The holiday season is officially here, and you know what that meansâChristmas ads are back! Each year, brands pull out all the stops to create commercials that capture the festive spirit, bringing warmth, joy, and a touch of magic to our screens. For many companies, these holiday campaigns are the biggest moment of the year, sparking a race to craft the perfect festive story. So, grab a cosy drink, get comfortable, and letâs check out some of the best Christmas adverts of 2024 that are sure to put a smile on your face!
Shaun the Sheep x Baa-bour | Barbour
Barbour’s 2024 Christmas campaign features a collaboration with Aardman’s beloved character, Shaun the Sheep. This festive film, titled “Shaun the Sheep x Baa-bour,” showcases the importance of giving the gift of warmth during the holiday season.
In the advert, Bitzer, the Farmer’s loyal sheepdog, attempts to lead a choir of Shaun and his flock in singing Christmas carols. However, the sheep are too cold to sing properly. Noticing their discomfort, Bitzer heads to town and returns with Barbour accessories, including hats and scarves, to keep everyone warm. Once bundled up, the flock joyfully resumes their carolling, embodying the festive spirit.
This campaign follows the success of Barbour’s 2023 Christmas advert, which also featured Shaun the Sheep. Paul Wilkinson, Group Commercial Director at Barbour, expressed excitement about the continued collaboration with Aardman:
After the success of last year’s campaign, we are excited to be collaborating with Aardman for another year. A British brand that shares our core values of craftsmanship, attention to detail, and quality. The Barbour and Aardman customer is multi-generational, which was a big part of the inspiration behind this campaign. This year we are pleased to support Oxfam, giving 30 people the opportunity to purchase a unique, limited-edition Barbour x Shaun the Sheep Re-loved wax jacket with all proceeds going to the charity.
Paul Wilkinson, Group Commercial Director at Barbour
Barbour included their Exact Brand Match (EBM) domain name, Barbour.com, at the end of the ad. This strategy ensures that interested viewers looking for more information can easily find the companyâs website without having to search for it.
The Boy & The Octopus | Disney
Disney has released a new holiday short film titled “A Disney Holiday Short: The Boy & The Octopus,” directed by Academy Award winner Taika Waititi. The story follows a young boy who discovers a curious octopus during a seaside vacation. Once he returns home, the boy and the octopus become the best of friends. He introduces his new companion to his favourite things, like playing with a lightsaber and his Buzz Lightyear toy.
As the holiday season unfolds, the boy sneaks the octopus out to experience the magic of Christmas, cleverly hiding him under his Mickey Mouse beanie. While watching the classic Disney movie The Santa Clause (1994), the boy realises how much the octopus wants to explore the world. This gives him an idea to make his friend’s dream come true.
For generations, Disney has been an ever-present part of the holiday season all over the world, and this short builds on the enduring connection that so many families have with Disney during this special time of year. Weâre thrilled to collaborate with Taika Waititi on this timeless story of childhood friendship against the backdrop of this magical season.
Asad Ayaz, Chief Brand Officer, The Walt Disney Company
Disney manages a large number of domain names to cover its wide range of brands and services. This strategy helps protect the companyâs interests and keeps its digital presence strong.
Helping Feed Your Christmas Spirit | Tesco
Tesco’s 2024 Christmas advert, titled “Helping Feed Your Christmas Spirit,” aims to capture the essence of the festive spirit with a touching tale of family tradition. The story follows Gary, who is spending his first Christmas without his beloved grandmother. While visiting his grandfather, Gary remembers how they used to build gingerbread houses together. Inspired by these sweet memories, Gary and his grandfather decide to bring back this tradition, creating a beautifully decorated gingerbread house together.
Set to the heartfelt tune of “On Melancholy Hill” by Gorillaz, the advert beautifully captures the warmth of family moments and the joy of keeping traditions alive, even when loved ones are missed. Itâs all about celebrating those little things that bring us closer. Throughout the ad, youâll spot some of Tescoâs festive treats, especially their gingerbread goodies.
Tesco owns over 1,800 domain names. By securing such a diverse range of domains, Tesco ensures that customers are easily directed to the right resources, making their online experience smoother and more efficient.
Midnight Opus | Amazon
Amazon’s 2024 Christmas advertisement, titled “Midnight Opus,” tells the story of a theatre janitor (played by Bulgarian actor Dimitar Marinov) whose hidden singing talent is discovered and celebrated by his colleagues. As he goes about his nightly duties, he sings “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” a classic song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. His coworkers, moved by his voice, come together to transform the theatre into a performance stage, complete with lighting and an instrumental backing track. With the help of Amazon, they swiftly deliver an elegant black tuxedo jacket, enabling the janitor to step into the spotlight and share his gift.
Jo Shoesmith, Amazon’s Global Chief Creative Officer, stated:
âMidnight Opusâ is a story that celebrates the joy from doing something special for the people in your life. I think we all know how wonderful it feels to be the recipient of even the smallest act of kindnessâwhether that be a thoughtful gift or an encouraging wordâand we wanted to bring that ineffable emotion to life.
Jo Shoesmith, Amazon’s Global Chief Creative Officer
When it comes to an online presence, thereâs much to learn from Amazon, which owns over 260,000 domain names. This strategy ensures easy access to their products, services, and campaigns, reinforcing brand security and making it simple for customers to connect with Amazon’s offerings worldwide.
The Gnome of Christmas | Asda
Asda’s 2024 Christmas advert, “The Gnome of Christmas,” introduces an animated adventure featuring a team of garden gnomes on a mission to save the festive season. The story begins with Asda colleagues Maggie and Bill facing a snowstorm that threatens to disrupt their Christmas preparations. To solve the crisis, Bill activates a gnome, sending a call for help across the country. The gnomes swiftly respond, turning the store into a festive wonderland and showcasing Asdaâs impressive selection of over 540 holiday products.
David Hills, Chief Customer Officer at Asda, commented:
Asdaâs gnomes are long standing favourites with our customers and they were staring us in the face as the obvious characters for our Christmas campaign – a very Asda way for us to showcase our breadth of offer.
David Hills, Chief Customer Officer at Asda
Asda operates under the EBM domain name, Asda.com. This ensures the brand is readily accessible, simplifying the customerâs journey from seeing an ad to visiting their website, enhancing the overall effectiveness of their advertising efforts.
Cataclaws Is Coming To Town | The LEGO Group
The LEGO Group has launched its 2024 holiday campaign, introducing Cataclaws, a new festive mascot born from children’s imaginations. The heart of the campaign is a special film where Cataclaws goes on an adventure to spread the magic of play. The film shows over 20 different LEGO sets and builds, with appearances from fan-favorite characters.
The campaign also coincides with LEGO’s annual Build to Give initiative, which encourages building hearts from LEGO bricks and sharing them with the hashtag #BuildToGive. For each heart shared before December 31, LEGO will donate a set to a child in need, aiming to spread the superpower of play to children in hospitals, children’s homes, and vulnerable communities.
Weâre delighted to bring Cataclaws to life and finally release her into the world. She represents the power of childrenâs innate creativity, reminding us all that there is no limit to where our imagination can take us when building with LEGO bricks and unlocking those special moments with family and friends through play.
Nic Taylor, SVP and Head of Our LEGO Agency
LEGO has a solid domain strategy backed by a portfolio of over 17,000 domains. The company also secured Cataclaws.com to support its new holiday mascot, making it easy for fans to connect with this yearâs festive campaign.
Sweet Suspicion: A Waitrose Mystery | Waitrose
Waitrose’s 2024 Christmas campaign, “Sweet Suspicion: A Waitrose Mystery,” introduces a festive whodunnit unfolding over two parts. The narrative centres around the mysterious disappearance of the No.1 Waitrose Red Velvet Bauble Dessert during a family Christmas gathering. This intriguing storyline is brought to life by an ensemble cast, including Matthew Macfadyen, Joe Wilkinson, Rakhee Thakrar, Sian Clifford, Dustin Demri-Burns, and Eryl Maynard.
In the first instalment, viewers are introduced to a family preparing for Christmas dinner when they discover that their dessert has vanished. Matthew Macfadyen portrays an amateur detective determined to uncover the culprit among the family members, each of whom has a plausible alibi.
This campaign marks a first for Waitrose, adopting a serialised storytelling approach that engages viewers over time. The initial instalment sets the stage for the mystery, with the conclusion scheduled to reveal the dessert thief in the coming weeks.
Beyond the main advert, Waitrose has expanded the campaign’s interactive elements. A physical evidence board is displayed at London’s King’s Cross Station, inviting the public to participate in solving the mystery. Additionally, in-store activities feature staff wearing ‘suspect’ t-shirts, immersing customers in the festive fun.
On their official website, Waitrose.com, viewers can join in on the fun by voting for the right culprit in the Christmas advert mystery. Those who guess correctly have a chance to win exciting prizes.
A Magical Christmas | Lidl
Lidl’s 2024 Christmas advert, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Tom Hooper, presents a touching narrative that emphasises the joy of sharing and community spirit during the festive season.
The advert begins with a young girl enjoying a sledging day with friends in a snow-covered village. She notices a boy standing alone, shivering without a hat. Later, after assisting an elderly woman who has dropped her shopping, the girl receives a pair of bells with the advice to “make a wish when the bell rings.” During her family’s festive meal, as each member makes whimsical wishesâsuch as transforming Brussels sprouts into gingerbread cookiesâthe girl wishes to share her new Lidl woolly hat with the boy she saw earlier. Her wish comes true, and the boy is seen happily wearing the hat and joining in the sledging fun the next day.
This heartwarming story aligns with Lidl’s annual Toy Bank initiative, encouraging customers to donate new and unopened toys at Lidl stores until December 16. These gifts will be distributed to local children who might not otherwise receive presents this Christmas. The advert has received widespread praise for capturing the true spirit of Christmas.
Lidlâs domain strategy, which includes owning over 1,400 domain names, highlights its dedication to building a strong online presence and safeguarding its brand. By acquiring domains that align with its brand, product offerings, and regional markets, Lidl ensures a smooth and localised shopping experience for customers worldwide.
M&S Christmas Food | 2024 Christmas Advert
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has launched its 2024 Christmas campaign, featuring a six-part series. Renowned actress and comedian Dawn French reprises her role as the voice of the beloved M&S Fairy and, for the first time, appears on-screen as herself, interacting with her fairy alter ego.
The ad starts with Dawn returning home to find her house only partially decorated for Christmas. Overwhelmed by the festive preparations, she is startled by the sudden appearance of the Fairy, who magically transforms her home into a holiday wonderland, complete with a sumptuous spread of M&S food and twinkling decorations.
Iâm absolutely thrilled to be fluttering back as Fairy this Christmas, and oh my wings, do we have a plot twist for you! Letâs just say, Fairy meeting Dawn herself was quite THE moment! Who knew weâd ever share the same screen? Magic really does happen!
Dawn French
Every series aims to show the very best of M&S this year. The ad, airing on December 17th, will include a special appearance by the renowned classical singer Katherine Jenkins.
Marks & Spencer owns domains like MarksandSpencer.com, Marks-and-Spencer.com, and MandS.com to secure easy access and ensure a seamless online experience for its customers. The company is added to our article of companies using personal names as brand names. This approach offers several advantages, such as building trust, fostering a personal connection with customers, and giving the brand a unique character and authenticity. Using personal names in branding has been a long-standing strategy, proving its effectiveness in creating memorable and trustworthy brands.
Rockstar | Argos
Argos has unveiled its 2024 Christmas advert, titled “Rockstar,” featuring its beloved toy mascots, Connie the Doll and Trevor the Dinosaur. The story takes viewers on a journey as Trevor lives out his dream of becoming a rock star. The scene opens with Trevor performing T. Rex’s classic hit “20th Century Boy” atop a mountain of Marshall speakers, surrounded by flashing lights and an electrifying atmosphere.
In the crowd, Connie the Doll dances and cheers, celebrating Trevorâs big moment. The audience is filled with festive characters and toys, all coming together under a shower of colourful confetti and holiday lights to celebrate Trevor’s rockstar fantasy.
However, itâs soon revealed that this spectacular performance was all just a dream. The ad ends with Trevor waking up in the real world, where Connie surprises him with a thoughtful giftâa Marshall Stanmore speaker. This gesture embodies the joy of giving and highlights how a simple gift can bring someone’s dreams to life, perfectly capturing the spirit of Christmas.
Laura Boothby, Head of Campaigns at Argos, stated:
Our customers love Trevor the dinosaur and Connie the doll, so we’re thrilled they’re back again to spread some festive fun and magic in such an energetic and upbeat way. At Argos, whatever your loved ones are dreaming of this Christmas, weâve got it covered. Whether itâs the latest and best in sound and tech, or the top toys of the season
Laura Boothby, Head of Campaigns at Argos
The company primarily serves the UK market and focuses its online presence on Argos.co.uk.
The Gifting Hour | John Lewis & Partners
John Lewis has unveiled its much-anticipated 2024 Christmas advert, titled “The Hour of Gifting”, created by Saatchi & Saatchi. The story follows Sally, who rushes into the John Lewis Oxford Street store just before it closes, determined to find the perfect gift for her sister, Lauren. As Sally explores the store, sheâs magically transported to various moments in her sisterâs life, revisiting special memories to figure out what would truly make her happy. Set to the nostalgic tune “Sonnet” by The Verve, the advert concludes with the message: “The secret to finding the perfect gift? Knowing where to look.”
The secret to finding the perfect gift is knowing where to look. Our ad heroes the thoughtful gift-giver and celebrates âthe gifting hourâ, the moment when you go a little deeper in your heart and in our stores to find something really special and meaningful for the ones you love. Our shops are the beating heart of our brand and our customers love the ritual of Christmas shopping there – so we wanted to give the store a starring role in our ad for the first time.
Charlotte Lock, Customer Director for John Lewis
In partnership with BMG and Richard Ashcroft, John Lewis is launching a TikTok competition to find a talented artist to cover the song “Sonnet.” The winner will have the opportunity to record their own version, which will be featured in a special airing of the Christmas advert on Christmas Day. The track will also be officially released by BMG, giving the winner a unique platform to showcase their talent.
This year the John Lewis Christmas advert features an original song rather than a cover track, and weâre offering the nation the chance to put their own stamp on it and become the ultimate cover star. So whether your style is pop, indie, country or R&B – we canât wait to hear your take on Sonnet.
Charlotte Lock, Customer Director for John Lewis
John Lewis, named after its founder, is another example of effectively using a personal name to build a strong brand. The company owns its EBM domain, JohnLewis.com, which ensures easy online access for their customers.
Final Thoughts
The discussed cases show that holding a well-thought-out portfolio of domain names is a strategic move for successful companies. This practice is particularly important for marketing activities, considering the significant investment in advertisement creation. Ensuring straightforward access to the companyâs website through an exact brand match domain name is key to the success of these marketing investments.
Whether you’re a small business owner or a large corporation, a strong domain name can help boost your brand and increase your online presence. If you’re ready to take the next step, contact us to learn more about our domain name options and how they can benefit your business.
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