Last week, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur were surprised with a troupe wearing red spandex, wandering around the city while pushing carts and carrying big boxes. In Singapore, individuals dressed in red spandex roamed iconic spots like Orchard Road, the Merlion, and Raffles Place, pushing red trolleys and carrying boxes emblazoned with ‘Shop more. Save more. Meanwhile, across the border in Kuala Lumpur, a similar group made their way through areas around the Petronas Towers, Putri Heights, busy shopping districts, and train stations.
As social media buzz intensified, regional fashion and lifestyle e-commerce platform ZALORA has revealed that they are the ones behind the ‘IRL’ execution as part of its promotion for the platform’s 11.11 sale.
In an exclusive conversation by MARKETECH APAC with Neha Bhasin, director of marketing and brand communications at ZALORA, she stated that given that the 11.11 Sales period is their biggest event of the year, they wanted to capture attention with something that would resonate with people offline and create buzz online as well. This is on top of recognising how there is increased competition nowadays between e-commerce players locally.
“Guerrilla marketing was the perfect choice because it allowed us to break through the noise, turning everyday public spaces in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur into interactive touchpoints with our audience. The spandex-suited troupe and vibrant red carts symbolised the energetic and diverse world of ZALORA, which offers everything from fashion to beauty and sports, creating an immediate, fun connection to the massive savings offered on 11.11,” Neha explained.
The campaign, done by ZALORA’s in-house team, drew inspiration from the energy and vibrancy of the digital shopping experience and the universal excitement around a good deal.
“The concept of spandex suit-clad individuals pushing red carts with bold messages like “Shop More Save More” aligned well with the 11.11 Sale’s spirit. Each cart was curated to represent a major category on ZALORA, like fashion, beauty, sports, and luxury, reinforcing the variety of our offerings and amplifying the idea that there’s something for everyone in this sale. It was about making a direct, impactful statement to the public while maintaining the fun, engaging tone that our customers associate with ZALORA,” Neha added.
When asked how important it is for ZALORA to create an ‘IRL’ campaign despite its e-commerce offerings, Neha noted how they always wanted to create a bridge between the online and offline worlds.
She also stressed that while ZALORA’s core is e-commerce, the brand recognises that real-world, tangible experiences deepen customer engagement and trust.
“An IRL campaign makes our online sales event more relatable and approachable, especially to those who may not be active digital shoppers. By presenting a memorable, shareable spectacle on the streets, we’re not only expanding our reach but also creating content that is likely to go viral, which complements our digital strategy for a full 360-degree approach to the 11.11 sale,” she said.
In terms of what the ZALORA team learned from this guerilla marketing campaign, Neha stated that one of the biggest takeaways was seeing firsthand the value of disruptive, creative marketing in building brand visibility. For them, this campaign taught them the power of experiential engagement and how it can amplify an online event.
“We found that people are eager for novel, share-worthy experiences, and this campaign delivered on that front by generating organic conversation both on the streets and across social media. This experience reinforced the importance of a holistic approach to our campaigns, where every activation — online or offline — works in synergy to create a cohesive and memorable brand experience,” she concluded.
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Offline campaigns remain essential for e-commerce players like ZALORA because they bridge the digital and physical worlds, creating memorable, tangible experiences that resonate with a wider audience. By capturing attention in high-traffic, real-world locations, brands can engage new customers, increase brand visibility, and spark organic social media buzz as people share their encounters online.
These offline touchpoints generate excitement, foster brand loyalty, and amplify digital engagement, making them a powerful tool to drive traffic and sales in a highly competitive e-commerce landscape
