It’s that time of the year again, the retail Christmas adverts are appearing on our TV screens and we’ve rounded up our thoughts on five of the big brand ads!
Sainsbury’s: The Power of Nostalgia
This is a firm favourite for us at Toolbox Marketing; for many, the BFG’s nostalgia brings back childhood memories. The advert moves beyond product placement to focus on community and togetherness. Through a blend of childhood nostalgia, where fantasies meet everyday.
Towards the end of the advert, the incredibly powerful line ‘It’s Christmas, we’ll make room’ makes the ad incredibly relatable as many people across the country will come together and make room for friends and family during the festive season.
Asda Price Wins Over the Grinch!
With 2025 marking 25 years since the Grinch who stole Christmas came to our screens for the first time. Asda have nailed their nostalgic Christmas ad! Set to a brilliant rendition of ‘Let it Snow’, this advert has captured the hearts of the Grinch lovers at Toolbox Marketing!
With the clever focus on ‘Asda Price’ shown within the advert, the Grinch is converted from his cynical ways as he discovers unbeatable value and low prices across Asda’s party food and gifts. This adds a humorous element to the advert and highlights the current financial pressures which consumers are facing.
Tesco: A relatable, but slightly flat reality check
This year’s Tesco opted for a strategy which focused on raw relatability, highlighting common, less than perfect family moments under the theme, “that’s what makes it Christmas.” While the situations featured are undeniably relatable, this approach ultimately misses out on the festive charm we all love to see in retailer ads.
“Puss in Boots” last minute dash round Boots!
Boots have smashed it this year with their nostalgic advert which reimagines classic fairytale characters. The campaign follows Puss in Boots on his last minute gift hunt for the snow queen’s ball. The ad features strategic product placement, a brilliant story line, dancing and Duran Duran, what’s not to love!
John Lewis: Capturing the hearts of Dads across the country
John Lewis kickstarted the Christmas season with a truly heartwarming advert which focused on 90s nostalgia and father-son relationships. The ad takes viewers down memory lane, reflecting on the dad’s nightclub days, through to him becoming a father, before flicking back to the current day where the pair hug and reignite their bond. This campaign is incredibly heartwarming and demonstrates how the simple power of music can bring people together.
From the nostalgia moments captured by Sainsbury’s and Boot’s to Asda’s smart focus on value, and the family moments highlighted by John Lewis, this year’s retail ads truly cover all emotional bases.