A YETI, A CHOIR AND A CELEBRITY HOUSE PARTY WALK INTO THE HOLIDAYS…
Written By: Lexi Rapnikas
Campaign of the Week: John Lewis Brings Back the Christmas Magic
John Lewis & Partners launched the 20th edition of its iconic holiday campaign, “Don’t Give Up on Giving,” starring Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and featuring a wooden dog voiced by Paul Whitehouse, with a soundtrack by Sam Fender. Created by Saatchi & Saatchi, the three-minute spot uses humor, nostalgia and storytelling to encourage thoughtful gift-giving over the pressure of finding the perfect present. The campaign continues John Lewis & Partners’ tradition of pairing celebrity talent with emotional storytelling and recognizable music covers to build anticipation for the holiday season and reinforce its position as a go-to destination for meaningful gifting.
SharkNinja’s Star Studded Holiday House Party
SharkNinja is bringing together David Beckham, Tom Brady, Kevin Hart and Aryna Sabalenka for its first global holiday campaign, “There’s No Home Like a SharkNinja Home.” Created in-house, the star-studded spot uses a playful house-sitting storyline to showcase products across more than 40 categories, positioning SharkNinja as a go-to brand for the entire home rather than just kitchen appliances. The campaign also marks a broader master-brand strategy focused on building global brand recognition through celebrity partnerships, creator-led content and consumer engagement. With more than 19 billion impressions across 200,000+ posts this year, SharkNinja is doubling down on its viral marketing strategy and turning its growing fanbase into brand advocates.
Gap Hits All the Right Notes
Gap is bringing back its “Give Your Gift” holiday campaign for a third year, reimagining the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There” through performances by three U.S. choirs dressed in the retailer’s signature knitwear and sweats. Building on its successful nostalgia-driven marketing strategy, the campaign uses music and multigenerational storytelling to connect with consumers while extending beyond digital through NYC pop-ups, complimentary gift wrapping, product customization and in-store experiences. The culture-led approach continues to deliver results, with Gap reporting 10% comparable sales growth in Q2 and 11 consecutive quarters of growth, reinforcing the value of blending nostalgia with fresh cultural connections.
Ulta Brings the Star Power to Gifting
Ulta Beauty is bringing back its “The Magic Starts with You” holiday campaign for a second year, tapping pop stars and beauty founders Selena Gomez and Tate McRae to spotlight their respective brands, Rare Beauty and Tate 01. Created by Tamara Group, the campaign builds on last year's celebrity-driven success by blending star power, product discovery and holiday storytelling across TV, streaming, social, digital and in-store experiences. With both artists' brands sold at Ulta, the partnership also reinforces the retailer's position as a beauty destination for exclusive launches and giftable products, while its new 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar adds another layer to the holiday shopping push.
Levi’s Gets Crafty for Christmas
Levi Strauss & Co. is bringing handmade creativity back to holiday advertising with “Let’s Get Fuzzy,” a 60-second stop-motion claymation campaign inspired by its iconic 1995 “Clayman” commercial. The whimsical spot follows a yeti who finds friendship and acceptance after discovering the perfect fuzzy sweater, showcasing the brand’s holiday collection through an entirely handcrafted production process. In a timely contrast to the growing use of AI-generated advertising, Levi Strauss & Co. is leaning into nostalgia, tactile storytelling and human creativity to differentiate its holiday marketing across digital, social and retail channels. The campaign also taps into growing consumer fatigue with AI-generated content, positioning traditional craftsmanship as a compelling way for brands to stand out in an increasingly automated advertising landscape.
