Curaleaf, but consumers want more from brands. They want to connect with other enthusiasts, and experiential is giving them a place to build that community. Among home growers, for example, I Love Growing Marijuana’s 2024 brand survey found that 48% […]

This week’s hot takes on hot topics in experiential marketing cover vintage showrooms, goddess energy and one crappy fleet of vehicles.

From a Shirley Temple lounge to a lineup of nostalgic, dessert-inspired energy drinks, Bloom Nutrition brought its consumer-facing experiential playbook to the convenience-store trade show floor at NACS 2026.  “Everything we do at Bloom is building a world, whether online, in person, at trade shows,” says Erica Tam, senior vice president of brand at Bloom […]