The 7 Most Quirky Valentine’s Day Marketing Campaigns 💖💖💓💓

Valentine’s Day is a goldmine for marketers, but not every brand goes the traditional route of heart-shaped chocolates and sentimental ads. Some take a delightfully quirky approach, standing out with unexpected, humorous, or downright bizarre campaigns. Here are seven of the most unconventional Valentine’s Day marketing stunts that grabbed attention—and maybe even some hearts.

1. Burger King’s ‘Breakup Box’

Most brands focus on love, but Burger King decided to celebrate breakups. In 2020, they launched the ‘Breakup Box’ campaign, where heartbroken customers could bring in a photo of their ex to exchange for a free Whopper. The campaign ran in select cities and cleverly tied into the release of the film Birds of Prey, featuring Harley Quinn moving on from the Joker. Who needs love when you have a flame-grilled burger?

2. IKEA’s ‘Love Manual’

IKEA put a romantic spin on their famous instruction booklets with a Valentine’s Day-themed ‘Love Manual.’ This tongue-in-cheek guide playfully compared building a relationship to assembling furniture, complete with step-by-step instructions and compatibility tests. A clever way to remind couples that working together (and maybe a little bit of patience) is key to success.

3. KFC’s ‘Chicken Bouquets’

Nothing says ‘I love you’ like... fried chicken? KFC Australia took a finger-lickin’ approach to Valentine’s Day by offering chicken nugget bouquets. Instead of flowers, customers could present their loved ones with an arrangement of crispy, golden tenders. The campaign was a hilarious hit and proved that the way to someone’s heart might just be through their stomach.

4. Netflix’s ‘Lonely Hearts Hotline’

Netflix UK created a ‘Lonely Hearts Hotline’ in 2021, targeting singles spending Valentine’s Day alone. The hotline featured pre-recorded messages from popular characters, offering comfort, sass, and humor. Fans could dial in and hear messages from beloved shows, making solo Valentine’s Day a little less lonely. It was a simple, low-cost campaign that played on audience engagement and fandom loyalty.

5. Skittles’ ‘Love Mix’ – Featuring Only Red & Pink Skittles

Skittles took a playful approach by releasing their ‘Love Mix,’ a bag of only red and pink Skittles. But what made it quirky? Their ad campaign featured ‘forbidden love’ stories—like a vampire falling for a ghost, all illustrated in their signature wacky style. It was a fun, unconventional way to make candy lovers feel the love (and maybe a little bit of sugar rush).

6. Deadpool’s Romantic Rebrand

In 2016, Deadpool hit theaters just before Valentine’s Day, but instead of marketing as a typical action movie, they went all-in on romance. Posters and ads positioned Deadpool as a love story, complete with Nicholas Sparks-style imagery. This hilarious contrast between an R-rated superhero film and rom-com vibes made it one of the most unexpected and memorable Valentine’s marketing stunts ever.

7. The Bronx Zoo’s ‘Name a Cockroach After Your Ex’

For those still bitter about past relationships, the Bronx Zoo offered a hilarious alternative to traditional Valentine’s gifts: the chance to name a cockroach after your ex. For a small fee, heartbroken (or petty) individuals could receive a certificate proving that a creepy-crawly now carried the name of their former flame. It was a brilliantly weird way to tap into post-breakup emotions while raising funds for the zoo.