Some brands advertise. Others take over.
Jimmy’s Iced Coffee has built a reputation for doing the latter, transforming city streets into extensions of its brand through clever, immersive campaigns that put consumers right at the centre of the action. From sampling tours and pop-up events to large-scale out-of-home (OOH) takeovers, the B Corp-certified coffee brand has mastered the art of showing up where its audience already spends time.
It’s a strategy that’s helped Jimmy’s become one of the UK’s most recognisable ready-to-drink coffee brands, stocked in more than 7,000 locations nationwide and loved for its playful personality, sustainability credentials and authentic approach to marketing.
But what makes Jimmy’s campaigns so effective isn’t any single channel. It’s how they bring everything together.
More Than Advertising, It’s an Experience
Today’s consumers want to experience brands and Jimmy’s understands this better than most. Its marketing regularly combines OOH advertising, experiential activations, product sampling and social media activity to create campaigns that feel less like marketing and more like a moment people want to be part of.
Whether it’s handing out free cans at run clubs, partnering with local wellness communities or popping up in cultural hotspots, Jimmy’s has made a habit of embedding itself in the places where Millennials and Gen Z naturally gather.
The result? A brand that feels present, relevant and authentic.
Taking Over Manchester and Brighton
This spring, Jimmy’s turned up the volume with two eye-catching city takeovers promoting its indulgent new Cookie Butter flavour.
Working with Ground Up Media and Bay Media, the brand rolled out immersive banner campaigns as part of a wider OOH and sampling strategy designed to create maximum visibility and excitement.
First came Manchester, where 69 lamppost banners transformed the Northern Quarter in May. Known for its independent spirit, creative energy and trend-setting audiences, the area was the perfect backdrop for a brand that thrives on personality and community engagement.
This month, all eyes are on Brighton, where 23 banners line Queen’s Road until mid June. Stretching along one of the city’s busiest routes to the seafront, the campaign created a striking visual presence that guided visitors through the city while keeping Jimmy’s front and centre.
Together, the campaigns help create a genuine sense of takeover. Not just a handful of ads dotted around town, but a coordinated brand presence that feel impossible to ignore.
The Secret Ingredient? Collaboration
Campaigns like these demonstrate what can happen when brands, agencies and media partners work together towards a shared vision. Ground Up Media’s strategic planning, Jimmy’s bold creative approach and our expertise in delivering impactful banner campaigns combined to create something much bigger than a standard advertising campaign. Working closely with Ground Up Media, our Head of Agency Sales, Shifali, played a key role in coordinating the banner campaign, helping bring the wider activation to life across Manchester and Brighton.
Discussing the campaign and the partnership behind it, Ground Up Media Director Rowan Bastable said:
“Always a pleasure to work with Shifali at Bay Media! The Jimmy’s Iced Coffee campaign was a great example of how lamppost banners can bring a brand to life by dressing the streets and creating a genuine takeover effect across a city. Positioned above street level, they deliver standout visibility, helping brands stay front of mind while complementing and amplifying the wider media mix.”
“Always a pleasure to work with Shifali at Bay Media! The Jimmy’s Iced Coffee campaign was a great example of how lamppost banners can bring a brand to life by dressing the streets and creating a genuine takeover effect across a city. Positioned above street level, they deliver standout visibility, helping brands stay front of mind while complementing and amplifying the wider media mix.”
It’s a reminder that great brand activations are rarely the result of a single channel or partner. When brands, agencies and media owners work together with a shared goal, campaigns become more than a collection of media placements.
Lessons Brands Can Learn From Jimmy’s
Jimmy’s success offers a simple but powerful reminder: visibility matters, but immersion matters more.
The strongest campaigns don’t rely on a single channel to do all the heavy lifting. They combine physical presence, real-world experiences and smart media planning to create something audiences genuinely notice and remember.
By blending experiential marketing, sampling, social engagement and strategic OOH placements, Jimmy’s continues to show how modern brand activation should be done.
Ready to Create Your Own City Takeover?
Get in touch with our team today and discover how banner advertising can elevate your wider media strategy, create standout visibility and turn everyday locations into unforgettable brand experiences.