Christmas 2016 trendwatching

Last May, a couple of days work unexpectedly dropped out so instead I researched and wrote something on Christmas 2016 trends, thinking it might come in handy for my work with agency retail clients. Since Christmas 2016 planning is now a distant memory for agencies (last month I was working on shopper marketing for Father's Day 2017) I thought I'd share … Continue reading Christmas 2016 trendwatching

a festive tale of Johnny LouLous and the impromptu middle class sit-in

I went to visit a friend in London last weekend and we decided to brave Oxford Street since it was their special traffic free VIP shopping day. It was a great idea in principle, but thousands of soggy shoppers clashing umbrellas with each other doesn’t make for a very VIP-ish afternoon (although the fake snow … Continue reading a festive tale of Johnny LouLous and the impromptu middle class sit-in

Christmas ads compared and contrasted

Although it seems a bit early, what with Christmas still being six weeks away, all the big stores have rolled out their festive campaigns, so it’s as good a time as any to do a compare-and-contrast exercise.  Let’s start with the supermarkets: ASDA and Morrisons’ agencies seem to have been working from a very similar … Continue reading Christmas ads compared and contrasted

homemade gifting is on the up, but will AdLand feel the impact?

I detected a definite shift this year towards homemade gifts, with jam, chutney, Turkish Delight and flavoured vodka all being unwrapped at my house on Christmas Day.  Having heard similar stories over the last few days I can only imagine that businesses selling kilner jars and jam pot covers had a bumper December. From Kirstie’s … Continue reading homemade gifting is on the up, but will AdLand feel the impact?

John Lewis Christmas ad – have I found another version or perhaps a work in progress?

I’ve been doing a little online detective work this evening. I regularly pop over to AdAge to check out their Best Ads and the John Lewis Christmas ad is currently one of their top picks. Except it wasn’t the ad above.  ‘Your Song’ had been replaced by ‘How Deep Is Your Love’.  I have to … Continue reading John Lewis Christmas ad – have I found another version or perhaps a work in progress?

all I want for Christmas is a sensible v-neck jumper…

Somewhere in my blog reader this week (I really should have saved it) there popped up a post about how perhaps this year’s crop of festive ads were a little too knowing (if you know whose post it was, please comment & I’ll link to them). I think the post referenced in particular the new … Continue reading all I want for Christmas is a sensible v-neck jumper…