What happens when an American truck becomes the star of a lively promotional campaign? You can expect loads of attention, plenty of engagement, and a flood of social media posts. And with some of the most memorable American vehicles in our fleet, that’s the reality for many brands that come to us with a big idea and the willingness to forge connections.
This blog looks at the experiential campaigns loved by UK audiences, starring either the US postal van, FedEx truck or ‘step van’, or our American ambulance side-step.
1. Landman’s fuel showstopper
With season 2 just around the corner, Paramount wanted to celebrate in style.
That’s where our US postal van came in. Wrapped in imagery from the show, it served as a head-turning centrepiece to stoke excitement. But why stop there? Our team installed a coffee and hot chocolate machine, fully branded the interior, and crafted a 3D oil drum to help this American truck command attention at the London premiere.
Guests could also grab free donuts and scan a QR code to try and win a new TV! With so much going on and branded props and extras present, this promotional campaign ensured Landman struck gold as it landed on UK shores.
2. SHEIN’s multi-vehicle Christmas
Two locations at once meant this fashion brand was going bigger than ever.
SHEIN loves an experiential campaign during the holidays, and this time they wanted to take customer engagement to a whole new level. The answer was a double-decker bus, with both an American ambulance side step and the Utilimaster Aeromate US postal van – each set at one of the main locations.
These would support the immersive buses and used for sampling, gifting, and drinks service. The US postal van even took part in a live studio photoshoot, with Santa taking a starring role. See SHEIN’s incredible Christmas campaign to view this event in action.
3. FENTY’s authentic beauty café
Glamour met coffee grounds with this product sampling hub.
FENTY wanted to get people to stop by, grab a drink, and then swing by a foundation stand to find their perfect shade. The best American vehicle for the task? None other than a US postal van or ‘Utilimaster’.
This vehicle was wrapped in gorgeous foundation-inspired mocha colours, and fitted with product displays, a drinks machine, roof sign, and oversized 3D bottle.
They also used branded parasols (available from the online Raccoon store) to protect the foundation counters from bad weather. A real beauty of a promotional campaign!
4. A nutty takeover for KIND Snacks
KIND took the American route to give snack time a major upgrade.
Inspired by a previous campaign, KIND had a plan to put on a show that would take London’s Southbank by storm.
At the heart of it was an American FedEx truck, aka a step van, wrapped in vinyl branding and outfitted with a stainless steel serving station. Here, staff could serve delicious concoctions – so every guest enjoyed a custom bar with their chosen toppings.
The promotional vehicle was just one aspect of this campaign, though. It also featured roof props, a branded mirror for selfies, and a freestanding wall (care of our bespoke design and build team) where guests could write positive messages.
See why this promotional campaign was such a big success with our KIND Snacks case study!
5. Treat yourself with e.l.f
Free glazed buns made this an instant hit with Superdrug shoppers.
Everyone loves a freebie, and it’s even better when that item’s a delicious treat that you won’t find out and about. Playing into the fun (and FOMO), Superdrug got together with cosmetic brand e.l.f. to reward shoppers for buying products in store. All they needed was a receipt to grab a pistachio, raspberry, or lemon-flavoured sticky bun.
The Utilimaster delivery van was fully wrapped inside and out, and fitted with plenty of counter space for serving treats. Naturally, we handled all of the logistical planning to ensure this American truck was in place on time, every single day!
6. Monday’s 12-location treat truck
With plenty of stops in London, this vehicle had to make a bold visual statement.
For Monday Haircare, the answer was a pink American ambulance, finished in a glossy wrap and with plenty of details to help the vehicle stand out. Over a two-day brand activation, it hit the streets of London to promote the new range of haircare products.
The side step van’s sheer size made it easy to store all of these products on the go, then hand out free shampoo, conditioner and hair masks. Brilliant fun and a superb way for Monday Haircare to get people trying their products and sharing the fun online.
7. Wasabi’s Korean chicken stop
This US postal van was transformed into the perfect fired-up chicken van.
Always a favourite for sampling campaigns, the classic American truck was sent on the road to get hungry masses excited for Wasabi’s special Korean chicken dishes.
But hitting their target of at least 500 portions per day would take more than just a great-looking American truck. It would need a full catering space with two microwaves, a griddle pan, and bain-maries for keeping the food warm.
Discover how Promohire helps brands get sampling right, or check out the 8 delicious food and drink campaigns for inspiration.
8. BYOMA’s barrier protection patrol
Rescuing stressed skin barriers, with the VIP treatment for all.
BYOMA wanted an experiential campaign where the public could step into a vehicle and have their skin barriers tested – helping to protect against dry, peeling, or flaky skin. Our American ambulance side step was the perfect choice for the activation, with space inside for one-to-one sessions.
This ctivation provided skin analysis, free samples, and goodie bags. Inside, the vehicle was kitted out with product displays and branded touches to help fully immerse guests.
Want to push engagement further like the BYOMA team? See how to supercharge your promotional vehicle campaign for advice.
Get to know our American vehicles
From the US postal van to the spacious FedEx step van and retro American ambulance, our fleet empowers brands to stand out and be remembered.
Whether you’re product sampling or planning a bold experiential campaign with fun and games, we can help you choose the right vehicle for you. So, if you’re ready to put an American truck at the heart of your next campaign, click below to get started!
