Christmas pop-ups continue apace, with retailers in the US, Spain and Japan launching exciting new spaces.

While there are a continuing number of luxury brands taking part in seasonal activations, we have also found pop-ups from high street brands and restaurants.

We also see brands using research insights to influence their pop-up concepts, finding that customers also like to see light displays and festive installations, rather than just being encouraged to buy.

This month we have a tiny retro pub, an augmented reality experience, and a beer fountain.

Here is the latest collection of pop-ups to inspire you this Christmas.

 

La Fontana Di Peroni, London

A fountain that appeared to create beer from water arrived at South Bank during 10 to 14 December.

The installation, La Fontana di Peroni, was created by beer brand Peroni Nastro Azzuro and was located at Observation Point. Visitors were able to receive a free Peroni beer from a special tap on the fountain. 

Inside the fountain was a special dispenser, allowing the fountain to look as though it was drawing up water and then transforming it into beer. The fountain celebrated Italian design and the brand’s heritage, and was created to reflect research showing that the public valued installations and public celebrations of Christmas.

 

Nordstrom Oh What Funhouse, NYC

Luxury brand Nordstrom has launched an experiential pop-up for customers to explore gift giving through the senses.

The store has five playful, sense-related activations on a different floor of the store for visitors to interact with. They can collect a passport to guide them through the experience, and pick up notes and stickers along the way.

The sense of sight is explored through a collection of mirrors like those found in a funhouse, while a piano suspended in the air playing music marks the Sound: Listen To Your Instinct activation. 

Scent: Follow Your Nose presents a sculpture of a nose. Shoppers can receive special clues in the form of a receipt styled like a fortune cookie when they press a button on the nose. There are also unique flavoured gumballs available at Taste: Match Their Taste. A pair of hands that customers can touch make up the Touch activation. At this space, palm readings performed digitally are available.

 

Oysho Lodge, Madrid

Sports and athleisure brand Oysho opened a new pop-up lodge to showcase its skiing products from 5-8 December.

The lodge had been designed to represent a mountain cabin and remind customers of an alpine retreat. The space also included a special cold room that enabled customers to test the outdoor clothing and ensure it was suitable to wear in extreme temperatures.

Elsewhere in the cabin, visitors were able to explore the full range of other Oysho products, such as waterproof jackets, leggings, footwear and accessories. The space additionally included areas for shoppers to take photos of their new outfits and interact with other outdoor enthusiasts. Finally, there was a cart that provided a range of hot drinks, including chai tea and coffee.

 

Yuletide Yard, London

Street food market and sports bar Flat Iron Square have launched a new festive space including a tiny pub until 22 December.

The space includes The Three Jingle Bells, which is advertised as the World’s Smallest Pub and is a nostalgic tribute to Christmases past, with a tin of Quality Street, retro tinsel and posters. 

It has two beer taps open – featuring beers from Camden Town Brewery – and only space for three people (which can be booked online, though the brand does accept walk-ins). Other drinks are available in the space, such as a mochi cocktail and an Irish coffee using Jameson’s whiskey.

There are a range of other events happening alongside the tiny pub, including a speed-quiz, karaoke, and tribute acts. For those customers used to the offerings of the food market, there are a range of special seasonal dishes.

 

Snapchat Winter Village, online pop-up

A range of luxury brands are taking part in a new experience from social media platform Snapchat until the end of December. The online experience is available via the brand’s profiles or Snapchat’s Lens Carousel to users in Europe, US and the Middle East.

Snapchat is already well-known for its filters and digital experiences, and has partnered with brands to create special filters and try-on experiences. This time they have used augmented reality to create the Snapchat Winter Village to give customers a more immersive online shopping experience.

Shoppers can browse the Lancôme Express, a pink and gold train which takes customers into the mountains. Within the carriages they can discover the brand’s range of fragrances and find out more about how they were created.

Boss presents its collaboration with toy company Steiff in an Augmented Factory, juxtaposing the soft teddy bears with the factory conveyor belts. Finally, Chopard created a paper version of its store, where customers can explore the brand’s range of jewellery and watches.

 

KFC Christmas Restaurant, Tokyo

The opening of KFC in Japan led to a new Christmas tradition of fried chicken for dinner, and in honour of that tradition, KFC created a Christmas pop-up.

The space had a table that resembles a Christmas tree as well as a party barrel. From 2-7 December, visitors were able to enjoy a special and limited edition Christmas menu.

Dishes included smoked salmon and coleslaw, chicken pasta, roast chicken with potatoes, chips with truffle sauce and vanilla ice cream with biscuits. The brand had also partnered with Enoteca to provide a range of wines, with KFC providing recommendations for the perfect wine to have alongside its range of meals.

 

Chanel, London

A festive light celebration has arrived in Covent Garden, until 28 December, called the Winter Constellation.

The installation is courtesy of legendary fashion house Chanel, with the location chosen due to a boutique already in the area. It encompasses a range of lights using themes and images from Chanel. The centre of the space incorporates the brand’s famous No. 5 surrounded by stars, as well as light fixtures representing comets, lions and flowers. The design connects to Chanel’s makeup and beauty lines which incorporate comets.

Visitors are able to walk around the space, and also enjoy performances and live music between 11am and 7pm. The experience continues at the Chanel boutique where shoppers are able to purchase related Chanel beauty products and also find a range of limited edition treats.