1851

It’s hard to miss the latest celebrity meal available at <a href="https://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en-us/us-franchising.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-incredible-franchise-marketing-campaigns-2718298" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">McDonald</a>’s or to see who serves the best chicken sandwich with incredibly long lines at fast-food restaurants. Then there are the non-food companies that are creating unforgettable characters or sparking a social media movement on gender inequality. These five franchises have created marketing campaigns that will inspire even greater ideas in the years to come.<h4>McDonald’s Celebrity Meals</h4>McDonald’s capitalized on its collaborations with celebrities by launching celebrity meals. The brand has several <a href="https://www.suggest.com/celebrity-endorsed-mcdonalds-meal/2570936/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-incredible-franchise-marketing-campaigns-2718298" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">partnerships with celebrities</a> where they launched their own meals, including Travis Scott, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, BTS and, most recently, Saweetie.&nbsp;The McJordan Special featured a quarter pounder with bacon and barbecue sauce, fries and a soft drink, while Saweetie is the first woman to land a McDonald’s celebrity meal, which includes a Big Mac, fries, a four-piece McNugget, tangy barbecue sauce, “Saweetie ’N Sour” sauce and a Sprite.<h4>Allstate’s Mayhem Campaign</h4>The well-dressed, albeit a little beat-up-looking, character called <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/celebrity/allstate-s-mayhem-actor-reflects-on-pain-tolerance-after-three-amputations/ar-AAQf6Dl?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-incredible-franchise-marketing-campaigns-2718298" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mayhem</a> from Allstate’s commercials has been causing a ruckus for home and car owners for years. The character highlights unexpected vulnerabilities and disasters that can pop up in life, and how being a customer of Allstate puts you “in good hands.”<h4>IHOP to IHOB</h4>The world collectively sighed when they heard the beloved breakfast joint <a href="https://www.ihop.com/en/about-ihop/franchise-opportunities/usa/investment-costs?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-incredible-franchise-marketing-campaigns-2718298" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">International House of Pancakes</a> was changing its name to the <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/why-did-ihop-change-to-ihob-june-3-2019?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-incredible-franchise-marketing-campaigns-2718298" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">International House of Burgers</a>. The restaurant launched the public relations stunt to raise awareness of the brand’s burger options in addition to breakfast plates. The stunt resulted in more than 28,000 media stories and, in the first 10 days of the campaign, 1.2 million tweets. Additionally, burger sales quadrupled year-over-year, and its lunch and dinner sales increased 15% and 28% respectively.<h4>Popeyes’ Chicken Sandwich</h4>It’s hard to pass up a good chicken sandwich, and when <a href="https://www.popeyes.com/franchise?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-incredible-franchise-marketing-campaigns-2718298" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Popeyes</a> released its fried chicken version, the brand sold out of the product in two weeks. With drive-thru lines that stretched from restaurants to streets, Popeyes’ fried chicken sandwich was a major hit as it expected to sell around 60 sandwiches per day at each of its locations. It also spurred interaction between other chicken brands, including <a href="https://www.chick-fil-a.com/franchise?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-incredible-franchise-marketing-campaigns-2718298" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chick-fil-A</a>, and started the <a href="https://shortyawards.com/12th/gsdm-and-popeyes-chicken-wars?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-incredible-franchise-marketing-campaigns-2718298" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">#chickenwars</a> trend.<h4>European Wax Centers #axthepinktax</h4>Social media and social justice groups ignited a mission to raise awareness regarding the prices and taxes on feminine products. European Wax Centers jumped in on the action with the <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/european-wax-center-seeks-to-end-the-unjust-pink-tax-on-products-marketed-to-women-with-axthepinktax-campaign-300616237.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-incredible-franchise-marketing-campaigns-2718298" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">#axthepinktax</a> campaign, drawing attention to the fact that women are charged more than men for comparable products and services, also called the Pink Tax. Numbers showed that women were spending more than $1,300 more per year on hygiene products at prices that were 43% higher than similar products also sold to men.

5 Incredible Franchise Marketing Campaigns

1851 Franchise

From celebrity-sponsored meals to the launch of the #chickenwars, franchises have launched viral marketing campaigns that grabbed the attention of customers around the country, and the world.

5-incredible-franchise-marketing-campaigns

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Good Day Columbus: Home Insurance Expert Reveals Why Central Ohio Premiums Are Rising and How to Combat Costs

rising-home-insurance-costs-ohio

CapitalSpring

Primetime Fitness Expands Crunch Portfolio With CapitalSpring’s Backing

primetime-fitness-expands-crunch-portfolio-with-capitalsprings-backing

Children's Lighthouse

How Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees Scale to Multiple Locations

how-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees-scale-to-multiple-locations

Express Employment Professionals

Betting on Himself: How Chris Brown Built an Express Employment Professionals Franchise From the Ground Up

betting-on-himself-how-chris-brown-built-an-express-employment-professionals-franchise-from-the-ground-up

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers® Named One of America’s Best Home-Care Providers

comfort-keepers-named-one-of-americas-best-home-care-providers

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Jollibee -Launch-Story-Brand-Page-Deep-Dive-2025

Jollibee Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

jollibee-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025

Design with image of employee holding card reader and customer paying

How Smart Retail Franchises Are Winning Against Online Competition

retail-franchise-opportunities

How Network In Action Is Redefining the Franchise Model With Community, Connection and Fast ROI

network-in-action-franchise-scott-talley-interview

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

5 Incredible Franchise Marketing Campaigns

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS