CASE STUDY: Hitster’s Entry into UK’s High-footfall Centres

How SpaceandPeople, Jumbo Group and Purity People turned the ultimate party game into a real-world retail hit.

Hitster at Westfield London_003

THE BRIEF

When Jumbo Group set out to expand Hitster – their viral music-party game into physical retail, they partnered with SpaceandPeople to bring the experience to life in two of the UK’s busiest shopping destinations: Westfield London and The Trafford Centre.

The goal: to create a high-energy, experiential pop-up retail activation in London and Manchester that would turn shoppers into players – driving engagement, visibility and sales ahead of the festive season.

THE CHALLENGE

To build on their strong online traction and nationwide listings in John Lewis, Argos and other retailers, Hitster wanted to connect directly with UK shoppers – creating real-world experiences that built excitement and trust.

OBJECTIVES

  • Test the impact of pop-up retail in high-footfall locations

  • Increase brand awareness through live, in-person interaction

  • Take advantage of the increased shopping centre festive footfall to increase sales of their Hitster product range

THE SOLUTION

To deliver the right balance of visibility, flexibility and energy, SpaceandPeople proposed the Rock Up and Pop Up solution – a complete, end-to-end retail activation service covering location strategy, kiosk design and staffing.

  • Location Strategy & Activation

    Leveraging our premium venue network, we placed Hitster in two top-performing centres, Westfield London and the Trafford Centre, selected for their strong entertainment and gifting audiences.

  • Custom-branded Kiosks

    Our in-house design and operations teams built a bold, playful kiosk reflecting Hitster’s signature style – easy to navigate, instantly recognisable and built for enggement.

  • Retail Staffing & Shopper Engagement

    To deliver the energy the brand is widely known for, we partnered with Purity People – a specialist staffing team who ran live demos, quick-fire music quizzes and product demos. Their work turned passers-by into active participants, creating a memorable brand moments at every interaction.

Together, these elements transformed traditional retail space into a high-impact experiential zone, proving that pop-up retail can seamlessly connect digital-first brands with real-world audiences.

Hitster at Westfield London

THE RESULTS

The Hitster activations have quickly become standout attractions in both centres, with crowds gathering daily to sing, play and shop.

  • Consistent footfall and dwell time throughout trading hours

  • Strong sales uplift across both locations

  • High shopper satisfaction and social media buzz

  • Seamless collaboration between Jumbo Group, Purity People and SpaceandPeople

THE TAKEAWAY

Pop-up retail in London and Manchester continues to prove its power – giving brands like Hitster, a flexible way to carry out seasonal activations, boost awareness, boost awareness and drive measurable ROI without long-term leases.

By combining strategic location planning, custom design and expert retail staffing, SpaceandPeople helps consumer brands bring their products to life – turning empty space into opportunity.

Thinking about launching your own pop-up retail activation?

Get in touch with our Rock Up and Pop Up team to explore how we can bring your brand to life in high-traffic UK shopping centres.

Email us at marketing@spaceandpeople.co.uk

Tags: