Nothing’s bigger than Christmas time, so it’s the perfect time to do some self-promoting. Whether it’s to spread awareness, launch a new product or encourage sign-ups, a good Christmas promotion is sure to get people talking about your brand – especially if you find a way to spread the holiday cheer!
Getting started isn’t always easy, so we’ve shortlisted some of our favourite Christmas vehicles for inspiration. While this article’s all about promotional hire vehicles, you can also check out these 5 great campaign ideas for the festive season.
Idea 1: Random acts of kindness
There’s no better way to attract chilly shoppers than with a free hot chocolate. Mint Velvet understood this, and wanted a way to hand out free drinks and tasty treats during the festive season. Their Relaxed Glamour truck (a classic Estafette from our fleet) was the perfect choice thanks to its rustic appearance, serving hatch, on-board sampling facilities, and some decorative garlands.
Parked outside their Manchester boutique, Mint Velvet attracted a crowd by running random acts of kindness, such as giving free clothes to some lucky shoppers. A Christmas treat indeed!
Idea 2: Hit up the major landmarks
Want to be seen by huge crowds? Then visit your local landmarks to guarantee the widest possible audience. That’s exactly what Universal Pictures did for the release of ‘Last Christmas’ – a blockbuster movie starring Emilia Clarke. This fully wrapped Routemaster bus visited Piccadilly Circus, The London Eye, and ended its journey at the famous Covent Garden.
It was a festive wrap for a one-day Christmas campaign, delivered using a timeless vehicle that you don’t see out and about. For the personal touch, we provided both the driver and a friendly conductor.
Idea 3: Gamify your promotional vehicle
Christmas promotions are all about engagement. So, if you can excite your guests by giving them something to do, it’ll make your event more effective. Online fashion brand SHEIN understood the assignment!
Their double-decker bus housed interactive elements like a claw machine, where people could try for prizes, plus a spin-the-wheel game. It also featured photo areas, a snack station, and the whole thing was decorated like a classic gingerbread house.
Shoppers in Manchester, Liverpool and Nottingham enjoyed this immersive experience over a 3-day Christmas campaign. An unforgettable way to spread some festive cheer!
You can learn more about SHEIN’s promotions in our case study about their four-season extravaganza.
Idea 4: Use a small vehicle for a big impact
You don’t always need a big vehicle to make a big impression. In fact, smaller can be better for cosy campaigns and tighter spaces.
Just ask Cadbury; they used a Citroen H-Van to promote their #cadvent promotion and ran a Secret Santa postal service campaign. This allowed guests to send free chocolate to someone special – in a move they’d extend to the rest of the country.
Then there’s Sunglass Hut, who used an H-Van to display their latest products and hand out gifts. The design matched their seasonal colours, both in-store and online, to convey a consistent style.
Idea 5: Send out a sleigh on wheels
Once a year, Santa brings gifts to deserving children – and this inspired Gymshark to do the same. Their branded bus was filled with presents like a giant sleigh as part of their ‘Gift The City’ Christmas campaign. These were then delivered to deserving people, mentioned for their acts of kindness throughout the year.
Gifts included Apple watches and branded Gymshark merch, so people ‘slay’ during the festive season. And with a matt black wrap contrasting a white winter scene, it’s one Christmas promotion that couldn’t be missed!
Idea 6: Embrace all things Christmas
Christmas promotions can involve anything from holly and trees to robins and reindeer. You can also use the classic reds and whites to match the winter season. But what if you combine these elements into one gorgeously designed vehicle that embraces the magic of Christmas?
You get the Yankee Candle Airstream! When closed, this promotional vehicle looked like a welcoming package just ripe to be opened. Inside, it featured gift boxes, Christmas-themed wall décor and calendar-style storage – all carefully built by Promohire.
Idea 7: Build a Christmas grotto
What’s more festive than Santa’s grotto, complete with twinkling lights, a cosy atmosphere, and the big man himself? Parents across the country spend money each year visiting places just like this, and in a stroke of brilliance, Studio decided to take this idea on the road.
The outside exudes Christmas thanks to its deep red colour and eye-catching lights. Inside, it's a fully bespoke winter wonderland. Because it was fully mobile, Studio’s grotto could reach more people than ever, in multiple locations.
Got a seasonal campaign to discuss?
Look no further than the Promohire team! Specialising in promotional vehicle hire and custom fit outs, we’ve delivered hundreds of campaigns throughout the years – including some brilliant Christmas events. Check out our promotional vehicle checklist and send us your brief to get the (snow)ball rolling!
Alternatively, click the link to use our pricing calculator and speak with a member of the team.
