In an Australian first, ‘Brandcrush’ has created a new marketing platform that connects brands with consumers in the real world through a network of activation hosts.

Brandcrush co-founder Teresa Aprile said: “We realised traditional hit-and-miss mass sampling campaigns can be costly, have staffing headaches, high sponsorship costs and long lead times.

“We’ve created a really simple online platform that connects brands to non-traditional yet highly targeted activation spaces, making it simpler, faster and far more cost effective”.

Brandcrush currently has over 650 spaces across health, wellness and beauty, family, tourism, hospitality and universities and TAFEs.

The spaces vary from high traffic locations such as the University of New South Wales and Luna Park Melbourne to cafes and restaurants, gyms and studios, co-working spaces, hair salons, pools, markets, hotels and laundrettes.

Brand activation opportunities on the platform include:

• Product sampling such as gift with purchase, bathroom placements, goody bag, online box and mini bars
• Experiential activations in street and foyer locations
• On the menu collaborations where brands can feature on a cafe menu item
• Sponsorships for events and festivals
• Counter top displays

Aprile explains: “We’re making it so easy for brands and marketing agencies to discover and book targeted spaces for their activations.

“Brands can literally have their entire activation campaign organised in minutes and they can choose what they want to spend”.

She adds: “All activation hosts benefit by earning incremental revenue whenever they are booked, so both brands and hosts are gaining through this world first platform”.