PopSockets partnered with Aligned Growth to re-inspire brand love and prompt in-store purchases at Target during the holiday season, leveraging a hybrid influencer strategy across evergreen storytelling and seasonal retail moments.
The Challenge
PopSockets entered the holiday gifting season with two objectives.
First, they needed to inspire in-store discovery while PopSockets had significant holiday retail promotions active.
Second, the product itself required education. While a widely recognized brand name, many consumers still weren’t fully aware of how PopSockets function across use cases (magnetic grips, cases, and stands) and double as a fashion accessory.
All of this had to break through the noise of an oversaturated holiday content landscape, where every brand is competing for attention.
The Solution
To go after this, we implemented a retail-focused influencer strategy designed to balance brand storytelling with seasonal, high purchase intent content.
We focused on two core creator buckets:
1. Evergreen Ambassadors (Always-On Influence)
Creators who naturally integrated PopSockets into their daily lives across fashion and functionality.
- Created authentic, lifestyle-driven content over a two-month period
- Posted multiple times across platforms to build repetition and familiarity
- Showcased PopSockets as both a practical tool and style accessory
- Focused on natural storytelling vs. forced promotion
This built sustained brand affinity and normalized the product in everyday use.
2. Seasonal Target Creators (In-Store Activation)
Creators focused on the in-store shopping experience and gifting mindset.
- Produced in-store Target content, highlighting displays and placement
- Positioned PopSockets as a go-to holiday gift
- Heavy on promotion angle appealing to holiday value shoppers
- Reinforced Target as the destination for purchase
Across both buckets of influencers:
- We activated creators across multiple deliverables and channels to reinforce brand affinity (rather than one-off posts)
- PopSockets was the hero of the content while Target was the secondary focus
- Content was fun and native to each creator’s style
- Strong emphasis on educating consumers on functionality and versatility
The Results
- 1.1M impressions
- 9 creators activated
- 50 pieces of content live
- 3.6x average post frequency per creator
- 15.3K likes
- 2.4K comments
- 26% impression rate
Standout Content & Creator Highlights
Some of the most impactful content came from:
- In-store discovery content
Creators filming inside Target, showcasing PopSockets displays as part of their shopping journey—turning the product into a “found it while browsing” moment rather than a forced promotion. - Everyday lifestyle integration
Creators incorporating PopSockets into daily routines, reinforcing both functionality and style in a natural way.
Key Takeaway
By combining creator storytelling with direct retail messaging, PopSockets successfully drove both digital engagement and in-store demand at Target.
This campaign proved that influencer marketing can do more than generate impressions. It can reinforce brand preference and influence real-world shopping behavior, even in the most competitive retail moments.
