Morning Update: Christmas ads from Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Tesco; Netflix acquires rights to Lemony Snicket books
Marketing Magazine: M&S adds ‘magic and sparkle’ to its Christmas TV ad with #followthefairies
“Marks & Spencer has unveiled its 2014 Christmas campaign, which features two fairies spreading festive cheer in a bid to capture the “spirit” and “magic and sparkle” of Christmas.
The ad, which breaks tomorrow during X Factor and was created by RKCR/Y&R, does not feature any celebrities – unlike last year’s star-packed ad with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Helena Bonham Carter and David Gandy.
Instead it features two models acting as “fairies” flying across a night sky spreading magic to brighten up Christmas for unsuspecting families, to the song ‘Fly me to the moon’.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypQh8uZ8pSo
AdWeek: Waitrose Skips the Whimsical but Still Warms Hearts in Its Christmas Ad
“Christmas storytelling is an annual rite of advertising one-upsmanship in Britain. But how can you weave a heart-warming tale while still keeping your product front and center?
U.K. grocery chain Waitrose has found one solution by focusing on something that differentiates its staff. Employee-shared ownership in the company, which would normally be the driest of dry topics, takes a charming turn in the store’s new holiday spot from BBH London. A real employee, Adejumoke Sanusi of Ilford, was even cast to play herself.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJYwfEI4Fyo#t=42
Campaign: Tesco brings in London 2012 opening ceremony team to light up Christmas
“Tesco’s Christmas TV ad builds up to a major festive light show created by the people behind the London 2012 opening ceremony.
The spot, which will make its debut tonight during the season finale of ITV showDownton Abbey, features a brass band cover of Irene Cara’s What a Feeling.
It shows families preparing for the festive season by getting out the Christmas decorations. The ad builds up to lights being switched on in homes, and then in Tesco stores.”
Mashable: Airbnb turns a touching Berlin Wall anniversary story into ad campaign
“Airbnb has made a short animated film about “belonging” tied to the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989.
The film, titled “Wall and Chain,” tells the story of a woman named Cathrine, who in 2012 brought her father, Jörg, back to Berlin for the first time since the wall had fallen. The father had been a guard in West Germany, leaving before the fall.”
The New York Times: Netflix Acquires Rights to Lemony Snicket Books
“The streaming service Netflix continued its ambitious expansion into original programming with the acquisition of the rights to the popular children’s books “A Series of Unfortunate Events” by Lemony Snicket, the pen name of the American writer Daniel Handler.
Netflix, whose plans were announced Wednesday, has been on the hunt for properties that would appeal to family viewing. The company previously announced that it would develop a series based on the comic book character Richie Rich.”
AdAge: Kraft Consolidates Agencies With McGarryBowen, Leo Burnett, CP&B and Taxi
“Kraft Foods Group is paring down its sprawling agency roster and consolidating much of its work with four main agencies:McGarryBowen, Leo Burnett, Taxi and CP&B.
Agencies leaving the Kraft roster include Droga5, VSA Partners, TBWA, The Martin Agency, Lopez Negrete Communications, Roberts & Langer and Wieden & Kennedy, the company said Friday. The agencies could not be immediately reached on deadline.”
The Guardian: Ian Edmondson jailed for eight months over phone hacking
“A former news editor at the News of the World has been sentenced to eight months in prison after he pleaded guilty to plotting to hack the phones of public figures, sports stars and celebrities.
Ian Edmondson was told by the judge he had only himself to blame for losing his professional career as he was jailed at the Old Bailey afteradmitting conspiring to intercept voicemail messages over a six-year period. He pleaded guilty in October – 16 months after he had initially pleaded not guilty before the phone-hacking trial.”
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