Called “Silent Night”, the Christmas advert takes us back to the Austrian village of Oberndorf in the winter of 1818, where we meet a young man who sees his neighbours struggling with poverty and hunger and is inspired to find a way of bringing them some warmth and hope.

That man turns out to be Joseph Mohr, the little town’s priest who, along with his friend, the music teacher Franz Xaver Gruber, composes a song on Christmas Eve 1818. They called it “Silent Night” and performed it on the same evening at the Christmas mass. This humble gesture would not only touch the hearts of people in the small village, but around the world for decades, even centuries to come.

Jung von Matt’s film explores with great historical accuracy how, from its very first performance by Mohr and Gruber in a small rural church, “Silent Night” has been passed down through generations and reached every corner of the earth, to become the world’s most recorded song.

Filled with historic detail, like a replica of Mohr’s guitar and his small room on the first floor, the film truthfully depicts the major milestones of the song from Oberndorf that travelled around the world: In 1822, a Tyrolean choir performed it in front of the Austrian Emperor Franz I. In 1906, ‘Silent Night’ was played on the violin by Reginald Fessenden during the first-ever radio entertainment broadcast in America. In 1914, the song brought a brief but powerful moment of peace during World War I. On the Western Front, German and English soldiers sang it together, bridging the enemy trenches. The song even reached space – in 1973, “Silent Night” was broadcast to the crew of the Skylab 4 Space Station. 

Today, “Silent Night” is the most recorded song in the world, with over 130,000 versions in more than 300 languages.

Erste Group and Jung von Matt have been working in partnership for 10 years, and introduced the Believe in Yourself platform, known as #glaubandich in German, in 2017. The brand’s Christmas campaigns have become an annual tradition after the viral success of their inaugural effort, the 2018 animated film “Henry Hedgehog”. “Silent Night” marks a new era for this tradition, both because it introduces the first live-action Christmas film and also by telling a true historical story.

Mike Nagy, ECD and Partner at Jung von Matt Donau, said: “We’re thrilled to share the remarkable story of Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr with the world this Christmas. Their journey is a testament to the power of two individuals who believed that a simple song could inspire hope and change the world for the better.”

“Silent Night” was developed in collaboration with the Silent Night Society, which provided valuable insights and milestones of the song’s history. It was directed by Daniel & Szymon through Arts & Sciences.

The campaign breaks on 19 November, running across key Erste markets of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia and Romania. Along with the television campaign, it will run in print and digital/social channels.

Source: Jung von Matt Donau

Ahead of the highly anticipated Oxford Street store opening in 2025, IKEA today announced the forthcoming opening of ‘Hus of FRAKTA’; a pop-up experience on London’s Oxford Circus, dedicated to one of the most iconic symbols of the IKEA brand, the blue FRAKTA bag.

Meaning ‘to freight’ in Swedish, the FRAKTA bag was originally designed over three decades ago to help customers carry their purchases. Today it has become a cultural icon – reimagined by iconic designers including Zandra Rhodes and Marimekko along the way. It’s not just a bag; it’s a symbol of resourcefulness and adaptability; reused by many in so many different ways. From laundry basket to beach bag and even a trusty companion for city commuters, the FRAKTA has proven its versatility in countless ways, becoming part of the stories we live every day.

Rooted in the five democratic design principles of IKEA – function, form, quality, sustainability, and affordability – the FRAKTA is available for just 75p, making it an indispensable part of everyday life. Nearly half of UK households (45%) own one, with many (31%) keeping theirs for over five years, proving that it’s not just a bag – it’s a part of their journey¹.

Matt Gould, IKEA London City Store Manager, said: “As we prepare for our Oxford Street city store opening next year, we’re excited to showcase the unique offerings we’ll bring to this iconic location. When we open our doors, customers will discover well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices that make them accessible to as many people as possible. There’s no better product to demonstrate this commitment than our FRAKTA bag with its small, 75p price tag. A staple in our range for over 30 years, and in so many households, we wanted to pay tribute to this household favourite, and bring IKEA a little closer to our customers before next spring’s opening.”

Hus of FRAKTA will be located at 216 Oxford Street, next to the forthcoming Oxford Street store, and opens its doors at 11am on Thursday 28^th November. The pop-up will then be open daily from 11am until 8pm, Monday – Saturday, and 12pm until 6pm on Sundays until March 2025.

¹ The survey was conducted online by Cision in June 2023 with a sample size of 1,000 individuals.

Source: IKEA

The high-impact bridge takeover, created by Oliver Agency, highlights must-have products from H&M’s gift guide and captures the attention of shoppers as they approach one of the UK’s busiest retail hubs, delivering festive inspiration right at the point of purchase.

The store opening is H&M’s first of its kind in the UK and provides a significant evolution in customer experience and technology. It features enhanced omni-channel services, new smart store services, mobile checkouts for a seamless shopping experience, and interactive fitting rooms.

The Stratford Bridge Walkway is part of a broader campaign planned and booked by the7stars, where Out-of-Home is the hero channel.  In addition to the Stratford Bridge, the campaign features on large-format and Digital OOH sites across key cities and retail hotspots nationwide. The media strategy focuses on a strong presence in November to capitalise on stock availability, and the critical Black Friday period.

Beyond OOH, the campaign is amplified with paid display on Captify and a strategic partnership with online lifestyle magazine Sheerluxe, which showcases H&M’s hero products. In Ireland, OOH is reinforced by press insertions in premium fashion publications, including Tatler, Gloss, and The Image.

Hannah Townsend, Media Lead at H&M, commented: “The Stratford Bridge takeover is an exciting new site for H&M, bringing to life our wide range of products and delivering unparalleled visibility at a key retail destination in a fun and festive way.

“December is such a busy time for brands, so we knew we had to go big to announce our new store opening. Customers can look forward to new smart store services, including interactive fitting rooms, fitted with screens that recognise products, offer tailored styling tips, and let customers easily request different colours and sizes at the push of a button.”

Olivia Biddiss, Account Manager at the7stars, added: “H&M’s strategy this holiday season is all about standing out in a crowded landscape. By using a combination of unique cherry-picked premium OOH sites like Stratford Bridge, Old Street Roundabout, and the Trafford Arch in Manchester, and the ubiquity of Digital OOH screens, we’ve created a campaign that not only drives fame but ensures frequency of messaging across key cities. Collaborating with Sheerluxe has further enabled us to connect to our core audience of ‘fashion aspirers’ to spotlight H&M’s stylish gifting ideas this season.”

Source: the7stars

Building on the momentum of the established Big in Restaurants campaign, Kit Studio worked closely with Square to amplify the candid and raw photography captured by Exell, to bring the energy of real kitchens and restaurants to OOH.

A truly authentic campaign that doesnʼt just say that Square is Big in Restaurants – it shows it. Featuring imagery of real Square sellers paired with social proof about their experience – the campaign features London-based sellers in London, with a specific feature in East London, as well as Manchester-based sellers in Manchester.

Telling the stories of each city showcases the hardware in a way that fits in with the urban environment – and when paired bold typographic approaches enables the campaign to flex across a multitude of unique artworks in print, digital and flyposting.

Chris Bounds, Creative Partner at Kit Studio said “From the multi-seller showcase to the bold fly posters, the authenticity can be felt across both London and Manchester. Combining the energy of Exellʼs imagery with powerful typography enables the campaign to fit into the urban environment whilst also cutting through.”

Neil MacLean, Creative Director, EU/UK at Square said “This campaign is all about giving the spotlight to the unsung heroes ̶ chefs, restaurant owners, and their hardworking teams who are out there making London and Manchester taste like no place else. Weʼve put them front and centre, letting their stories cut through in raw, in-the-moment photography that captures the gritty energy of the industry.”

Source: Square

BJ’s Wholesale Club is reviving its wildly popular digital video series “Newscasters,” which first debuted as part of the brand’s ongoing “Absurdly Simple Savings” platform in 2023. Due to the campaign’s success, the newscasters are back – this time as part of BJ’s 2024 holiday push.

Created by independent advertising agency Terri & Sandy, the videos parody local newscasts with an anchor who is so obsessed with the savings at BJ’s, he uses every story – from news of a snowstorm to warnings about impending blackouts – as an opportunity to sing the praises of the retailer’s Black Friday, Holiday Gifting, and Holiday Meal & Entertaining deals, much to the irritation of his more professional co-host.

The original “Newscasters“ series first launched as the digital-only element of a broader multi-platform campaign that proved highly effective in reaching BJ’s members, seeing a 98% video completion rate. Taking on a new tune for the holiday season, the campaign will now make its debut across CTV, including Hulu, NBC, and Disney and will run across paid social channels.

“The new holiday “Newscaster” spots use humor to showcase BJ’s unbeatable value and incredible savings in a fun and absurdly entertaining way,” said Keith Evans, Senior Creative Director at BJ’s Wholesale Club. “Our partner, Terri & Sandy, has successfully extended the Absurdly Simple Savings campaign into holiday by bringing attention and excitement to BJ’s Black Friday, Holiday Hosting, and the BJ’s Great Gifting Event.”

Source: Terri & Sandy

BIRD London has launched its first campaign for Hughes Electrical, titled “Get Your Home Christmas Ready.” As the largest independent electrical goods retailer in East Anglia, Hughes has been serving customers since its founding in 1921—over 103 years of trusted service. This campaign draws on the joy and nostalgia of famous Christmas lyrics, creating a festive, recognisable link between the brand and the holiday season.

After securing the account in a competitive pitch earlier this year, BIRD London is collaborating with Hughes on a marketing transformation to expand brand awareness beyond its established base in East Anglia and across the UK. The festive season puts household appliances under intense pressure, with fridges overstocked, ovens working overtime, and freezers pushed to the limit before, during, and after Christmas Day. Amid the bustle of a full house with family and friends, appliance reliability becomes essential. BIRD London’s OOH campaign, featuring memorable assets, positions Hughes as the trusted choice for appliance needs—especially when the unexpected happens, like a fridge breakdown.

BIRD London’s OOH campaign for Hughes Electrical playfully reimagines classic Christmas lyrics like Baby, It’s Cold Outside and Jingle Bells, blending these festive references with Hughes’ distinctive look and feel. Each ad features hand-drawn, bespoke backgrounds that bring the lyrics to life, all culminating in the tagline, “Get your home Christmas ready.” Media placement for the campaign, which runs from November through December, was managed by Palace Project.

Emily Stoten, Marketing Director, Hughes Electricals said “Every home has to work harder at Christmas, and electricals take most of the strain. Ovens are on non-stop and fridges are full to the brim. That’s why we want to make sure people have the electricals in their home that are up to scratch. In our first advertising campaign with BIRD London, we used classic Christmas jingles to prompt customers to think about getting a new fridge or oven before the whole family turn up expecting to be fed round the clock. Christmas should be about family fun, not hosting hell, and we couldn’t have found a better advertising partner to sprinkle joy into our advertising”

Steve Parker, Strategy Director and Founder, BIRD London said “We’re extremely proud to be working with the team at Hughes. We’re on a mission to put joy and emotion into a category that can sometimes feel a bit obsessed with technology, and not that interested in the people who use it. Hughes are all about the people, and this work captures that spirit and channels it into the festive season”

Source: BIRD London

Audience Store, a leading international customer insight and programmatic media activation partner, has entered into a strategic alliance with Fenestra, an innovative provider of AI-driven solutions for the advertising industry.

The partnership is part of Audience Store‘s Innovation Lab initiative, aimed at enhancing its proprietary audience intelligence platform, Discover AI, and next-generation CTV solution, Targetcast.

With the advertising landscape continually evolving, this collaboration will enable both companies to leverage cutting-edge technology, including AI, to significantly enhance campaign efficiency and effectiveness. Discover AI and Targetcast will empower brands to adopt a logical, audience-first approach to CTV advertising across their programmatic campaigns, focussing on brand impact, dynamic creative and performance.

By combining forces, Audience Store and Fenestra will help brands maximise their reach and achieve incremental growth, while seamlessly integrating with linear TV delivery.

“Partnering with Fenestra aligns perfectly with our mission to clear up the market’s confusion around the changes in the TV landscape and the complex world of digital marketing,” said Jon Hewson, CEO of Audience Store. “Their expertise in AI and data-driven solutions complements our commitment to providing brands with the insights they need to engage with and acquire customers more effectively. Together, we will drive innovation and deliver exceptional value to our clients.”

Fenestra, led by digital advertising veterans Ashley MacKenzie and Javier Campos, specialises in creating independent, customisable platforms and data ecosystems. Their solutions empower agencies and advertisers such as Media by Mother, Epitaph Group, Deutsche Telekom, Republic of Media, and Unibet to optimise their global biddable advertising investments through enhanced performance analysis and automated improvements.

“Joining forces with Audience Store is an exciting step for Fenestra,” said Javier Campos, Chief Information Officer of Fenestra. “By combining our AI capabilities with Audience Store’s extensive market insights, we can revolutionise how brands approach audience engagement and CTV advertising, paving the way for smarter, more efficient campaigns.”

As part of Audience Store’s Innovation Lab initiative, the partnership will not only enhance existing offerings, but will also explore new avenues for technology and AI development, setting the stage for future advancements in the advertising sector.

Source: Audience Store

The Glenrothes 18-year-old is the latest pillar of The Glenrothes rare whisky portfolio all deeply connected to The Glenrothes private estate in Speyside in Scotland. It follows the successful launches of The 25 and The 42 last year.

Lewis Moberly was briefed to design The 18-year-old bottle and gift carton. The key objective was to build on the familiarity of The Glenrothes iconic bottle and celebrate the whisky within. The 18-year-old gift box pack structure also needed to elevate to align closely with the recently launched 25-year-old whisky packaging.

The evolved Glenrothes bottle introduces a taller, elegant body profile. The straight neck allows the precious liquid to pour more smoothly. The Glenrothes Master Whisky Maker, Laura Rampling, lends her handwritten tasting notes to gild the clear front label. Lewis Moberly has designed a bespoke gift secondary canister featuring a dual layered turning cylinder that opens to reveal the whisky within. The new structure enables the bottle to be proudly displayed within its gift box.

The secondary canister design for the 18-year-old is based on the new 25-year-old structure developed on the principle of using paper, card, and pulp-based materials only.  No plastic, metal, or leather.  With minimal use of foil, the new core structure is 100% recyclable.

Mary Lewis, Creative Director at Lewis Moberly commented: 

“The aged range has developed by building on assets and creating a strong, seamless, presentation. A base of underlying purple heralds new life within The Glenrothes grounds and the emergence of spring. Bright copper accents celebrate the distillation from a raw essence into new, make spirit through the unusually tall stills — an influence which poises the whisky for 18 years of evolving transformation.”

Wendy Espie, Global NPD Manager, The Glenrothes added:

“As a key pillar of The Glenrothes portfolio, The 18 deserves a plinth on which to be presented. The new Lewis Moberly cylindrical canister – a stylish reinterpretation of the casks in which our liquid luxuriously matures – offers just that. The contours of the outer pack are a nod to the location of The Glenrothes Estate in Rothes, Speyside; whilst the twist playfully reveals the whisky inside.”

Source: Lewis Moberly

Launching Monday, November 18^th Americans of all ages and backgrounds can step into the role of Santa by adopting a wish list letter through uspsoperationsanta.com. Those who wish to “play” Santa have the chance to do so by gifting requested items from these letters.

The new commerce collaboration with Toys “R” Us aims to expand the program’s reach, making it easier than ever for people to participate in gift-giving magic with online fulfillment – a key alternative to the program’s previous requirement for adopters to physically purchase and mail in requested items from these letters. A survey conducted by MRM and USPS found that nearly 50% of respondents would use an online fulfillment feature if offered for USPS Operation Santa.

The relationship marketing agency, MRM, has managed USPS Operation Santa’s online platform and handwritten letter intake since 2017.

“Holiday commerce meets people in the moment. Thanks to USPS Operation Santa, there are many people who want to fulfill wishes but sometimes don’t, due to many factors,” said MRM global chief creative officer, Ronald Ng. “Modernizing this timeless tradition by partnering with Toys “R” Us opens more doors and possibilities for frictionless engagement, while elevating the holiday magic of a successful, enduring platform.”

“USPS Operation Santa has connected communities through holiday goodwill for over a century,” said USPS Marketing Vice President Sheila Holman. “This year, through our collaboration with Toys“R”Us, we’re thrilled to bring an easier way for generous people to make a difference. With the launch of this new e-commerce platform, we’re making it simpler than ever to help fulfill wishes and spread holiday joy.”

Gary Haas, Toys “R” Us e-commerce vice president, added, “At Toys“R”Us, our mission is to bring joy to children, and what better way than to surprise them with gifts from Santa. Through this new e-commerce platform, generous individuals can easily adopt a letter to Santa and help create magical moments for a new generation of Toys“R”Us kids.”

Also this holiday season, USPS Operation Santa will be featured in a new season of “Dear Santa, The Series,” debuting Nov. 24 on all ABC-owned television stations and streaming on Hulu beginning Nov. 29. The series provides a heartwarming, behind-the-scenes look at the impact of the program, showcasing real stories of generosity and the spirit of the holidays as letters are answered and wishes are fulfilled. Brendan Gaul and Brett Henenberg of IPG Mediabrands’ TRAVERSE32, produced the series.  Holman and Shalene Starr, USPS manager of marketing operations, serve as executive producers.

Adoptions for USPS Operation Santa letters goes live Monday, November 18^th.The last call for Americans to write and send in their letters is Dec. 9th. And Dec. 16^th is the last call for adopters to fulfill orders via USPS and Toys “R” Us catalogue, and the last day to manually fulfill orders is January 10^th. For more info visit: uspsoperationsanta.com/faqs

Source: MRM

But Signature’s brand, while strong and innovative at the time it was created in the mid 2000s, became somewhat of a standard look and similar voice to local and national professional theater peers in recent years. With the appointment of its new Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner leading the company alongside longtime Managing Director Maggie Boland, Signature decided the time was right to undertake a brand refresh in order to to better reflect what the company represents today and where it will be in the future. Signature partnered with creative marketing agency Yes& to sharpen its story and provide it with a more contemporary and cohesive design system.

The strategy that shaped the re-brand emerged from the most extensive audience research initiative Signature had ever undertaken. The four-month process included a brand audit, a digital ecosystem audit, staff and board workshops, quantitative and qualitative research with audiences and donors, and peer and aspirant analysis of theatre organizations in the U.S. and London. 

Yes& created a positioning that enabled Signature to go beyond marketing the category of live theatre or the appeal of a particular show. The new positioning was centered on the power of proximity: at Signature, the stage is never more than 10 rows away (about 45 feet) from your seat and there’s no curtain line to hold audiences at a distance. It’s one of the most magical, intimate and artistically demanding performing spaces in America—where audiences and performers feel and see that they are in community with each other.

Research also affirmed that Signature Theatre was unusually “customer obsessed.” While Signature held itself to the highest standards of artistry, audiences appreciated how it strived to make theatergoing feel easy and inclusive.

Yes& summed up the brand and its offer to audiences with the tagline, “The best place to experience musicals in America. By any measure.” 

The new logo translated the brand strategy visually by joining the words “Signature” and “Theatre” with the common center letter, A. This overlap represents connection and collaboration: between audience and performers, between performers and physical space, and between the performers themselves.

The new design system matches this excitement with vibrant, saturated colors and custom letterforms that reflect the spectrum and originality of Signature productions. Texture plays a key role in the brand identity, borrowing from the “street style” of traditional wheatpasted show bills. The subtly gritty look communicated that Signature was a place that lowered barriers between audiences and a memorable experience.

“Yes& took the time to get to know us and really understand Signature’s vibe and ethos from all perspectives – audience, staff, artists, and community,” said Signature Theatre’s Director of Marketing, Jennifer Buzzell. “It was through this detailed work that they absolutely nailed who Signature is, and importantly what Signature strives to be.”

Source: Yes&