When running a campaign, you want to engage as many people as possible. The last thing you need is a quiet venue that fails to bring the right demographic. And while every campaign’s different, there are several tried and tested venue types to consider. To lend a helping hand, here are some of the top product sampling locations for 2025.
These marketing venues can work for all kinds of branded events – from awareness campaigns and product launches to fully immersive experiences.
High streets and shopping centres
Get people excited at the weekend.
For a marketing venue with high footfall, you can’t do much better than a high street or shopping centre at the weekend. Shoppers constantly hunt for deals, so they’ll be in the perfect mood for a sampling event featuring a good freebie or experience.
QV Skincare picked 4 sampling locations for their 5-week campaign. They visited London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh – handing out more than 10,000 samples during their activation.
Parks and beaches
Perfect for photoshoots and relaxed crowds.
Parks and beaches come alive in the summer heat, with families searching for delicious ways to cool off. Even on colder days, you could use a well-known park to capture your branded vehicle in a greener setting, surrounded by trees and guests.
Netflix chose Victoria Park for their 'Too Hot to Handle' ice cream van photoshoot, inviting stars of the show to take part. It was the ideal way to amplify their message.
Festivals
A guaranteed hit with the younger audience.
Festivals are chock full of excited young guests looking for cheap food and drinks, and that’s why it’s one of the best sampling locations around. Because there’s so much going on, you could try adding games, signage and 3D props to stand out from the crowd. You could also hire friendly ambassadors to really push engagement.
Premier Foods attended Barcode Festival using an exhibition van, designed and built for easy serving. Brutal Fruit, on the other hand, hired a classic Routemaster bus to provide a relaxed setup for festivalgoers.
Media outlets
Give them something to write about.
Whether it’s a magazine, paper or radio station, the media’s always after new and interesting stories. Why not run a sampling event right on their doorstep? You could hand out boxes of your latest products, provide food, or create a fun experience that’s perfect for a photoshoot.
Yankee Candle used a Christmas-themed Airstream to engage publishing houses, while NYX sent a duck-themed ice cream van as a fun talking point.
Supermarket car parks
Encourage customers to try before they buy.
Despite the rise of online deliveries, supermarkets continue to be a hub for shoppers. In fact, many people prefer to shop in person. So, it’s worth taking your product sampling event to them. These campaigns work brilliantly for goods that customers can buy in store, especially if you’re handing out vouchers they can use right away.
Tesco allowed customers to try their vegan range from a classic Renault Estafette. They also celebrated their centenary with an exhibition vehicle complete with a coffee station, spin-the-wheel game, and a visit from Mr Blobby himself!
Universities
Give the higher learning crowd an experience they’ll remember.
Much like festivals, universities are perfect for targeting a younger demographic. Students appreciate a good freebie, and with a vehicle set up for cooking and serving, your brand can be their hero of the hour. These campaigns work best when advertised ahead of time.
Pho considered universities to be some of the best food sampling locations around. Their sampling events involved using an Airstream to serve fresh Vietnamese food.
Retail parks
The perfect setting for treats and freebies
Many retail parks are filled with trendy stores and restaurants, becoming hives of activity at the weekend. So, give eager shoppers a surprise with a product sampling event or live experience that’s unique to your brand. These places often have high footfall and a wide demographic – the right conditions for every kind of event.
Haagen-Dazs used a modern sampling van to draw crowds across different retail parks. For extra style, the prop’s lid opened up to reveal a surprise DJ, ready to entertain!
Influencer tours and doorstep campaigns
Not a marketing venue, but worth shouting about!
With thousands or millions of followers, influencers can do a lot to endorse your brand. You could invite them on tour, hold a ‘meet and greet’ or even ask them to help with product sampling. David James got involved by handing out free TVs, as seen in our LG giveaway case study. This sort of doorstep campaign can be great for your reputation!
Universal Pictures asked us to install a DJ booth and ball pit into a double-decker for the launch of Despicable Me 4 – all to encourage influencers to advertise the new film.
Need help with location planning?
Finding the best place for a live experience, launch or product sampling campaign isn’t easy, and some venues limit what you can do. As a rule, you should ask these 7 questions before booking. These will ensure each location supports your campaign.
If you’d like us to consult on venues, or even take charge on your behalf, just click the button below to learn about our location services.
