Well, they’ve done it again. John Lewis nailed Christmas.
It’s the toughest gig in advertising, making the Christmas TV ad for John Lewis (and Waitrose combined these days). The song has to be right (and the performance engaging), the story appealing, emotionally engaging but the right side of schmaltzy, well cast, capable of repeat viewing and building in a product message that doesn’t land a horrible anti-climax.
So this year Dougal Wilson (back behind the lens), of Blink, brings us Adam and Eve’s potential turkey.
But no, it’s a golden goose.
Actually it’s a cuddly young dragon called Edgar and his unlikely best friend little red-headed Ava.
Both being orphans (no parents grace our screens and Edgar lives alone in a little dragon house) the two wander around a medieval village wreaking havoc (this is historically acceptable) with no-one to admonish their behaviour. But this being JLP land the residents who are having their dreams wrecked by a fire-breathing monster only look on mildly disdainfully, a series of heavenward looks simply say, ‘Oh Jeez, Ava and that pesky mite Edgar are at it AGAIN’.
Saint George is not brought in to their rescue and it’s Edgar who takes it upon himself to send himself to Coventry, whilst Ava camps outside like a human Greyfriar’s Bobby.
After a while Ava thinks, ‘Sod this’ and gives up her vigil returning, instead, to normal life. Later, whilst baking in her orphanage, she has a Damascan moment (she hasn’t completely given up on Edgar) when she suddenly realises that Edgar can be put to good use (see, she’s on it, she really IS A GOOD FRIEND) by purchasing a Christmas pudding from Waitrose for Edgar’s Christmas (Waitrose est. 1904, Acton, West London, so historically inaccurate).
Of course Edgar’s gift, which is really a gift for ALL of the residents of the medieval village, finally puts his fire-breathing to good effect by setting alight the brandy that the pudding is doused in. The communal village dinner will be finished to perfection with 5 grammes per head of alcohol-sated dessert.
It’s all pretty ridiculous, but IT’S CHRISTMAS at JLP and it doesn’t actually matter.
What we have is a loveable fantasy enacted well by young Ava, to REO Speedwagon’s biggest hit, Can’t Fight This Feeling, performed by Bastille.
I cried. So it worked.
The first PR piece for launch of The Marketing Centre in Scotland.
It’s been a while getting to this place but The Marketing Centre is now live in Scotland.
More here...
There’s something in the water in Bangkok.
This is another great Thai ad campaign. This time by TBWA.
Again no headline, no words just an image and a story.
Brilliant art direction IMHO.
When simple is best.
No headline.
No branding.
Just a picture and a story. An untold one.
Brilliant work from Ogilvy Bangkok
It might be the end of Carlsberg but I think this is utterly brilliant.
I wish more brands had more bravery.
Bravo!
Sir Frank Lowe’s genius
Lowe Howard Spink and CDP are the agencies that I most associate with this giant of the industry.
Now retired, he is interviewed by Dave Dye.
It’s a lesson in how advertising works.
In some ways the man in advertising I admire most – He was the ‘creative’ that wasn’t a ‘creative’.
https://davedye.com/2019/02/14/podcast-sir-frank-lowe/
Here’s a picture or two to treat your eyes as well as your ears.
What’s even greater is the video archive that accompanies this.
Enjoy.
Mother London bags Campaign’s agency of the year in its 21st year.
There’s a lot of reasons to admire Mother. Here are four of them.
- The management team picture
2. Helping staff
Free breakfast and lunch are standard but it also offers a £1,000 bonus to people who successfully give up smoking
3. This – my ad of the year
4. And this. Laugh out loud funny with a strong communication and a great end line.
Quite nice.
