Happy Holidays from READY FOR MEDIA and Tim Nudd, creative editor of ADWEEK, who has rated 30 of the best holiday commercials of 2017, http://www.adweek.com/creativity/see-all-the-big-holiday-ads-of-2017/, As our gifts to you, we have summarized a few of our choices in a series of holiday blogs: Christmas Commercials that Connect.
Our award for “Best New Product Introduction” goes to McDonald’s campaign, get #ReindeerReady from Leo Burnett/London. In introducing a packet of carrot sticks that can be substituted for French fries in your child’s Happy Meal, this fast food franchise gives a nod to a healthier alternative than leaving cookies for Santa.
Photo Courtesy of McDonald’s
“Our campaign focuses on the anticipation, excitement and little moments of magic the run-up to Christmas brings,” says Emily Somers, vp of marketing and food development at McDonald’s U.K. “It’s one little girl’s preparation for the big day (by saving a carrot stick from her Happy Meal) ‘for the reindeer.’”
Of course, things go temporarily south when her older brother makes a startling revelation— there’s more than one reindeer and she’s saved just one carrot stick. That becomes a pretext for yet another visit to McD’s, for more carrots with a tired Dad who attempts to also order “a cheeseburger for Father Christmas.”
The ad was preceded by 10-second teasers featuring reindeer-ready carrots, now being promoted on the McDonald’s website as “deliciously crunchy reindeer treats.”
Taking full advantage of social media, the story will also be told on Snapchat, where users can unlock a branded Reindeer Face Lens and a game called “Carrot Run.” You can unlock the hub by scanning Snapcodes on McDonald’s Christmas packaging. Free packs of “reindeer treats” will also be shared with families in restaurants, begging the question, Are you #ReindeerReady?”
“As children with one goal in mind—pleasing the man who holds the Naughty/Nice list—the question had never even occurred to us. But in these more inclusive times, it’s probably bad form indeed to think only of the saint … and not his hardworking fleet.”