With a cost of living crisis, geopolitical uncertainty and the FIFA World Cup in December, this year’s lot of holiday ads is certain to be a mixed bag of emotive campaigns, uplifting films and discount-focused creative, with a little bit of soccer thrown in the mix.
Scroll down below to see how different brands are celebrating the holidays.
Bojangles - Put a Bo on it
Fried chicken services Bojangles is promoting its Big Bo Box delivery as the perfect meal for consumers celebrating the holiday season in the U.S.
The regional ad from creative agency EP+Co, titled "Put a Bo on It" aims to showcase how the company can help inspire holiday cheer through its app which aims to give people more of a reason to smile.
Activity will also run across radio and connected TV, which began on November 14.
Verizon - ’Tis the Season: Free 5G Phone’
Paul Giamatti stars as Ebeneezer Scrooge grumbling about poor phone reception when meeting Cecily Strong in the center of ye olde London town.
The Victorian-era setting doesn't prevent Verizon from highlighting its holiday offers such as 5G phones, tablets, smartwatches, ear buds and more, which changes Scrooge's outlook on the holiday and its magic. But he's not entirely giving, as he plans to keep some presents for himself.
Louis Vuitton - The Holiday Season with Louis Vuitton
This animated spot cries out "luxury goods" as a toy bear travels through various snowglobe-encased winter scenes as he chases his elusive true love: Louis Vuitton's mascot, Vivienne.
The minute-long film, which includes the classic track "So Happy Together" from The Turtles, showcases a number of the company's products within each scene.
Amazon - Joy Is Made
Directed by Oscar winner Taika Waititi, this ambitious spot for Amazon is very much from the school of John Lewis—but that's rarely a bad thing.
Featuring a father looking to connect with his daughter who is obssessed with a snowglobe she takes everywhere, it hits the right notes to be magical and endearing while promoting the way the platform can fulfill the many random gifts on anyone's holiday list.
What Waitrose 'Couldn't Do Christmas Without'
British supermarket Waitrose's Christmas ad is an ode to its network of artisan farmers and growers across the U.K, who work all year round to make the season special.
With an ASMR feel, the ad shows suppliers braving the unpredictable British weather, from a pig farmer smashing through an iced-over drinking trough to another picking Brussels sprouts in the torrential rain.
Created by Adam&EveDDB, and shot by Academy Award-nominated director Henry-Alex Rubin, the creative uses a cast made up of our real life Waitrose partners and suppliers, with only the celebrating family as actors. It builds on the brand’s existing “Food to Feel Good About” proposition.
Smyths - We Really Wanna Go to Smyths Toys Superstores
This CGI-powered minute-long spot mixes reality with animation and is a deliberate attack on the senses as children interact with all the toys available within Smyths Suprtstores this Christmas. It includes a very cheesy but effective sing-along soundtrack too.
Paddy Power - Paddy Power Goes Rogue
Irish betting brand Paddy Power combines sport and Christmas traditions in an offbeat and chaotic ad that rips up the festive cliches just in time for the World Cup. Flares clash with turkeys, a carol organist goes rogue, grandmas kneel before soccer managers, and English soccer legend Peter Crouch collides with a bouncer as the striker struggles to find room at "The Inn" (a retelling of the classic nativity story).
McDonald’s - McDonald's rewrites the meaning of the Christmas list
As a kid there’s nothing quite so exciting as grabbing a crayon or a felt tip pen and scrawling out a hopeful list addressed to: Santa Claus, North Pole. The postal method is, of course, always optional.
This year, McDonald’s is giving a new meaning to this Christmas tradition with a campaign from Leo Burnett UK that celebrates small but magical moments of togetherness during the holiday season.
The hero ad at the heart of “The Alternative Christmas List” was overseen by Les Misérables director Tom Hooper. It marks the sixth installment of the fast-food chain’s “Reindeer Ready” proposition in the market, which has helped McDonald’s find its place in the season by focusing on shared rituals.
The film tells the story of young Alfie, who gets carried away with the excitement of writing a Christmas list before realizing that it’s the little shared moments that really matter.
For 2022 McDonald’s is hoping its Christmas campaign will push people toward its app, where it’s hosting six unique “Alternative List” experiences designed to enhance shared family moments.
Tesco - Tesco Keeps the Party Going
Despite the current economic and political climate, people are still seeking some cheer this Christmas. British supermarket Tesco has formed "The Christmas Party" with BBH London to fill the so-called "joy shortage." Whether it’s eating desserts such as the British classic mince pies, gathering with loved ones at the dinner table or movie nights in PJs, Tesco reminds people of the occasions that unite everyone and offers some supermarket deals to help make Christmas a little merrier.
O2- O2's Snowgran Gets the Gift of Data
With around 2 million U.K. households now at risk of digital exclusion, this year's integrated campaign from O2 aims to help tackle data poverty. The 2022 spot builds on the launch of the telecom's National Databank, which gifts data to those struggling financially in partnership with the Good Things foundation.
At the heart of the push is a 60-second hero film from VCCP which tells the story of a disconnected Snowgran who on her walk home is noticed by O2’s robot mascot, Bubl, and a young girl named Billie.
Observing her seclusion, they give Snowgran an O2 Christmas SIM Card, which helps her to reconnect with her family and friends for the festive season.
As part of the campaign, O2 will gift 1 million GB of data via a Christmas SIM Card initiative in addition to the 61 million GB data it's already committed to donate to the National Databank by the end of 2025.
Not on the High Street - Discover Epic Christmas Gifts
Online clothing retailer Not on the High Street's offering acknowledges the influencers, the fitness freaks, those whose birthdays fall on the big day itself and showcases how its stock can make the season great for all.
JD Sports - JD Celebrates British Youth Culture
British sports and fashion retailer JD spotlights the best of British youth culture in its campaign celebrating the spirit of competition. The ad follows a young man who steps inside a magical arcade dreamworld where YouTube and TikTok stars battle each other in a danceoff. A plethora of other British talent including Kojey Radical, Bugzy Malone and Anthony Joshua appear in the high-octane campaign.
Sports Direct - Sports Direct Adds a Soccer Twist
With the World Cup coming up this winter, retailer Sports Direct plays with classic Christmas ad tropes but adds a comedic soccer twist. Soccer legends Eric Cantona and Thierry Henry, as well as England players Declan Rice, Mason Mount, Jarrod Bowen and manager Emma Hayes appear in the campaign.
In one parody, Mount and Cantona launch a new fragrance that is perfect for stockings this year, while another spot shows your not-so-typical Christmas dinner. The stars help usher in some new traditions this festive season.
Boots - Boots Mixes Magic With Affordability
British health and beauty retailer Boots promises its "most affordable Christmas ever" as consumers grapple with the cost of living crisis. The ad stars British actress Lydia West as Holly, who discovers a magical pair of glasses on the bus. When she puts them on, she can see her loved ones’ true holiday desires, which enables her to choose the most thoughtful and personal gifts for them from Boots, backed by the upbeat 1980s track "You Make My Dreams (Come True)" by Hall & Oates. Agency The Pharm/VMLY&R London created the ad.
To deliver on its promise of affordability, Boots is offering deals and gifts to accommodate every budget, with more than half of its range priced at $11.50 (10 pounds) or less. It also said this year will be its “biggest ever Black Friday,” with deals running all November.
Primark - The Season’s Worst Kept Secret
Budget clothing retailer Primark's Christmas ad highlights its range and value across fashion, homeware, gifting and beauty with a song playing over some studio-bound scenes that shouts "So Good!" repeatedly at the viewer. It certainly hammers home its point. The campaign will run in-store and across Primark’s social and digital channels.
Jack Wills - 'Tis the Szn"
Jack Wills, the British clothing brand is throwing a Christmas house party and in its digital spot it has invited a group of influencers around to celebrate.
The 30-second brand spot focuses on a riotous night in featuring @OliviaNeill, @CurlyFriesFeed, @jackjos3ph and @victor.kuna among others on the guest list.
American Post - Delivering for America
The U.S. Postal Service is back on the road with holiday deliveries, declaring itself “Holiday Ready” in a new spot by MRM New York.
The spot, set to the jaunty Lindsey Buckingham tune “Holiday Road,” finds postal carriers delivering to real U.S. cities, including Santa Claus, Indiana, Rudolph, Wisconsin, Snowflake, Arizona and North Pole, New York.
The spot is meant to show how the USPS is the calm amid the storm of the holiday hustle. The postal carriers featured were played by actual employees with the USPS based around the country.
Target - Holiday Happy Place
US retailer Target aims to highlight how it can help celebrating the holidays a more joyful occasion, especially through the gifting experience and party neccessities.
The campaign features potential gift items from brands such as Lego and Apple as well as own-brand apparell and recipe essentials while portraying a variety of scenes featuring family and friends together.
Each spot will also feature a cover of the ‘90s hit “100% Pure Love,” by Crystal Waters only this time performed by Olly Alexander in the English version and by Jarina De Marco in Spanglish.
Rakuten - Rakuten tests Santa’s skepticism
You’d be forgiven for thinking Santa has an overactive imagination, given his magical profession. But the truth is, Father Christmas is a realist, as he professes in the new holiday campaign from online retailer Rakuten.
“I get skeptical when things seem too good to be true,” he says. But there’s one thing he can believe in: Rakuten’s cash back offers on holiday deals at thousands of stores this season.
In addition to the TV ad, Rakuten will host a pop-up shopping experience in New York.
Disney - Disney releases third installment of "From Our Family to Yours" trilogy
Disney is celebrating togetherness with "The Gift," the final short movie in the holiday triology it's been running with the Make-A-Wish foundation since 2020.
The ad tells the powerful story of sibling relationships after a special new arrival comes on the scene, all through the lens of Disney's magical storytelling and animation.
It was developed in-house by the EMEA team, led by brand and creative marketing director Angela Affinita, in partnership with Flux Animation Studios.
From writing the script to completion, the campaign took 15 months to create. There are no less than 22 Disney "Easter Eggs" in there for fans to spot: from Lion King pyjamas to a Disneyland Paris snowglobe.
Lego - Lego and Katy Perry showcase the power of play
Lego has given a group of children some creative control of its holiday campaign, leading to the development of an unusual gift-sharing vehicle that would eventually transport pop superstar Katy Perry on top.
The narrative of this latest part of the “Build to Give” campaign highlights the message that play is the best way to bring people together. To do this, the 90-year-old toy brand had the kids construct a unique vehicle—built out of Lego bricks, a space shuttle and a giraffe—to be featured in the 60-second hero film.
The company then surprised them by bringing their creation to life for the ad, building a functional vehicle that doubles as a stage for Perry to perform her hit track “Firework.”
Kroger - A Grandfather Takes On Holiday Cooking With Kroger
As the temperature drops, Kroger has unveiled a campaign designed to make people feel warm inside.
Titled "Today’s Holiday Moments Are Tomorrow’s Memories," the minute-long spot from DDB New York centers on an older man who comes across his late wife’s cookbook. As he recreates some of the dishes, he relives past events. The commercial ends with the man enjoying a meal with his family.
The spot involves no dialogue. The only sound viewers hear is a revision of the Goo Goo Dolls’ 1998 hit song "Iris" performed by Grammy-winning artist Colbie Caillat.
Source: adweek.com
