Brands have always fought for attention, and 2025 will be no different. Disruptive marketing is a great way to get ahead, but it’s not about shouting louder; it means daring to be different and showing up in ways that your audience simply can’t ignore.
Read on to learn how to excite the public, spark conversations, and become one of the year’s biggest disruptors.
A multi-stop mobile display
In-person engagement is less common than it should be, especially with so many brands focusing their efforts online. Thankfully, that just makes it easier to stand apart from the competition and turn heads with a live campaign.
The Freeway cola truck is one of the best disruptive marketing examples from 2024. Built and branded for Lidl’s ‘Freeway on the freeway’ campaign, this branded truck visited 9 cities in the lead-up to Christmas. Online, people who wanted to attend could easily check dates and locations.
Its large size, vibrant red wrap and bold white logo ensured the Freeway Cola truck would attract all kinds of attention – both in city centres and out on the road.
Surprise and delight your audience
People tend to ignore traditional advertising, so in 2025, market disruptors should try to add value and give people something to enjoy.
Mint Velvet understood that shopping in the cold can be challenging, so they handed out free hot drinks from a classic Estafette in the run-up to Christmas. They then went a step further by giving out free clothes to spread some festive cheer.
Other disruptive marketing examples include the Haagen-Dazs ice cream van with 3D roof props and a surprise DJ, and LG’s TV giveaway in collaboration with goalkeeper David James. Why not take inspiration for your brand?
Pick a disruptive location
You only limit your leads by focusing your efforts purely online. To actually ‘disrupt’ the market, think about where people gather and time your live events accordingly.
- A high street or shopping centre at the weekend will naturally appeal to eager shoppers looking for a freebie
- A railway station in the morning or evening can work wonders if you’re handing samples out to busy professionals
- Landmarks are always busy and full of tourists during the day and at weekend
To be one of this year’s biggest industry disruptors, choose a venue that suits your promotional vehicle, target demographic, and campaign activities. With location planning services, you can have all of this managed for you!
Photo-ops, games, tours & more!
The best campaigns grab attention and work hard to get people engaged. Here are just a few disruptive marketing examples…
Photo-ops – Want people spreading the word for you? Make content that’s easy to share while advertising your brand. Build a display with the aid of a professional vehicle design and build team, then add a hashtag or QR code to encourage online sharing.
Games – A game or competition is one of the best forms of market disruption as it gets people to make memories. Think spin-the-wheel competitions, claw machines, and even ball pits for some timeless ‘child-like’ fun.
Above: A ball pit in a double-decker bus, and a spinning wheel game
Influencer tours – Why not use a double-decker bus to take influencers out on tour? This trip will be shared all over social media, which will be great for your brand. McDonald’s boom concert is one of our favourite disruptive marketing examples, as are the Despicable Me DJ experience and Dani Dyer’s fashion bus.
Immersion – This could be an audio/visual presentation, a demonstration area, makeup station or nail bar. People line up for experiences that mean something to them, so decide what matters to your audience and make it a clear focus of your campaign.
Above: A Despicable Me DJ booth, and a SHEIN makeup station with guests.
Make personal connections
Market disruptors put the audience first, and that means having the right campaign staff. Without them, your efforts can quickly turn sour as guest numbers rise.
Brand ambassadors can ensure everything runs smoothly. Able to combat fatigue, they frequently run all-day events and can support your in-house team by welcoming the public, running games and giving out samples.
Another of our favourite disruptive marketing examples is QV Skincare’s UK roadshow, which used ambassadors to greet guests and guide them through the Airstream. This gave internal staff time to educate people who wanted to learn more.
Disrupt the market with a promotional vehicle
Ready to join the year’s disruptors and get your brand seen? Check out our vehicle fleet to see what works for you. You can also see the 8 steps to prepare your campaign for planning advice, or visit our pricing page for a free, on-screen estimate for vehicle hire.
We can't wait to help your brand get noticed with a highly disruptive campaign!
