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Marketing Monday: Christmas Adverts

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Seasonal marketing feels pretty lovely right now, and it's no secret that I'm a fan of all things British. During this busy week, let's enjoy some charming, feel-good Christmas adverts, as they are known in their native land. 

Every year, lots of British companies participate in what would be the equivalent of our Super Bowl commercial competition. Starting in early November, these ads swoop around social media, stirring up buzz and setting the tone for the season.

The most well-known of the annual commercial showdown (DOUBLE MEANING) is arguably John Lewis, a high-end department store. This year's was particularly lovely. (Make sure to check out #MontyThePenguin from 2014, while you're at it.)

Watch the new John Lewis Christmas TV advert 2016 with #BusterTheBoxer Click here to continue the story: http://bit.ly/2eCBC2R This is the story of a little girl called Bridget who loves to bounce. When her mum and dad buy her a trampoline for Christmas, they soon discover that she isn't the only one with a passion for jumping.

Boots is a store I always like to duck into in the UK. It's a bit like CVS and the beauty section of Target thrown in with a bit of something extra (they even make their own lines of makeup and beauty products). And hey, Kate Middleton's been known to pop into Boots as well. Their ad(vert) this year was particularly touching.

Every year, around half a million women* sacrifice their Christmas Day to support their communities, whether it's paramedics, firefighters, volunteers, nurses or carers. As a big thank you, Boots wanted to give some of these inspirational women an early Christmas present.

Tesco is my favorite place to pick up my favorite British treats (Haribo and Tunnock's), and I think we can all relate to what they've put out here:

It's never too early for mince pies...We've got everything you need to start planning and preparing for Christmas so you can make the most of the big day. Christmas. Bring it on. Find festive ideas and recipes here: http://www.tesco.com/christmas/

This year's Marks & Spencer choice isn't quite doing it for me, but they can't all be our favorite, and this one is ranking quite well.

Meet Mrs Claus - the new Christmas icon is here. Marks and Spencer launches the Christmas 2016 TV Advert campaign with a modern twist on the much-loved character Mrs Claus. Discover more about her magical, festive journey at: http://www.marksandspencer.com/c/christmas/christmas-tv-advert?extid=SM_yt_wow_p_christmastvc180sec2016_tvc A commercial directed by Tom Hooper.

If you're a Wes Anderson fan, you can't miss this short film he directed for H&M starring Adrien Brody. 

Discover the H&M Christmas 2016 collection and see the new film directed by Wes Anderson, starring Adrien Brody.

This Heathrow ad is quite a charmer.

Throughout their 70 years, Heathrow have specialised in reconnecting people with their loved ones, especially at this time of year, because coming home for Christmas is the best gift of all. Among the millions of seasonal passengers, there are some extra-special arrivals that have made it home in time for the big day...

Saving the best for last, and cheatin' while I do: Mog stole my heart last year in Sainsbury's ad, and so I'm including her here. Mog is a beloved children's book character in the UK, and this was her film debut.

(Fun fact for my American readers: "mog" or "moggie" are British terms for a cat without a pedigree or not of a known breed. If you rescue a cat from the pound and have no idea what kind of cat it is, you've got yourself a mog.)

Presenting the new Sainsbury's Christmas Advert. Mog sets off a chain of unfortunate events which almost ruin Christmas for the Thomas family. Can she pull it all back to save the day? This year, we worked in partnership with HarperCollins Children's Books and world renowned author and illustrator Judith Kerr to create a Christmas story based on her much loved character Mog.

Sainsbury's ad this year is also nice, but it will never be Mog. That said, I love that Sainsbury's chooses a charity to support with their campaign each year, and that their ads are subtly but perfectly related. Mog helped with Save the Children to support children's literacy, and Dave the singing Dad is helping the Great Ormond Street Hospital for children. Per UK Fundraising, "All profits from the sale of the specially created Gingerbread ‘Dave’ (£1) and The Greatest Gift film animation kit (£5) will go to Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity." The charity is making it possible for parents to stay near their sick children while they're in the hospital.

Check out the behind-the-scenes videos as well: I enjoy them almost as much as the ads themselves. 2015, 2016.

Presenting the new Sainsbury's Christmas Advert - a joyous Christmas musical created in stop frame animation featuring vocals by James Corden. It tells the story of Dave, a hard-working and devoted Dad, who realises that the greatest gift he can give people this Christmas is his time.
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Friday Find: SNL Holiday Sketches

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SNL's seasonal sketches are some of my favorites and there's no shortage of them to choose from. During this crazy time of year, let's take a minute to enjoy some of my favorites. What are yours?

[Obligatory warning that these sketches air on late night TV, so proceed with caution re: subject matter and/or possible language.]

The quality of this video is terrible, but Mark Jensen Family Christmas has forever ruined/bettered It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year for me. My husband and I crack up every time we hear it because, well, watch. 

This video was uploaded from an Android phone.

This holiday twist on a repeat Justin Timberlake sketch is a fun one:

Jimmy Fallon is nominated for a 2014 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series! Subscribe to SaturdayNightLive: http://j.mp/1bjU39d Cold Openings: http://j.mp/1abJXTq SEASON 39: http://j.mp/1jwGwz6 Holiday Sketches: http://j.mp/1jwGt6v Dueling gift wrapping companies take their marketing to the streets (ft. Jimmy Fallon). Aired 12/21/13

Peach candle? We've all been the peach candle.

There's another Christmas savior besides Jesus Christ. Get more SNL: http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live Full Episodes: http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-liv... Like SNL: https://www.facebook.com/snl Follow SNL: https://twitter.com/nbcsnl SNL Tumblr: http://nbcsnl.tumblr.com/ SNL Instagram: http://instagram.com/nbcsnl SNL Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nbcsnl/ Get more SNL on Hulu: http://www.hulu.com/saturday-night-live

Glengarry Glen Christmas: what's better, the sketch itself or the actors breaking? Doesn't matter. (You call yourself an elf, you sonofabitch?)

Check out Seth Meyers on Late Night: http://bit.ly/LateNightSeth Subscribe to SaturdayNightLive: http://j.mp/1bjU39d Classic Clips: http://j.mp/18Yh8Ya SEASON 31: http://j.mp/17XRUYN Movie Parodies: http://j.mp/14QthNU Holiday Sketches: http://j.mp/14Kxsjm It takes brass balls to be one of Santa's elves. Aired 12/10/05

There is the Emmy nominated (Do It On My) Twin Bed:

(Do It On My) Twin Bed is nominated for a 2014 Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics. Directed by Matt & Oz. Get more SNL on Hulu Plus: http://www.hulu.com/saturday-night-live Get more SNL: http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live Full Episodes: http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-liv...

And of course, perhaps the best holiday sketch of all: Pete Schweddy and his delicious balls.

Subscribe to SaturdayNightLive: http://j.mp/1bjU39d SEASON 24: http://j.mp/1b7QvGo Holiday Sketches: http://j.mp/14Kxsjm Talk Shows: http://j.mp/18UKNmm Popular Clips: http://j.mp/1ep0JV7 These gals can't wait for some Schweddy Balls. Aired 12/12/98

Merry everything!

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Marketing Monday: Merry Kissmas

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In the most recent Friday Find I shared one of my favorite holiday treats. (The non-edible kind. For the edible kind I might need to start a whole new year-round blog. Have you heard of these things called pigs-in-a-blanket?) (Pigs-in-blankets?) Today I'm talking about another favorite holiday treat that also happens to be a marketing spot. And it's food!

Surely most of us are familiar with it: The simplicity that is the genius of turning a classic thing into something it's not, and setting it to music. 

Hershey's Kisses Christmas Commercial

I remember when this ad first came out in 1989, and how fun and different I thought it was, even as a kid. I was captivated. I've enjoyed seeing it every year since, but I otherwise knew nothing about it until I stumbled across this case study that gives a bit of the background and nails what the ad means for me:

"With each passing year, the ad triggers feelings of nostalgia—you can remember when you first saw it, and associate memories of holidays past, making it a tradition in itself.

What may be most impressive, though, is how in just 16 seconds' time, Hershey's somehow gets you into the holiday spirit—and makes you think about grabbing a bag of chocolate Kisses—without saying a single word out loud."

I'm clearly not alone in my nostalgia: 

That's some truly timeless marketing. What's more impressive, possibly, is that the ad only came to be because a marketing exec took a risk and did something he wasn't supposed to do. Check out the Hershey's Archives' story on how the ad came to be. That gamble paid off, and it's now Hershey's longest running commercial to date. It's even inspired tributes (some might say knock-offs).

Bonus #1: It also led me down a rabbit hole of 80s TV commercial nostalgia. Do you remember any of these? I do!

Note: Not all of these are Christmas Commercials, rather these are all commercials from the holiday season in 1986 on the Columbia/Jefferson City, MO channel KRCG. 1. The Infamous McDonalds Ice Skating Commercial 2. Extra Sugar Free Gum 3. CBS Saturday & Sunday Night Movies 4. Charlie Brown Christmas Sponsored By...
There's approximately 109 Christmas Commercials from the 1980's in this video. Mostly from the mid-80's. There are definitely a few duplicates. There is also a few that have nothing to do with Christmas but they did air during the Christmas season. Thanks to 80's Commercial Vault for uploading all those great compilations.

Bonus #2: It also reminded me of these 'give a kiss' ornaments that were all the rage in the 80s. Squeeze their cheeks and Hershey's kiss was waiting for you inside. We had one on our tree growing up, and I want to say it was green. Maybe it was a frog? I don't remember. But man, nostalgia sure will do it every time.

Picture from Pinterest.

Picture from Pinterest.