retail sampling & branded events
Two powerful strategies.
Different goals.
Both drive results: Sampling drives immediate product trial and purchase, while the core purpose of Branded Events is to build an emotional connection, reinforce brand identity, and create a memorable, interactive experience.
Choosing the Optimal Sampling Strategy to Maximise Your Brand Impact
RETAIL
Convert trial to a regular purchase with in-store tastings and product demonstrations.
TRAVEL HUB’S
Sampling at travel hubs taps into high-spending, curious audiences ready to try new products.
SHOPPING CENTRE
More than just a trial, our shopping centre activations transform simple samples into immersive brand stories that resonate long after the visit.
GUERRILLA
Smart, unexpected activations create lasting impact and deliver more value than traditional ads.
TRADE EVENT ACTIVATION
Trade event activations don’t just showcase products, they bring your brand to life and create a memorable experience for attendees.
Benefits of Branded Events and Retail Sampling
According to sampling-industry sources, up to 78 % of consumers who try a product say the trial influenced their purchase decision, and around 65 % reportedly buy during the same shopping trip.
%
Enhanced Brand Recognition and Loyalty
%
Increased Consumer Engagement
%
Improved Brand Credibility and Emotional Impact
* Statistics are indicative and based on findings from multiple independent studies.
We provide an end-to-end process from brief to activation
BRIEF
Provide a brief or let us shape one with you from concept to goal.
PRODUCTION
Campaign assets are designed, built, or sourced, with full retail risk assessments included.
LOGISTICS & INSTALL
From logistics to installation, we manage it all to ensure a seamless launch day or night.
DELIVERY
After detailed planning, our brand ambassadors and event managers deliver the activation, with full post-event reporting.
DATA & INSIGHTS
Finally, we offer detailed post activity reporting that can be tailored to suit your brands needs.
Inspiring our people to deliver outstanding value results and insight that our customers can’t get anywhere else
the brief
Diageo wanted to run a sampling roadshow for their Captain Morgan range. The main aim was to generate awareness for the brand, recruit LPA-24YO (Student demographic) to taste the product and have ambassadors promote the products in an engaging and memorable way, through an evolved fun and interactive brand experience.
the SOLUTION
We carried out a UK roadshow, stopping at various student / on-trade venues each evening. Pur strategically planned visits around key dates & ticketed events to maximise impact. Combining the excitement of sampling Captain Morgan with engaging giveaways of free branded merchandise, created a fun and memorable experience that connected customers with the brand.
the RESULTS
The Captain Tours were a huge success!
16k+ Captain Morgan samples distributed
2.3k+ branded merchandise distributed
Positive venue feedback:
- 88% said the tours were excellent/ very good
- 100% would welcome the tours again
The students absolutely loved it! We had a high footfall, and the sampling stand was so busy! The pop-up display looked great and was successful in promoting Captain Morgan products.
the brief
Adidas wanted to host a staff education event, tailored for retail staff. The event needed to provide education on the full adidas running product range, whilst creating a brand experience to win hearts & minds turning all attendees into adidas brand advocates.
the SOLUTION
REL secured the ideal venue and transformed it into an immersive Adidas world, showcasing the brand and running products. The engaging education day, led by the Adidas PT team, was complemented by activities like a GPS treasure hunt, fostering teamwork and friendly competition among store regions.
the RESULTS
2 x Running Events for retailers (Specialist Sports & Sports Direct)
140 attendees turned into adidas run experts!
A well-balanced event. Informative product insights, but not overkill, mixed with really good fun, inventive but importantly relevant ways to experience the product on the 2 run parts of the day. The Van element creates that extra wow factor and layer of sophistication to proceedings too.