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  1. Production & Strategy
  2. Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships

The Bigger, the Better: See How These Brands Sized Up Their Marketing Stunts

Wanna grab a drink in a giant peanut? We got you.

Michele Laufik
August 9, 2023
While giant, larger-than-life props are not a new marketing concept, they're definitely effective for catching the attention of consumers and passersby. And some brands like Miller High Life and Planters are getting extra creative with their oversize stunts. Keep scrolling to see more of these weirdly wonderful activations.
The Nuttiest Dive Bar
The Nuttiest Dive Bar
This summer, Miller High Life and Planters teamed up to create a unique dive bar located in the 26-foot-long Planters NUTmobile. The Nuttiest Dive Bar was a bookable bar in Milwaukee that featured a selfie wall inspired by retro photo booths; a drop ceiling littered with dollar bills; a nut-shaped jukebox; a warm nut machine; and all the Miller High Life you could drink, free of charge, plus themed bar games including cornhole.
Photo: Courtesy of Planters
The bar was available to book for 90-minute time slots over four days, July 9-12.
The bar was available to book for 90-minute time slots over four days, July 9-12.
Photo: Courtesy of Planters
IKEA’s Big Blue Bag
IKEA’s Big Blue Bag
As part of its Giving Bag campaign, which was designed in conjunction with Ogilvy, IKEA toted around a 19-foot-tall version of its iconic Frakta bag with a giant QR code on its price tag. The sculpture was unveiled near Chicago’s Millennium Park before it headed to Houston’s Discovery Green park in June. It wrapped up its tour in New York City’s Madison Square Park from July 30 through Aug. 1.
Photo: Courtesy of IKEA
Folks could scan the QR code to activate an augmented reality experience that was supported by Adobe’s new Aero Geospatial software to score a coupon for 10% off a purchase of $150 or more at a local IKEA store.
Folks could scan the QR code to activate an augmented reality experience that was supported by Adobe’s new Aero Geospatial software to score a coupon for 10% off a purchase of $150 or more at a local IKEA store.
Photo: Courtesy of IKEA
Halo Top Canada
Halo Top Canada
Last month, Halo Top Canada unveiled a colossal 10-foot-tall balloon shaped like a tub of its sea salt caramel sweet treat. It’s set to appear at spots across Ontario through Aug. 13 as part of the brand’s Feel Good Summer Campaign. Folks can score Halo Top coupons by visiting the activation. The campaign also features a contest for a weekend getaway at the Elora Mill Hotel & Spa.
Photo: Courtesy of Halo Top Canada
Tanqueray on the Thames
Tanqueray on the Thames
Known for creating over-the-top props, U.K.-based Spur Creative designed a 10-foot-tall weatherproof Tanqueray bottle complete with a 3D-printed wax seal for the deck of the Tattershall Castle boat on the River Thames, near the London Eye.
Photo: Courtesy of Instagram/@spurcreativeworkshop
Frito-Lay Canada Bullpen
Frito-Lay Canada Bullpen
Last month in Calgary, the Frito-Lay Bullpen featured a giant mechanical “bull” (aka a Cheeto) that fans could ride, plus a huge statue of a cheese puff held by orange-dusted fingers. Frito-Lay Canada worked with creative agency Motive on the activation.
Photo: Courtesy of Frito-Lay Canada
Kraken Rum’s Sea Monster
Kraken Rum’s Sea Monster
At this year’s Tales of the Cocktail, Kraken Rum “attacked” the Creole Queen riverboat in New Orleans with the massive mythical squidlike sea monster that the spirits brand is named after.

See more: Tales of the Cocktail 2023: See the Many ‘Spirited’ Ways Brands Engaged Attendees
Photo: Ari Weiss
Revolve Festival’s Magical Mushrooms
Revolve Festival’s Magical Mushrooms
The 20th anniversary of the Revolve Festival at Coachella, which was designed by Blue Revolver and NVE Experience Agency, featured oversize florals and other props, including a series of large, silver mushrooms.

See more: Coachella 2023: 6 Event Design Trends That Stood Out This Year
Photo: Courtesy of Blue Revolver Inc.
The Court by DirecTV Now
The Court by DirecTV Now
At the 2018 GovBall music festival, the DirecTV Now activation, which was created by experiential agency Blue Revolver, featured an oversize boombox, along with an '80s-theme urban playground setting with tricycles, a basketball hoop, and funky graffiti. Festivalgoers could play DJ inside the larger-than-life boombox and snap pics for social media.
Photo: Taylor McIntyre/BizBash
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