Christmas arrives with a bang…

Christmas is here and all across the land ad agencies are stirring up a frenzy of excitement as they prepare for their Yuletide parties.

Some celebrations will be big, jolly affairs full of merry gentlemen, others will be more about mulled wine and goodwill to all mankind, while others still may have to take place in the local boozer on account of the bar bill that was run up at the swanky hotel last year.

But whatever the theme or extent of the event, the creative and packaging departments have been working overtime to make sure the invites look good.

However, creativity can backfire. One Marketing Week hack was left reeling from shock last week after receiving a parcel from DM agency Barraclough Edwards Chamberlain.

Desperate to find out what was inside the mysterious box on his desk, he grabbed a pair of scissors and thrust them through the cardboard.

The office was rocked by a huge bang as the balloon secreted inside the box exploded, leaving the stunned reporter (and several passers by) looking uncharacteristically shaken and stirred.

Once the remains of the balloon was fished out of the box and stretched a bit, the invite was readable, but the Diary was left with the distinct feeling that it was more like Eeyore’s birthday than Christmas.