Christmas Adverts: do people really care?

[Lifeisntajoke]

I just switched the radio on and it was the end of The Media Show on radio 4. They were talking about Chrismas Adverts. And saying that people actually really looked forward to these Adverts, that they were eagerly anticipated and people really either enjoyed them or sometimes were disappointed by them. That they are part of our Christmas tradition.

I found this hard to believe. I generally try and avoid Adverts, although this year I did actively seek out the Boots Christmas ad because I'd heard it was supposed to be controversial. When I saw it my only reaction was that it didn't mean anything to me and it wouldn't influence the way I shop at Boots one way or another.

The woman I heard on the Media show plugging the importance of Christmas ads was from Satchi and watching, so obviously had an axe to grind. But really do any of you MNers actually look forward to Christmas adverts? Are they of any importance?
YABU They are a Christmas tradition
YANBU They are totally of no importance

I definitely look forward to the Christmas ads! Other people must do too, to make it something companies put so much time and money into.

The furore about the Boots ad goes to show how invested people are in them.

I've never understood the hype that surrounds these adverts. Every year it's the same. I honestly think the vast majority of people don't give a shit.

Same here.

I find them pretty cringe really.

As you say, OP, the media agencies have an agenda. All of these companies are in cahoots with each other.

I also roll my eyes at the ads by Hollywood movie stars exhorting us to visit California. Or how movies set in London or New York are often just long ads to attract tourists to those cities.

Same with movie and TV reviewers being symbiotic with programme makers and studios.

I don’t care but I love seasonal packaging on things like my kitchen roll.

I'm only bothered if they are very irritating or loud but that's only because I watch a lot of YouTube and I'm going to get them rammed down my throat every minute and a half while I'm flicking about till Christmas is done with. It's the repetition that gets me, even if the advert is okay. Sometimes, I feel that if I hear that Boots ur-uh intro one more time I'm gonna smash my tablet or fuckin murder somebody. I was the same with the Here Come the Girls which I swear they were using with the intent to inflict as much physiological trauma on the viewing audience as possible. Also, anybody who uses Slade or Wizzard as a weapon of advertising torment can, quite frankly, go and fuck themselves with the pointy end of a pineapple.

No.

It's all part of the retail festival.

I couldn’t give a shitting fuck. I tend to record any programme that has ads so I can FF through them when I watch my recordings and so I miss them anyway. My day to day life is in no way impeded by not watching Christmas adverts.

It's Christmas in Ireland when this ad comes on. I don't particularly notice any others.

Quite a lot of ‘news’ stories are done by PR companies to promote brands or celebrities. They aren’t in response to interest from the public, they are there to create interest.

Eh! Nope!

No, I don't care.

Some of the John Lewis ones have been entertaining, but if there was never another John Lewis Christmas advert, my life would not be any poorer.

I certainly don't look forward to them or think about them at all! Just not really a thing for me.

Nope. The "off" button on one's television set is very powerful.

And I didn't care either about many of the other things we were supposed to watch: the coronation, the funeral, Platty Joobs, Donald Trump, or a single one of the fear porn broadcasts in 2020-2021.

This - I watch quite a bit of live TV, but often get up during ad breaks so don’t see many. I presume they work or stores wouldn’t spend money on them.

I don’t see too much harm in them.
Yes Christmas has evolved into both a religious and secular thing. There isn’t anything inherently wrong about buying gifts for other people. It also underpins the jobs of many people but retail and manufacturing, delivery and yes marketing.

There is a wider issue of inequality, families not able to afford basics and struggling with managing expectations at Christmas. This needs to be tackled all year, rather than just at Christmas.

Well where I work they are all mad for the Coca Cola one. You with the big lorry? Talking about have you seen it yet? You know Christmas is here once that’s on. You can a Togo somewhere to see the the lorry. Beats me.

Yes I think people are interested in seeing the ads. There is a tradition of companies pushing the boat out for Christmas advertising. Perfume ads were also more spectacular at Christmas but not so much anymore. It’s similar to going to see the window displays in the west end. Although apparently they’re a bit meh now too.

I think it’s good in a way - companies making a bit of an effort with their ads at the time we are spending the most money.

No, couldn't care less. I sometimes will see one and think "that's sweet", but doubt that later on I could tell you which retailer it applied to. They certainly don't make me want to go out and buy something from them.

Many years ago, lots of people - myself included - used to look forward to the Woolworth Christmas advert. Packed full of celebrities showcasing the goods.

Nowadays, nope. I don't watch the adverts. When they're on, I'm either making a cup of tea, popping to the loo, or scrolling my phone. I'm only aware of them because I see people commenting on them.

I don't think I've seen the controversial Boots one, not interested in the whodunit from Waitrose, and I have no idea what the Jaguar advert is (I'm definitely not their target market!)

Emotionally manipulative bollocks designed to wedge your purse open so they can reach in and fleece you.

They should stuff the Christmas ads in the Christmas turkeys butt hole.

Though, I admit, I do remember the snow man and the scarf advert. That was kinda sweet.

Back in the 90s, when Christmas used to start mid December, it was a bit exciting to see the Coca Cola ad as it sort of signified the start of Christmas.

Now it all starts in October so the Coca Cola advert is meaningless, holidays have been coming for 2 months by the time it's shown nowadays.

I used to like the Coca Cola one as a child. You wouldn’t be expecting it, and it was this sudden excitement that Christmas was coming. I also remember liking some of the earlier John Lewis ones. But nothing is a novelty anymore. Our senses are bombarded with media constantly now, it has lost any sense of meaning or excitement.

I pay no attention to them.

I love Christmas ads. I love all the glitz which is lacking in these gray days (god, I sound like my mother). Does it make me shop in those shops, unless I already do, no.

Edit: apart those drippy John Lewis ones.

Can't stand all the ads. Some of them I don't even figure out what they are advertising. Doesn't matter, because I wouldn't buy a thing based on an advert anyway; if I want something I'll do my own research and that won't include the advert breaks.
Breaks in a programme are usually my cue for the bathroom, as others have said.....I suppose they're useful for that!