5 Bizarre Yet Loyalty-Boosting Ways to Create Effective Branding
In a world where every brand is shouting to be heard, the strangest voices often leave the deepest echo.
Branding doesn’t always have to follow the rules. In fact, sometimes the most bizarre, unexpected, or even slightly offbeat branding tactics are the ones that stick—because they surprise, delight, or completely disarm your audience.
And here’s the twist: Bizarre doesn’t mean off-brand. It means boldly memorable.
These unconventional strategies aren’t just about grabbing attention—they’re loyalty magnets. Let’s dive into five oddball branding ideas that are weirdly effective and surprisingly strategic.
1. Invent a Fictional World—And Let Your Packaging Live in It
Forget logos and taglines. Try world-building. Think of your brand as a universe with its own characters, myths, and lore.
Why it works:
- Customers don’t just buy—they enter your world.
- It creates emotional immersion.
- It gives limitless room for storytelling across packaging, social, and even in-store.
Case in point:
A niche tea company created custom tea packaging based on an imaginary Victorian apothecary society. Each pouch carried a “herbalist’s seal,” a mystical backstory, and a corresponding tea spell. Customers collect every tea just to uncover the next chapter.
Try this if you:
- Sell handmade, artisanal, or organic goods
- Want to create collectible or seasonal packaging
- Thrive in visual, storytelling-driven branding
2. Make Your Brand a Character (Yes, Literally)
You’ve seen mascots—but what if your brand voice itself became a character?
Think:
- Your email sign-offs are from “The Packaging Witch”
- Your instruction inserts are narrated by a sarcastic detective
- Your pouches speak directly to customers like cheeky roommates
Why it works:
- Customers bond with personalities
- Humor or playfulness disarms skepticism
- The tone becomes instantly recognizable
Pro tip:
Choose a personality that matches your customer base. Millennials love dry wit. Gen Z responds to chaotic honesty. Boomers appreciate smart warmth.
3. Hide Secret Messages Where They Least Expect It
Nothing says “this brand gets me” like a hidden gem just for the observant.
Try adding:
- Tiny printed messages inside your packaging
- QR codes that unlock hidden playlists or mini-games
- Unexpected copy under peel-off layers or flaps
- “Secret ingredient” trivia under labels or stickers
This builds loyalty because:
- It rewards engagement
- Customers feel like insiders
- People love brands that go the extra inch
Real-world inspiration:
A pasta brand hides fun facts under every pasta seal on their custom pasta pouches. ““Tortellini” is said to be inspired by the navel of a woman.” becomes a shareable discovery. Customers look forward to opening each one.
4. Build Rituals, Not Just Habits
Ritual is branding with heart. While habits are mechanical, rituals are meaningful. They turn repeat usage into emotional engagement.
Create rituals through:
- Special ways to open your pouch (think wax-sealed tabs, guided tearing)
- Branded routines (“Tear, scoop, pause. Breathe.” printed directly on the film.)
- Sound or scent cues (aromatherapy brands: this is your playground)
Why it matters:
Humans are ritualistic by nature. Associating your brand with a moment makes it harder to forget—and easier to crave.
5. Do the Opposite of What Makes Sense (Strategically)
This is where it gets truly weird—yet powerfully effective.
A few examples:
- Use extra space instead of minimizing waste (to emphasize care or luxury)
- Wrap your product in fabric instead of plastic (memorable texture + reuse)
- Choose unusual fonts or clashing colors (to break expected visual patterns)
- Add noise to a minimalist niche (and vice versa)
Why it works:
Disruption forces attention. As long as your “opposite” move is intentional—and emotionally resonant—it becomes your signature.
One beauty brand packaged its travel-size products in black instead of pastel (the dominant palette in their category). Result? Instant visual pop in every shelf photo. They became known as “the goth brand for your glow-up.”
The Takeaway: Weird Wins—When It’s Rooted in Truth
Bizarre branding works best when it’s not random, but revealing.
Each of these approaches lets you deepen your brand identity by surprising your audience—and in return, your customers reward you with their trust, loyalty, and advocacy.
Here’s how to bring it home:
- Know your audience. Weird should feel delightful, not alienating.
- Commit fully. Half-baked oddness is just confusing.
- Tie it to your why. If your strangeness serves your story, it works.
So if you’ve been playing it safe—maybe it’s time to zig where others zag. Your weirdest idea might just be your most unforgettable one. Talk to your creative team and print provider to get the best outcomes.
