New Year is one of the busiest moments in the marketing calendar. People reset routines, plan holidays, sign up to gyms and look for deals. For brands, it is a prime time to be front of mind and London bus advertising gives a powerful way to stay visible in that rush.
Below are the brand categories that lean into the New Year and how they can use bus formats to win attention on the streets of London.
Fitness Brands Chasing the January Reset
Every January, fitness and wellness demand spikes as people set fresh health goals. Industry reports show gym membership searches rise sharply straight after New Year and sign ups often peak in the first weeks of January.
Typical New Year advertisers in this space include
- National gym chains and boutique studios
- Sportswear brands and trainers
- Fitness apps, wearables and online workout platforms
- Healthy food and supplement brands
Gym and fitness brands can use bus wraps and bus sides to dominate key commuter routes that pass business districts and residential areas. Repeated views on daily commutes help keep that “join now” message in front of people at the moment they are ready to act.
Financial Brands Tapping the Fresh Start Mindset
New Year is also money reset season. People review budgets, think about debt, plan savings and consider new products. Financial advertisers around New Year often include
- High street banks and digital challenger banks
- Credit card and loan providers
- Investment platforms and pension brands
- Budgeting apps and personal finance tools
For this sector, London bus ads build trust through repeated presence in familiar local areas.
Smart tactics include
- Bus rears to hit drivers in slow moving traffic near shopping centres
- Bus interiors for longer dwell time with seated passengers
- Route plans that serve financial districts and high footfall transport hubs
Retail and Supermarkets Pushing New Year Deals
Retailers see strong opportunities before and after New Year. Shoppers hunt for last minute party items, then switch straight into sales mode once January hits.
Brands that typically invest heavily here include
- Supermarkets with party food and fresh start ranges
- Fashion retailers with New Year sales
- Electronics and homeware brands clearing stock
- Health and beauty brands promoting seasonal offers
High frequency streetliner style bus formats can stack reach at pace, creating a sense of momentum for short New Year sales windows. London’s dense road network keeps brands visible close to stores and retail parks, helping to convert interest into visits.
Travel and Tourism Planning Season
Many people book holidays and short breaks in the first quarter of the year. New Year advertising from this sector often features
- Airlines and train operators
- Package holiday and city break providers
- Tourism boards and destinations
- Hotel groups and booking sites
London buses can act as moving travel billboards across areas such as central London, key mainline stations and routes to airports.
Entertainment and Streaming Riding Cosy Season
As people spend more evenings at home in early January, entertainment brands push content discovery and subscription offers. Typical New Year advertisers include
- Streaming platforms
- Pay TV and broadband providers
- Gaming brands
- Live events and ticketing platforms
Bold creatives on bus wraps and experiential takeovers can turn vehicles into fan moments on wheels. Positioning these near cinemas, arenas and busy high streets amplifies campaign reach during key release windows.
Beauty, Wellness and Self Improvement Brands
Self improvement themes are strong around New Year. Beauty, wellness and education brands all benefit from this mood.
Common New Year advertisers include
- Skincare and cosmetics brands
- Vitamins, supplements and wellness products
- Language apps and online learning platforms
- Colleges and training providers promoting new term enrolments
By combining bus interiors with exterior formats, these brands can tell a full story. A bold exterior line can capture attention, while interior panels add detail on benefits, offers and call to action.
Matching Brand Goals to the Right Bus Advertising Format
Different New Year objectives call for different bus formats. Consider the following to select the right format:
- Use full bus wraps for major brand launches and city wide pushes
- Choose bus sides to reach shoppers and commuters at street level
- Add bus rears to stay visible in traffic and at junctions
- Layer interiors to reinforce offers while passengers are seated
A blended approach helps cover both frequency and impact over a four to six week New Year burst.
Planning a Winning New Year Bus Campaign
To make the most of the season, brands should plan early and build a simple, focused brief. Useful steps include
- Lock in campaign dates that span late December into mid or late January
- Decide primary goal such as sign ups, footfall or web visits
- Keep creative clear, with one hero message and supporting line
- Align landing pages and store teams with the bus message
Put Your Brand on the Move this New Year
If you want your brand to be front of mind when Londoners reset their habits, now is the time to plan your New Year bus activity.
At London Bus Advertising, we specialise in building targeted, creative and data led campaigns across the capital’s bus network. We help mid level brands and growing businesses choose formats, refine artwork and secure the right routes to reach shoppers, commuters and residents when it matters most.
To discuss a New Year strategy and get tailored options for your brand, get in touch with us today.
FAQs
Which brands gain the most by advertising on London buses around the New Year?
Fitness, finance, retail, travel, streaming and wellness brands gain the most by placing their ads on London buses around the New Year. Audiences are in decision mode and ready to act on gym offers, sales, money products and holiday ideas.
What formats work best for New Year campaigns?
High impact formats such as full bus wraps, Supersides and T-sides build buzz, while bus rears and bus interiors can give strong frequency and dwell time. The ideal mix depends on your budget and objectives.
Can smaller brands afford to advertise on buses around the New Year?
Yes. Advertising on London buses is flexible and can be scaled by route, duration and format. At London Bus Advertising we help mid level brands choose efficient packages so they can appear alongside larger advertisers without losing impact.