Feeling like the social landscape is changing every time you blink? You’re not wrong. Marketing on social is in its playful, scrappy, maximalist era…and the brands winning right now are the ones who know how to read the room and move fast.  

If you’re planning your next campaign, building a content calendar, or pitching a big idea to your boss, our Marketing Strategy Toolkit will help you turn these trends into an actual game plan. It’s packed with tools to help you map, measure and sell in your strategy.  

Grab it here before you get lost in the scroll.

Now, let’s break down the biggest trends blowing up feeds right now, with examples and takeaways you can actually use.

Play First, Sell Second: The Rise of Gamified Brand Experiences

From bowling alleys and claw machines to spin-to-win wheels, brands are ditching the hard sell and making people play. It’s marketing that feels more like fun than a funnel.  

Brand spotlight: 

  • Jacquemus launched its “Le Petit Turismo” bag in a dreamy retro bowling alley — giving luxury a playful twist.

  • Beis went all in with a giant human claw machine (yes, really) where fans could win suitcases IRL.

  • CeraVe created a claw machine skincare pop-up with prizes from merch to a year’s supply of their cult products.

Takeaway for marketers: Build experiences people want to engage with. Games = longer dwell time, more shares, and better brand recall.

Low-Fi is the New Luxe: Scrappy, Scroll-Stopping Product Shoots

Who needs a fancy studio? The hottest content is coming out of messy sinks, trolley baskets and airport trays, giving even premium brands a raw, relatable edge.  

Brand spotlight: 

  • Summer Fridays leaned into the travel trend by styling products in branded airport trays - a Pinterest-core dream.

  • George at Asda gave their pink products a Gen Z-worthy moment by styling them in a supermarket trolley.

  • Benefit Cosmetics filled a chaotic bathroom sink with beauty favourites, tapping into everyday relatability.

Takeaway for marketers: Don’t overthink it. Imperfect, unexpected backdrops add personality and feel more human.

Brands, But Make It Brunch: Cafe & Restaurant Pop-Up Takeovers

Why fight for attention when you can just show up at brunch? Brands are activating in cafés, diners and restaurants, tapping into foot traffic and social behaviour all at once.

Brand spotlight: 

  • Maebe created a one-day coffee van pop up, letting fans sip, meet the iconic Molly-Mae herself and post in one curated moment. 

  • SKIMS welcomed influencers and guests to the SKIMS drive-in retro diner experience on Sunset Blvd.

  • Murci hosted a sample sale where every guest was treated to a branded Gooey coffee and sweet treat.

Takeaway for marketers: Show up where your audience already is. Food x product = instant shareability.

Multisensory or Bust: Marketing You Can Smell, Touch & Taste

Food has become a central theme in campaigns, helping brands create sensory experiences that leave audiences craving more.

Brand spotlight: 

  • Glossier taps into flavour every time they launch a new Balm Dotcom - matching visuals with edible, dreamy backdrops.

  • Gisou’s Instagram feed is dripping in honey and aesthetic perfection - a nod to its hero ingredient and a visual feast.

  • Sisters & Seekers styled created some stunning visuals using pasta and bread. Totally bizarre. Totally brilliant.

Takeaway for marketers: Activate more than one sense. The more you engage, the more they remember.

Go Big or Go Home: The Era of Oversized Everything

Massive props. Giant inflatables. Ads that physically can’t be ignored. Oversized marketing is having a main character moment, and it’s made for photo ops and viral moments.

Brand spotlight: 

  • Moët & Chandon kicked off Grand Prix week by flying a champagne cork balloon across Melbourne. Iconic.

  • Nike x Slawn dropped a huge inflatable Air Max 90 in Shoreditch, and no one could walk past without stopping.

  • Rhode keeps going big on launch days, supersizing their blushes and lip peptides to create unmatched buzz.

Takeaway for marketers: Want reach? Think scale. Big visuals = bold storytelling + viral potential.

So…what now?

Spotting trends is one thing. Turning them into strategic action is where the magic happens.

Download the Marketing Strategy Toolkit and get the tools you need to turn what’s trending into a campaign that cuts through the noise and drives results.

Don’t just scroll past the moment. Be the brand that starts one.

Want to take it to the next level and smash your marketing like the incredible brands noted? Join Fabric and gain instant access to 1-1 coaching sessions with a dedicated expert marketing practitioner, group coaching, monthly masterclasses, a place on our award-winning Master Strategy Programme, where you will build a complete marketing strategy and so much more. Download the brochure today.