The strategy behind John Lewis and Waitrose’s first joint Christmas ad
John Lewis and Waitrose have joined forces on their first campaign in the latest phase of a broader strategy designed to bring the brands closer together in the minds of consumers.
By Sarah Vizard
One of the most eagerly anticipated ads of the year was launched today, with John Lewis revealing its annual Christmas brand campaign.
This year, however, it sprung a big, although not totally unexpected, change by launching its first joint campaign with Waitrose, rather than going it alone.
The story the two brands hit on tells the story of an excitable dragon called Edgar who keeps ruining Christmas moments because he can’t control his fire breathing.
The John Lewis and Waitrose marketing teams began working on the campaign in January, seeing between 30 and 40 scripts before deciding on the story of Edgar. During the process they were conscious of trying to keep the DNA of both brands, hence wanting the story to include the comedy and humour Waitrose has become known for, as well as the John Lewis tear-jerker aspect.
This means the ad is interspersed with amusing moments, such as when the villagers all hide under the table when Edgar comes to join them at the feast, as well as heart-wrenchers, for example when Edgar banishes himself to his house after burning down the village Christmas tree.
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