LOS ANGELES - s4story -- Trailblazing email and SMS marketing firm, Strategy Maven Agency, is urging brands to think in layers when building their 2026 experiential marketing strategies. "Brands that have a winning campaign are creating experiences that resonate long after the event ends, says agency co-founder Amy Hage.

The agency is calling 2026 the year of relevance. Below are their three key experiential trends direct-to-consumer brands should be leaning into to build real-world connection.

1. Nostalgia Is Your Secret Weapon
Nostalgia works when it goes deeper than surface-level throwbacks. Hage sees brands winning by tapping into shared cultural memories that spark real emotional connection.

She points to Pillsbury's Doughhouse campaign, which brought the Doughboy's home to life through AR. Consumers could explore the space room by room, scan crescent roll cans in-store, and shop a revived version of the iconic 1988 cookie jar. "It hit longtime fans emotionally while still appealing to younger consumers obsessed with vintage," Hage says.

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What made it work wasn't just nostalgia—it was utility. Hidden recipes and fun facts rewarded engagement, making the experience feel intentional rather than gimmicky. "Authenticity is the difference," Hage adds. "Ask what cultural moments actually shaped your audience, then build from there."

2. Wellness Over Everything
Wellness is no longer a trend—it's an expectation. Strategy Maven Agency is seeing brands integrate it in ways that feel genuinely helpful.

At Coachella 2025, Poppi paired prebiotic sodas with Drip IV Therapy hydration stations. At SXSW, Aveeno's Oat Oasis Café offered oat lattes, skincare sampling, and a place to actually sit down and breathe.

"This shift goes beyond health brands," says Hage. "Daytime networking with IV drips, cold plunges, or massage therapists is replacing late-night drinks. People want connection without burnout."

The smartest activations don't force wellness—they respond to real needs. "If people are exhausted, give them space to recharge. If it's a beauty event, make the environment feel like self-care." When done right, it feels like hospitality, not marketing.

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3. Hyper-Personalization at Scale
"The best activations aren't treating everyone the same," Hage explains. Beauty brands are using AI-powered skin analysis, custom product recommendations, and build-your-own kits—like Glow Recipe's personalized Sephora pop-up experiences.

Using pre-event surveys, real-time engagement data, or CRM integrations, brands are creating multi-path activations shaped by each guest's choices. "The question isn't how to go bigger," Hage says. "It's how to make thousands of people feel individually seen."

Making It Work
The common thread? Understanding your audience. Whether through nostalgia, wellness, or personalization, the message is the same: we see you.

To learn more about how to build your email & sms marketing campaigns, visit Strategy Maven Agency at www.strategymavenagency.com.