My Shoes, My Way — Hashtag Campaign

A UGC-driven hashtag campaign built to turn everyday DSW customers into brand advocates — encouraging shoppers to share how they style their favorite finds across Instagram and Facebook, then spotlighting real customer photos across owned channels.

Channel Strategy Comprehensive Social Management Crisis Planning Live Events
DSW #MyDSW hashtag campaign landing page
Industry
Footwear & Retail
Platforms
Instagram, Facebook, Website
Scope
Campaign + UGC Curation
The Goals

Where it started

DSW wanted its social presence to feel less like a catalog and more like a community — leaning on real customers as the most authentic voice for the brand, rather than relying solely on studio product photography. The goal was to build a campaign that felt genuinely customer-driven, not just customer-featured.

  • Build a recognizable, ownable hashtag customers would actually use
  • Source authentic, shoppable customer content at scale
  • Increase engagement across Instagram and Facebook

The Approach

How it came together

The campaign centered on #MyDSW, inviting shoppers to snap, tag, and share their favorite shoe moments for a chance to be featured on DSW's own channels and website. A dedicated landing page collected and displayed submissions, giving customers a sense of ownership over the brand's content. Owned Instagram and Facebook content wove real customer photos in alongside seasonal moments like Cyber Monday, keeping the feed feeling current, community-driven, and worth checking back on.

  • Branded hashtag strategy (#MyDSW)
  • On-site UGC gallery and submission page
  • Curated reposting across Instagram and Facebook
  • Seasonal tie-ins to keep the campaign feeling fresh

The Results

What changed

The #MyDSW campaign turned everyday customers into an ongoing source of brand content — building a library of authentic, shoppable photography that felt more trustworthy and relatable than traditional product shots and giving customers a reason to actively participate in the brand rather than just shop it.

  • Customers became content creators. Real shoppers submitted their own styled looks, giving DSW a steady stream of authentic, on-brand imagery beyond what studio shoots alone could produce.
  • UGC earned a permanent home. The campaign's success led to a dedicated landing page and gallery, signaling it as an ongoing brand asset rather than a one-off promotion.
  • The feed felt more current and communal. Weaving customer photos in with timely moments like Cyber Monday kept the brand's channels feeling active, relevant, and worth returning to.

More Work