WRITTEN BY // JESSICA HEATHCOTE
UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 2025
The Christmas pop up and retail season is one of the most competitive times of the year, with every brand vying for consumer attention in crowded shopping centres and digital spaces. For brand managers and marketing professionals, the challenge lies in cutting through the noise to create a campaign that not only attracts shoppers but also leaves an emotional (and magical) brand connection.
Far more than a temporary retail space, a well-designed holiday activation can immerse customers in your brand story, spark social sharing, and drive measurable sales uplift at a time when purchase intent is already high. From integrating tactile and traditional design features through to weaving in sustainability and luxury cues, we’ve collated 5 projects that highlight how the right creative approach can transform a seasonal display into an memorable brand experience.
1. Sephora’s “Give Something Beautiful” Holiday Pop Up
Concept
For the “Give Something Beautiful” holiday campaign, DisplayWise crafted a vibrant, in-mall pop up at Melbourne Central for the Black Friday sales and pre-Christmas period. The design brought Sephora’s global campaign to life using 3D icons, puffy textures, and the brand’s bold colour palette, while adapting to local retail constraints and high-traffic demands.
Custom Design and Build Features:
Oversized Present Structure with Puffy Ribbon Wall
A striking oversized gift box served as the focal point, with bubble-like, puffy 3D ribbon and wall panels that brought the gifting theme to vivid life
Durable, High-Traffic Materials
The materials used maintained the soft, textured aesthetic while being robust enough to withstand four weeks of heavy foot traffic.
Precise Brand Alignment Through Paint
To ensure exact colour matching (especially magenta-pink), the team opted for premium painted finishes rather than printed graphics.
Modular, After-Hours Installation
The design was modular and prefabricated, enabling swift overnight installation without disrupting shopping centre operations.
Creative Ideas for your Holiday Pop Up Shop:
Incorporating oversized props, such as gift boxes, ornaments, or sculptural frames, can create striking visual anchors that not only draw attention but also double as photo opportunities for shoppers. To deepen the sensory experience, layering in soft-touch textures encourages customers to engage physically with the space, adding a memorable tactile element for your Christmas pop up. Finally, opting for a modular build allows for your brand to repurpose elements for future campaigns and supports circularity principles as well as sustainable design.
Ready to bring your Christmas pop up shop to life? Contact DisplayWise today to start planning your festive activation that’s guaranteed to deliver big brand impact.
2. L’Occitane’s House Of Wonder
Concept
L’Occitane’s House of Wonder was a festive, Santa’s workshop-style pop up located in the heart of Pitt Street Mall. DisplayWise collaborated with the brand on this holiday activation with the goal of inviting shoppers to explore and purchase limited-edition Christmas collections, complete with an interactive experience that blended festive cheer and sustainability principles.
Custom Design and Build Features:
SPIN-TO-WIN PRIZE WHEEL
The first 100 shoppers each day had the chance to spin the wheel and win a prize from a range of exciting festive products, including the coveted L’Occitane Classic Advent Calendar. This daily promotional activity encouraged early holiday shoppers to engage with the brand in a fun and interactive way.
SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS
True to L’Occitane’s eco-conscious values, the pop up also emphasised sustainability by featuring the brand’s Refill Fountain for eco-friendly product refills, a Terracycle bin for recycling and a focus on refillable, zero-plastic waste products. Assets from the previous award-winning ‘Sustainable Pop Up Refill Station’ were also repurposed, highlighting the importance of reusability.
FESTIVE DECOR AND STYLING
Festoon lighting, reminiscent of Christmas lights, further helped create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, enhancing the magical holiday spirit.
Creative Ideas for your Holiday Pop Up Shop:
Creating a festive and interactive shopping experience while emphasising sustainability can resonate deeply with today’s eco-conscious consumers. Consider introducing a similar “Spin & Win” element to attract foot traffic and boost engagement during peak holiday shopping hours. Alternatively, set up sensory zones where customers can touch, smell or sample your products paired with expert-led demos or consultations to make the pop up experience more immersive and informative.
From bold creative concepts to seamless execution, DisplayWise can help you craft the perfect holiday activation. Let’s talk about your Christmas pop up today with sensory experiences at the forefront.
3. Lancome’s Le Louvre
Concept
For Lancôme’s Le Louvre campaign, DisplayWise collaborated with agency client, Bastion Experience, to create an exquisite Christmas pop up at the Emporium Melbourne. Inspired by the grandeur of the Louvre Museum, the pop up featured elegant marble finishes, opulent golden accents and Lancôme’s iconic rose symbol. This centerpiece was a striking brand icon that served as a sophisticated backdrop for the limited-edition holiday collection.
Custom Design and Build Features:
GIFTING STATION AND ADVENT CALENDAR
The back wall featured an interactive gifting wall and advent calendar design, allowing customers to explore and engage with various Lancome products. This setup not only provided a personalised shopping experience but also assisted staff in managing and refreshing stock throughout the Christmas pop up period.
LIGHTBOX SIGNAGE
Strategically placed lightboxes with custom branded graphics captured the attention of shoppers from the busy street and drew them into the immersive space. The clever use of the Louvre’s iconic imagery also helped bridge the brand’s luxury aesthetic with the historic elegance of the French landmark.
Creative Ideas for your Holiday Pop Up Store:
By incorporating recognisable brand symbols and festive elements into your Christmas pop up shop, you can forge a memorable connection between your brand, the holiday season and the customer. To extend on this idea, you could host mini-workshops or live demonstrations in your pop up shop, such as DIY gift wrapping, holiday cocktail making, or even festive craft sessions if they align with your brand identity. Why not try partnering with industry influencers to enhance the appeal and provide valuable, engaging content for your visitors? For tips on how to find the right influencers, read our latest article to leverage these genuine endorsements that will boost brand awareness and attract more foot traffic.
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4. Viktor & Rolf’s Flowerbomb
Concept
The Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Christmas pop up, crafted in collaboration with our agency client Bastion Experience, was a captivating blend of digital and in-store marketing, situated at the iconic Chadstone Shopping Centre. This activation was a key component in ‘The Biggest Christmas Tree Challenge on TikTok’ campaign, which invited customers to create their own holiday tree inspired by the opulent setting of the festive pop up.
Custom Design and Build Features:
FLOWERBOMB CHRISTMAS TREE
At the heart of the display was an extravagant Christmas tree adorned with Flowerbomb bottles, shimmering LED lights and luxurious decorations that reflected the fragrance’s signature scent and elegant packaging.
COUTURE DECOR
The custom Christmas tree featured replica couture tulle ornaments from Viktor&Rolf’s haute-couture clothing line along with a faux fireplace mantlepiece, a Viktor & Rolf branded chair and couture Christmas dinner table. These additions created a warm, inviting atmosphere while maintaining the high-end, glamorous aesthetic of the brand.
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
True to Viktor & Rolf’s commitment to sustainability, the pop up also used eco-friendly materials. GreenTick Acrylic™ was used for the custom branded signage and recycled cardboard was used for the print materials, to align with the brand’s environmental values whilst appealing to eco-conscious shoppers.
Creative Ideas for your Holiday Pop Up Store:
Integrating digital campaigns with physical pop ups can create a seamless brand experience that engages customers on multiple fronts during the holiday season. Additionally, the use of sustainable materials not only supports environmental responsibility but can also enhance your brand reputation with eco-conscious consumers.
Why not set up an eco-friendly gift-wrapping station with recycled or recyclable festive wrapping paper? If you don’t have space for a wrapping station in your pop up footprint, you could offer custom gift tags or reusable wrapping options to emphasise sustainability and provide a memorable, yet practical festive service. For more tips on how to increase sales this holiday retail season, check out our latest article.
Alternatively, get started now and speak to DisplayWise about a sales-driven pop up build that’s guaranteed to maximise your holiday revenue this season.
5. Le Petit Emporium
Concept
Le Petit Emporium was an exquisite Christmas pop up that unified several luxury brands under one roof, showcasing the prestigious portfolio from L’Oréal, including Lancôme, Prada, Giorgio Armani, YSL, Viktor & Rolf, Ralph Lauren and Valentino. In collaboration with our agency partner, Bastion Experience, DisplayWise ensured each brand was represented in a custom designed space, reflecting each unique identity whilst catering to the ambiance of Chadstone – The Fashion Capital shopping centre.
Custom Design and Build Features:
DISTINCT BRAND SPACES
Each area within the pop up was crafted to embody the essence of the respective brand. From the elegant sophistication of Prada through to the bold glamour of Valentino, the design elements, including opulent décor and high-end product displays, were tailored to enhance each brand’s unique attributes as well as assisting shoppers locate their preferred products.
COHESIVE LUXURY EXPERIENCE
Despite the distinctiveness of each brand’s space, the overall design maintained a cohesive theme of luxury and exclusivity. This approach ensured a seamless flow throughout the Christmas pop up, offering visitors a rich and immersive retail experience that celebrated both individual brand identities and the collective allure of the emporium.
Creative Ideas for your Holiday Pop Up Store:
Collaborating with multiple brands in a single pop up creates a dynamic and diverse environment that can attract a broader audience. Why not partner with complimentary brands to offer a limited-edition or exclusive product collaborations only available at your Christmas pop up shop? This exclusivity can drive traffic and create buzz, enhancing the perceived value of the experience. Alternatively, offer an exclusive “luxury sampling” program where customers can receive curated gift bags featuring mini-sized products from each brand.
Let’s create a magical brand experience for your customers this season. Get in touch with team to design and deliver your Christmas pop up shop that delights customers, sparks conversations, and inspires social sharing.
Ultimately, to create an effective Christmas pop up this year, we’re predicting that brands need to focus on 3 main elements; brand storytelling, value-add collaborations and sustainability. By drawing inspiration from these successful campaigns and integrating innovative design elements, you can create a unique experience that resonates with your audience and drives engagement.
At DisplayWise, we specialise in crafting bespoke holiday pop up shops and brand activations that capture the spirit of the season and enhance your brand’s visibility. Ready to bring your Christmas pop up vision to life? Contact the team today to explore how we can help you design a memorable and successful holiday campaign together.
