Thinkbox’s Post

Does department-store advertising need to feature the store itself? ↴ John Lewis & Partners have just dropped their long-awaited Christmas ad, which many now regard as the start of the Christmas season. 🎄 But this year, they have done it differently. In the ad, Saatchi & Saatchi UK take us down memory lane by exploring the connection and relationship of two sisters, one of which is desperately trying to find the other a present. 🎁 Exploring connection through emotional storytelling is John Lewis' usual style, but this year they do one thing completely different. They feature their actual store. 🛍 This is a complete change from their usual tactic of subtly throwing a logo or JL shopping bag into the mix and it will be interesting to see what the results of the more blatant approach is. Is it better to be subtle or in-your-face with the brand making the ad? 🤔 The campaign has triggered largely mixed reactions, but in the end the data will show whether the change makes a significant impact on their usual Christmas footfall. What do you think? Interested to hear thoughts on this 👇

Another great heart warming christmas ad from John Lewis & Partners A brilliant reminder of why video is the ultimate tool for emotional storytelling. so what can local businesses learn from this? 1️⃣ Use video to create emotional connections. 2️⃣ Tap into nostalgia for relatability and engagement. 3️⃣ Align content with your core values to build trust. 4️⃣ Invest in quality visuals and music for a polished image. 5️⃣ Tell stories that leave a lasting impression. You don’t need a big budget—authentic storytelling is what counts! 🌟 #VideoMarketing #Storytelling #ChristmasMarketing

When the British weather makes for a great campaign… When it rains, we pour! A clever caption and a rain-proof cover, what more do you need? Making light of the curse of the English summer. I do wonder if he stood there all day though, waiting just in case it started to rain. Hope he got a free pint at the end, Stella! Thanks to Marketing Inspiration for sharing. #CleverCampaigns #InteractiveMarketing #OutdoorAdvertising #Wimbledon #BritishWeather #EnglishSummer #MarketingSupport #MarketingConsultancy #MarketingConsultant

#RealLifeVsAds 👁️ Exploring the thought-provoking Brooke Bond Red Label ad by Ogilvy – challenging biases through senses. 🌈 The narrative urges us to question our biases, yet my internal alarm rings. 🚨 While the ad champions trust, my concern arises from real-life experiences. Stories of drink spiking on trains raise valid worries. The absence of the protagonist taking the first sip adds a layer of uncertainty. 👃 How do you view trust in advertising versus reality? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #BrookeBond #RedLabel #OgilvyAd #Perceptions #TrustIssues #NarrativeAnalysis #MarketingInsights #ConsumerBehavior #AdvertisingReview

The first 20 minutes of Nye were great..and then we had a power cut across the borough and our night was cut short but that won’t stop me celebrating the incredible landmark the National Theatre has made! Celebrating their 100th title, Nye was broadcast across cinemas this evening—the story of “𝙽𝚢𝚎 𝙱𝚎𝚟𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚛 𝚓𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚌𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝙱𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗’𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚏𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎.” But another thing to celebrate is the interactive element that NT Live use, as well as other companies who broadcast at cinemas including Royal Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera. In this case, #NTLive is the hashtag used to engage with the theatre as well as with audiences across cinemas nationwide. It’s a great way to create an immersive, fun and somewhat personalised experience and join a collective of people for one night only no matter where they’re watching from in real-time (although hopefully during intervals and not performance!) Social media now plays a crucial role in driving the success of performance in several key ways: 📣 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: direct line of communication with audiences, allowing engagement in real-time conversations, sharing updates, and building excitement around productions. 📈 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵: a powerful marketing tool for promoting shows and driving ticket sales. Through the strategic use of hashtags, compelling visuals, and engaging content, reaching new audiences and ensuring performances receive the attention they deserve through various attractive and informative ways. 🔗 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: Beyond connecting with audiences, doors can open within the performance and media community. We can collaborate with industry professionals, forge partnerships, and stay informed about trends and developments in the performance world. #TheaterMarketing #AudienceEngagement #Networking #DigitalStrategy #SocialMedia #Accessibilty

In 1992, Yellow Pages (with the help of AMV) created a Christmas ad that simply wouldn't be cool enough today, and certainly wouldn't be scooping many awards. And that's why I love it. This ad ran for over 10 years and is arguably one of the most iconic in British #Christmas ad history. Here's why I think it's great: - It communicates a single, very simple product benefit, very clearly. Anything else they could have added would have detracted. - Just like Coca-Cola with the truck they had the confidence to stick with it year after year. - It manages to warm the cockles without trying too hard to do it. So many ads now, especially at Christmas, put Hollywood blockbuster production above perfectly simple stories that make sense in the real world. More of this please 👌 #advertising #marketing

Pass us the tissues... THE ad of the year is here! 🎄🎅 The 2024 John Lewis Christmas ad, #TheGiftingHour, has dropped, and it’s already setting the festive mood across the UK! We’ve gathered reactions from Brits to see how it’s hitting home 👇 ❤️ Heartwarming & relatable 62% found the ad memorable, loving the ad’s no-frills portrayal of family life—the ups, downs, and everything in between. 47% said it met or even topped their expectations, with 23% saying it went above and beyond. There are no glossy fairytales here—just real, cosy moments that made 46% say John Lewis felt more relatable than ever. 🎶 Soundtrack that sets the mood Richard Ashcroft’s “Sonnet” was a curveball, giving the ad a tender, reflective vibe. It's not your typical Christmas jingle, but it hit home for many, adding a twist that’s got people talking (...and humming along!). ✨ Nostalgia galore 1 in 4 felt the ad was a beautiful throwback to family-centred values, with comments like “hit home with my daughters” showing how the story resonates with cherished traditions. However, 20% found the storyline a bit complex, with some feedback saying it didn’t have the clarity of past ads. Still, it’s sparking conversation across the board! 🛍️ John Lewis store cameo This detail was a hit with 36%, who felt it grounded the ad and brought the story closer to home, though 1 in 5 felt it leaned into product placement territory. It’s a classic “love-it-or-loathe-it” moment! 👀 The annual tradition of comparison And what’s a John Lewis ad without sparking some yearly debate? About 10% said it didn’t quite reach the highs of past classics, but that’s all part of the tradition—each new ad brings a fresh take on Christmas, and the yearly “Which ad was best?” chat is now a beloved part of the season. Big well done to the teams at John Lewis & Partners , Saatchi & Saatchi and MG OMD for a thoughtful and down-to-earth ad. This one is one of the best in a while! 👏👏👏 #GiveKnowingly #JohnLewisChristmasAd #JohnLewisChristmas

Showcase your brand on the big screen! Cinema advertising that leaves a lasting impact on your audience. Let your message shine where it matters most! #CinemaAdvertising #BigScreenImpact #AudienceEngagement #BrandVisibility #CreativeAdvertising #MarketingStrategy #FriendsMedia #WiderReach #EffectiveAdvertising #BrandPromotion

I can’t help but draw a parallel between the change in structure of advertising agencies industry and the film industry. - Both were doing mass communication and fell apart due to media becoming more personal and clients/consumer wanting more personal conversations/problem solving. - No block-busters anymore, small movies, more frequency. - The big banners are now big producers, the big ideas come from young artists. - The actors who knew more than their craft are moving to live shows like concerts, theater, OTT shows. In advertising people who didn’t fit in one box have started their own. - Multiplex adding revenue through food services, agencies trying to bundle more services ATL+ Digital. #advertising #films

From concept to execution!