Experiential marketing is in a constant state of evolution, and few people have their finger on the pulse quite like Max Lenderman. With a myriad of experience building purpose-centric marketing campaigns that help companies create meaningful relationships with consumers,  Max  demonstrated the value of empathy in marketing campaigns, making brave decisions, and not merely keeping an  eye on the future of the industry, but helping to craft it. 

It might be difficult to imagine returning to normal, but many Americans are ready to get out of their houses and do something different this summer. For brands, this is an opportunity to shake up the digital fatigue and shift the focus to experiential marketing.

Every Wednesday morning, Max Branstetter brings a new entrepreneur or innovator on the Wild Business Growth Podcast to share the creative ways in which they grew their businesses, as well as provide tips for listeners to do the same.

On the Pop-Up Biz Podcast, host Susan Sandler meets with brand founders and entrepreneurs to discuss the latest in experiential retail, marketing, and pop-ups. From new business models and creative strategies to technological innovations, there's something for every listener to learn.

While the world of virtual experiences has offered a blank canvas for creativity and an opportunity to reach massive crowds of people from afar, the desire for in-person experiences — and the connection that comes with them — won't be going away. That's why the future will be about hybrid event experiences.

A pre-pandemic article from Ad Age suggested that experiential marketing may have reached its peak, citing Instagram-worthy installations such as the Color Factory and the Museum of Ice Cream in support of the premise. Where they erred, though, was in categorizing them as examples of experiential marketing at all. Instead, they are theme parks designed to earn social media engagement.

The world of live events has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, forcing agencies, brands, and organizers to pivot to virtual events in the interim. Going forward, some consumers may still need time before they feel safe showing up to live events, so it'll be imperative to accommodate to them by creating virtual or hybrid event experiences.

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a rare autoimmune disease that affects the lives of thousands of Americans. In honor of June being MG Awareness month, Argenx, a global immunology company, wanted to create an event to bring this community together and share its commitment to those affected by the disease. With the COVID-19 crisis preventing the possibility of any in-person engagements, we hosted a virtual launch party that brought in attendees from across the country and globe.

For agencies and event organizers, there's a lot of work to be done to assuage consumers' concerns when it comes to returning to live events. In fact, a study from Performance Research found that 60% of consumers have long-term fears about attending large events.

While old trends becoming new again is a relative constant in some industries, such as fashion, it’s unclear how many of us foresaw the return of the drive-in movie theater in 2020. However, given the constraints put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, drive-ins have seen a huge resurgence – especially in states where citizens are no longer sheltering in-place.