In a unique and strategic collaboration, Snapchat has partnered with American Eagle to launch a first-of-its-kind advertising experience on Snap Map, just in time for the back-to-school shopping season. The promotion is designed to help American Eagle reach Gen Z consumers in an immersive, interactive way, while encouraging in-store and online purchases.
Starting this week, all 800+ American Eagle stores across the United States are being showcased as Promoted Places on Snap Map, the first retailer to receive this level of location-based promotion on the platform.
As part of the campaign, American Eagle locations are now marked with a special emoji on Snap Map, making them stand out from regular listings. When users tap on one of these highlighted stores, they’ll see a custom store profile with quick links to the brand’s Summer arrivals, exclusive content, and shopping options.
This new ad format is designed to engage Snapchat’s Gen Z audience where they already spend their time—on Snap Map, exploring local hangouts, shopping destinations, and social updates.
Each American Eagle listing in the Snap Map Promoted Places section includes:
Store location and business details
User-generated Stories and Spotlight content from other Snapchatters
Brand-produced videos and campaigns
Direct links to shop on AE.com
AR-based interactive shopping tools
This allows Snapchat users to not only find a store but also engage with the brand’s latest offerings in a highly visual and interactive format.
Alongside the Snap Map activation, American Eagle is launching an augmented reality (AR) “AE Jeans Try-On Haul” Lens, which will be featured in Snapchat’s Lens Carousel and on the brand’s Public Profile.
This AR Lens lets users virtually try on different styles of jeans, mirroring the in-store try-on experience. It’s a forward-thinking move that blends social media engagement with retail interactivity, offering a seamless and fun way to preview fashion items before making a purchase.
According to Snapchat, over 400 million users engage with Snap Map monthly, and more than 95% of Snapchatters plan to shop in physical stores during the back-to-school period. This makes the Snap Map a perfect touchpoint for connecting with young consumers planning their purchases and navigating where to shop.
By leveraging Snap Map’s location-based visibility, American Eagle is strategically positioning itself at the center of digital and real-world shopping journeys.
This activation is more than just a branding campaign—it’s a test of Snap Map’s potential as a commerce tool. By making physical store locations discoverable, interactive, and shoppable, Snapchat and American Eagle are offering a full-funnel shopping experience: from discovery to inspiration to transaction—all within the app.
With Promoted Places, AR try-on tools, and real-time content integration, this campaign represents the future of social commerce for retail.
Snapchat’s partnership with American Eagle sets a new benchmark for location-based advertising on the platform. While it may currently be a premium offering aimed at major brands, the success of this activation could pave the way for more retailers and advertisers to leverage Snap Map in the near future.
If engagement and foot traffic increase as expected, we may see a broader rollout of similar campaigns, with Snap Map evolving into a powerful retail discovery and conversion tool.
Conclusion: Blending Social, AR, and Retail to Drive Sales
Snapchat and American Eagle’s Snap Map campaign demonstrates the power of blending augmented reality, social content, and location-based discovery. As Gen Z continues to influence retail trends, brands that innovate with immersive digital strategies—like this one—are well-positioned to win the attention and loyalty of younger shoppers.
This activation is not just a tech experiment—it’s a glimpse into the future of digital-first retail marketing.