Tag: christmas

India – Following a series of cheeky Children’s Day billboards, BigBasket and Talented reunite for a heartwarming Christmas campaign that celebrates the magic of generosity and festive cheer.

Produced by Pu Productions, the heartfelt campaign film ‘Judy the Star’ tells the story of an elderly couple who accidentally spread Christmas cheer with the help of a broken phone, a wrong order, and a BigBasket delivery executive.

Commenting on the film, director Deepak Thomas said, “Most wrong orders end up in a long chat with customer service. But it was wonderful to paint a world where a broken phone results in twelve huge stars at your doorstep. It was a delight filming Judy and the BigBasket delivery executive finding their way around my favourite nooks, crannies, and bylanes of Bandra and lighting up the neighbourhood.”

Raagaleena Sripada, marketing head at Big Basket Retail, said, “This campaign was designed to showcase the joy and convenience of celebrating Christmas with us. Whether it’s decorating your home with trees and ornaments, indulging in cakes and cookies, or finding the perfect gifts like toys and electronics—everything you need for the season is delivered to your doorstep in just 10 minutes. By doing this, we also wanted to highlight the spirit of giving, the true essence of Christmas.” 

Leena Gupta and Aakash Desai from Talented added, “It is rare to see a truly Indian Christmas represented in advertising media. While the festival has wider themes of generosity and giving, the media portrayal has never moved beyond Santa Claus and reindeer. We made a very conscious decision to show an authentic X-mas via the lens of an old couple—another cohort that is treated like a monolith in advertising. All these representation decisions resulted in a heartwarming fictional story, not too far from our own non-fictional experience of Christmas.” 

Australia – Oblong, the new creative venture from creative leader Justin Ruben, worked with spiritual organisation Brahma Kumaris to create a series of posters to help people feel a little calmer at the most stressful time of year, the holiday shopping period.

Working together with people inside the Brahma Kumaris, Oblong spoke to psychologists and experts in art therapy to make sure the posters, when viewed and read, gave people a sense of calm.

Data was then used in the media buying process to make sure the posters have been placed in areas where people needed them most and as they felt the most stressed, certain areas of the CBD, shopping precincts, shopping car parks and the middle of suburban shopping centres were chosen.

Gabrielle Martin, director of programs and events at Brahma Kumaris said, “We love the calming shapes created by Oblong and the way they can create a little light for people at this very stressful time.”

Meanwhile, Oblong CCO and founder Justin Ruben commented, “I think we can all admit, this year has been difficult for a lot of people, with the cost of living crisis and various world events. Hopefully these posters can provide people with a little bit of calm, even when they’re running around the streets doing last minute Christmas shopping.”

The Brahma Kumaris are also planning an event at the Sydney Opera House in April which they hope will bring even more lightness to people’s lives.

Singapore – Coca-Cola ASEAN and South Pacific has announced a range of engaging consumer experiences by merging human storytelling with technological innovation. These experiences are built on the brand’s last year’s message ‘The World Needs More Santas’, with Coca-Cola continuing to celebrate the spirit of Santa Claus within each of us this Christmas.

This season, Coca-Cola unveils a new festive digital AI experience, enabling people to engage in heartwarming conversations with Santa Claus to create a personalised, shareable snow globe animation, based on a personal memory. The digital snow globe serves as a virtual gift to share with someone as an act of kindness. 

Accessible through scanning the QR code on a Christmas bottle or can of Coca-Cola, the Create Real MagicTM Experience uses multi-modal AI including 3D avatar generation, GenAI-enabled real-time conversation, image generation to create a highly unique and personal experience for each user.

In addition to facilitating online connections, Coca-Cola has curated a series of enchanting live consumer experiences in Manila, Philippines (30th November) and New Zealand (30th November in Christchurch and 14th December in Auckland). Each event promises to ignite the magic of the season and celebrate the spirit of togetherness that comes from sharing these unforgettable experiences.

In the Philippines, this festive season is marked by the return of its iconic Coca-Cola Christmas Caravan, bringing festive cheer and kindness-led experiences to communities across the Philippines. The Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour, which started on September 1 and will last until December, is a showcase of the holiday spirit as communities come together through heartwarming moments and festive fun. 

To elevate the experiences this year, Coca-Cola is going bigger than ever and will paint the Philippine sky with a breathtaking display of over 1300 drones on November 30. This isn’t just a show of technological prowess; it is a captivating story woven in lights, celebrating the unique traditions that make Filipino Christmas so special where the iconic parol lanterns come alive against the night sky in a vibrant tapestry of colours and families gather for traditional feasts, reimagined under a dazzling celestial display.

Meanwhile, the iconic Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park in New Zealand is marking a major milestone—celebrating 30 years of bringing festive cheer to the nation. As New Zealand’s largest free annual entertainment spectacular and dubbed “the nation’s favourite Christmas party”, this beloved celebration offers an unforgettable evening of world-class entertainment including performances by singer-songwriter Georgia Lines, Persian-Kiwi rapper CHAII, DJ double-act Sweet Mix Kids, and hip-hop legend Che Fu and jaw-dropping fireworks.

Teejae Sonza, senior marketing director for Coca-Cola Trademark, Coca-Cola ASEAN & South Pacific Operating Unit, said, “This Christmas, our aim is to make kindness travel even further. We believe in the power of connection to create a brighter world. This Christmas, we want to help spread kindness to all four corners of the globe and remind each other that the real magic of the season is found in human connection.”

Singapore – FairPrice Group and Homeground United have recently teamed  up to elevate the tradition of gift-giving with a touch of festive magic, and turning heads with an interactive OOH, allowing passersby to tear off a layer of their ad for a scent-sational surprise.

Inspired by Singapore’s diverse festive flavours, FairPrice and Homeground United have created a range of exclusive gift wrappers that not only look beautiful but are multi-sensorial. These gift wrappers are different than your average paper – they smell good enough to eat.

Each of these special gift wrappers are infused with its own captivating scents respective of its design – from Cherry Pie, to Christmas Salad, Raspberry Chocolate and more! Whether your celebrations are held traditionally with a homely feast, a lunchtime gathering, or a pot luck dinner party, you’ll find a gift wrapper To Your Taste. 

This interactive activation from the larger FairPrice campaign ‘Christmas to Your Taste’, conceptualised by TBWA\Singapore as part of Homeground United, was designed to celebrate the Christmas season a little better for all of Singapore; in case Turkey and Ham is not their jam. 

On 16 November 2024 outside FairPrice Finest at Clarke Quay, hundreds of people lined up at the tear-able billboards to get their hands on the limited-edition wrappers, and even tasted the foods from FairPrice that inspired them for real at the event. 

FairPrice will be launching a second drop of different wrappers at FairPrice Xtra in VivoCity on Saturday, 7 December 2024, and in select FairPrice stores as well as online.

Alison Ee, director & head of customer & marketing (retail business) at FairPrice Group, said, “Our recently announced brand ethos, ‘every day, made a little better’, signals our commitment to finding fresh new ways to engage and delight our customers and community. This festive season, our focus is on bringing consumers a wide, innovative range of offerings that  enables all in Singapore to celebrate Christmas to their tastes, and hopefully, start some new traditions together.”

Meanwhile, Loo Yong Ping, executive creative director at TBWA\Singapore, commented, “We wanted a novel way for FairPrice to be part of Singaporean’s Christmas celebrations and we’re happy that our brave clients had the same appetite to do something different to break through the clutter.”

Lastly, Joyce Chen, CEO at Omnicom Production Singapore, stated, “This innovative approach to traditional Christmas dishes was born from the trust and close partnership cultivated between FairPrice Group and Homeground United. We’re excited to have had the opportunity to bring this concept to life with the support of the brand.”

Global – Amplify, a global creative firm specialised in experience and culture, has stepped up to help Santa this holiday season. For years, the world’s most famous North Pole resident has evaded detection throughout his annual globe voyage. 

However, in the fast-paced world of intelligence and monitoring, the Amplify innovation team became concerned about an impending time when Santa could struggle to do his job without being caught.

Amplify’s internal innovation team has developed a prototype to solve one of Santa’s main concerns—preserving the joy of the holiday season—inspired by anti-surveillance apparel.

Version 1 was created with the global network of Amplify offices in mind, allowing Santa to elude facial recognition software on December 25th. The algorithms will be fooled, and he will be identified as a fox in London, a seagull in Australia, a rat in New York, and a raccoon in Los Angeles.

Speaking about the prototype, Amplify design team says, “Working with such an iconic figure present in so many cultures is an opportunity we couldn’t let go.”

Sydney, Australia – Global supermarket chain ALDI has launched its latest campaign in Australia, which encourages Aussies to celebrate and go big on the little things that make a Christmas feast feel special.

Created in partnership with BMF, Zenith Media, and Ogilvy PR, the campaign gives a comedic take in appreciating Christmas side dishes which are usually overlooked, showing that going big on it can make their Christmas even more special. 

This campaign coincides with ALDI’s extensive range of seasonal products being made available at affordable prices, giving Aussies the means to give every dish on their table the main-character energy this festive season.

Talking about the campaign, Jenny Melhuish, marketing director at ALDI, said, “From the beloved sides to feasting favourites like the ham or the turkey, Aussies can have the Christmas they want by shopping with ALDI, making substantial savings and without ever compromising on quality.”

“This year, we want shoppers to be able to go big on the little things without going big on their budgets in the process. This can easily be a reality for all Aussies by simply making ALDI their one stop Christmas shop this festive season,” she added. 

Meanwhile, David Fraser, executive creative director at BMF, commented, “A ham and turkey without sides is just a ham and turkey. They only become a Christmas feast when they’re surrounded by a plethora of sides. So it felt good to give sprouts and potatoes the limelight for a change.”

The integrated campaign will air across TV, cinema, radio, OOH, social, owned channels, and PR.

Australia – QIC is inviting all Australians to embrace their inner child, with the launch of its ‘Merry Everything’ Christmas campaign, encouraging customers to switch their adult perspective to see the holiday season through the eyes of their younger selves.

Created by Jane Doe Creation, QIC’s campaign kicks off with a ‘Naughty or Nice’ film tackling the age-old question of who’s been naughty and who’s been nice with a playful twist that sees the baton passed to the kids to judge their parents and relatives.

Directed by Alex Feggans at Austin Studio, the campaign will be running online across social media and will be supported by OOH signage and in-store activities including Santa photography, spend to win giveaways, free gift wrapping and more.

Elissa Maine, executive creative producer at Jane Doe Creation, said, “Christmas is a time for coming together with family and loved ones and to mix it up a little, this year we let the kids decide who was on the ‘Naughty & Nice’ list.”

“Casting real families and following the threads of their responses to build out our storytelling was a deliberate casting decision put forward by Alex. It radiates real warmth and connectivity throughout the campaign and brings a genuine smile to your face,” she added. 

Meanwhile, Bronwyn Cooper, head of marketing at QIC, commented, “We are adults all year round, yet there’s a special time of the year when we can let someone else out to play. The holidays are a time to create special memories with the ones we love most, and Merry Everything invites Australians to share the joy and channel their inner child this Christmas.”

As part of the Merry Everything campaign, QIC will also be launching the Naughty or Nice Quiz, where shoppers can determine whether they are likely to be on Santa’s naughty or nice list by entering the online quiz – with all participants going in the draw to win a $1,000 gift card.

Sydney, Australia – Upscale department store chain MYER has unveiled its newest inspiring Christmas campaign titled ‘Make Your Merry Meaningful’ via collaboration with creative agency Clemenger BBDO.

The bold, bright, and fun campaign reminds Australians that Christmas is more than just a season of giving but also a time for everyone to connect, show love, and express appreciation for their loved ones through sentimental gifts that hold meaning and thought.

MYER’s campaign will also include a digital film featuring the endearing character Wendell, a wombat-shaped soap who has been thoughtlessly regifted year after year, from Christmas to Hanukkah. In the film, he shares his wisdom from being re-gifted all over the country and says that it’s the thought that counts.

The campaign reinforces MYER’s position as the ultimate destination for gifting, helping Australians find the perfect gift within their budget for their loved ones so that all gifts are treasured, unlike Wendell.

With fun and engaging taglines, the campaign will span TV, BVOD, OOH, digital, social, online, in-store VM, and immersive in-store experiences like gift wrapping and team member uniforms. It will run from November 2 until Christmas Eve.

Geoff Ikin, chief customer officer at Myer, said, “The campaign is a reflection of Myer’s commitment to making Christmas truly special for everyone. Amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, Myer wants to remind Australians that Christmas is more than just a season of giving; it’s a time to connect, show love, and express appreciation through gifts that hold deep meaning and sentiment.”

He added, “We’re here to help every Australian to give thoughtfully, mindfully, and meaningfully this year—from our expertly curated Giftorium, our world-class service to assist and inspire choice, professional gift wrapping, and our renowned Santaland to entertain the family—we have everything all under one roof.”

Tristan Graham, ECD at Clemenger BBDO, also shared, “The best Christmas ads entertain us while also making us view that time of year a little differently. And what’s more entertaining and thought-provoking than advice from a gruff little wombat soap who’s been regifted since the 80s? ”

Australia – Michael Hill, a jewellery retailer, has launched its Christmas campaign, which showcases how families can celebrate a Christmas to remember through thoughtful gifting.

Conceptualised alongside CHEP Brisbane, this year’s campaign follows the story of a family going through some changes, when the father embarks on a new relationship. 

It also shows the impact that the new relationship has on his daughter, the challenges she faces in coming to terms with the change in her family dynamic, and her dad’s new love interest trying so hard to be accepted into the family. 

Jo Feeney, chief marketing officer at Michael Hill, said, “This Christmas, more than ever, people are looking for meaningful gifts that last long after the festive season. Jewellery is not only seen as one of the most thoughtful gifts, it’s also a lasting memory, marking special moments in life.”

Meanwhile, Christy Peacock, creative lead at CHEP Brisbane, commented, “This year’s story celebrates the special connection between dad and Evie, his teenage daughter. Evie’s surprise gift to dad’s new partner on Christmas Day is as much about showing her love for her dad as it is about welcoming a new member to the family.”

The campaign appears in Australia, New Zealand and Canada from today across TV, cinema, online, social, press, OOH and in-store.

Bangkok, Thailand – KFC Thailand transforms its iconic bucket into the new ‘KFC Basket the Bucket’ this Christmas to join Thai people in their obsession with gifting baskets. This is in collaboration with their newly appointed creative agency, Wunderman Thompson Thailand. The KFC ‘Basket the Bucket’ is made of locally sourced materials and handcrafted by local artisans, with the iconic chicken bucket packaging a perfect fit inside it. 

According to KFC Thailand, gifting during the festive season in Thailand is always an epic battleground of festive hampers or gifting baskets. The basket has been a symbol of well-wishing and gifting for Thai people. 

The 30-second commercial that came with the campaign shows Thai people receiving usual gifts given this Christmas as they sarcastically let out dry laughs before showing a man munching on KFC chicken and ends with lines, “when the bucket comes, its party on!”

Chief Marketing Officer Suhayl Limbada at KFC Thailand said, “Taking a global icon like the KFC bucket and infusing it with the locally famous gift basket depicts the richness and beauty of our country’s culture and is a very special project. As people return back to celebrating special moments with their loved ones, to be able to incorporate our iconic KFC Bucket as a gift in such a unique way is a perfect ode to our excitement at the prospect of a festive season that is full of cheer and Finger Lickin’ Good moments.” 

Park Wannasiri, chief creative officer of Wunderman Thompson Thailand adds, “KFC is a leader that always wants to stay connected and culturally relevant. We are always looking for the opportunity to infuse our brand into the culture in the most distinctive way, not just driving sales but also building the brand. Although KFC is not always associated with end of year gifting, ‘Basket the Bucket’ changes everything. By turning our iconic bucket into a gift basket, a symbol of the Thai gifting season, we directly put ourselves into the centre of attention this festive season.”

KFC also mentioned gifting their friends clown, king, and dragon, with their unique bucket basket this Christmas, to show their generosity for the holiday season.