The custom shipping containers store trend is thought to have been pioneered by Starbucks in 2011 when they opened a 450 square foot shipping container store in Washington. Since then, customized shipping containers have been used in countless experiential marketing campaigns in order to boost brand awareness and customer engagement. But before you hire a firm to work with you to help you achieve your experiential marketing goals, it’s important to ask a number of questions to ensure you’re getting the service and expertise you need. With that in mind, here are just a few important questions to ask an experiential marketing agency.
Does the firm focus solely (or at least primarily) on experiential marketing projects?
This is an important distinction to make right off the bat. But the fact is, some firms say they focus on experiential marketing when, in fact, they only incorporate it sparingly into campaigns. Any true experiential marketing agency should be very upfront regarding what exact services they perform related to experiential forms of marketing. If they also dedicate a lot of their time to working on traditional marketing campaigns, it may be best to move on to find a firm that’s more focused on experiential marketing.
What are the ‘core competencies’ of your agency?
Simply put, what does the agency do best? Experiential marketing encompasses a wide range of both creative and technical skills, so your agency had better have the right combination. Once you determine an agency’s core competencies, you can determine whether or not they’re the right fit for your experiential marketing goals and ambitions. Core competencies often include jobs like graphics, creative design, transportation, technology, set building, venues, and brand ambassadors.
How will the agency incorporate modern techniques into my experiential marketing campaign?
Finally, a good experiential marketing agency will incorporate some social and digital techniques into your campaign as well. This typically includes the use of social media as a way of measuring the success of your experiential marketing project. Make sure you understand the modern digital techniques your agency prioritizes.
Ultimately, customized shipping containers are versatile and suited for use in many experiential marketing settings. In fact, Downtown Container Park in Las Vegas spans approximately 19,000 square feet with a mix of 30 modified shipping containers and 41 multifunctional modular cubes forming its perimeter. But it’s important to choose a firm that is willing to go above and beyond to meet your goals. For more information about customized shipping containers, contact IPME.