AI Performed In-Depth Interviews About Christmas Ads. This is What We Learned

Controversy, cheer, fashion-forward animals and the undying theme of togetherness. All this and so much more in this year's Christmas commercials case study powered by AI.
The interviews for this research were conducted by Yasna AI, our tool designed to:

  • Enrich quantitative studies with storytelling.
  • Help researchers and managers collect more meaningful data.
  • Eliminate arduous, emotionally challenging and extremely costly interviewing hours out of the insight and idea-generation process.
METHODOLOGY

Stimuli: two sets of video ads: Aldi and Waitrose, TK Maxx and Marks & Spencer.
Target: United Kingdom, male, female, from 18 to 65 years, each set of ads tested by 50 respondents, 100 resp. sample size in total.
Research solution: an AI-powered auto-moderator

Which past Christmas ads stuck with people?

To set the scene, our AI auto-moderator named Yasna asked the respondents:

"What Christmas commercials do you recall spontaneously and why do you like them?"

And there is a clear winner. You've probably guessed it: John Lewis takes the panettone, not so closely followed by Coca Cola. Here is the top 5 rating.

What makes a great (and memorable)
Christmas ad?

We learned that the bar for Christmas ads is set so much higher than for normal ads. People expect a cinematic experience with cinematic-level production value. An intriguing plot, unexpected characters, humour or even deep philosophical thought + don't forget about strong emotions and eye-catching visuals.
Quite a list of requirements!

Brands, don't get intimidated by this list. Consider creating your own Christmas short films — your audience will be eagerly waiting for them all year long! :))

Tanya Berlina
Client Success Director
@ Yasna.ai
tanya@yasna.ai

It's beginning to look a lot like…ad analysis!

We've established what qualities make an outstanding Christmas ad.
Now let's see how the respondents rated the four ads Mia asked them to watch and compare:
Aldi vs. Waitrose and TK Maxx vs. Marks & Spencer.
Aldi

In recent years Aldi has centred its storytelling around

the cartoon character "Kevin the Carrot" who is now strongly associated with Christmas (and beloved by consumers).
This ad is family-friendly and inclusive, made for both children and adults. To amuse the latter it didn't shy away from incorporating innuendos such as "that's huge, Willy".
As for the larger themes in the ad, this line of narration is particularly note-worthy: "Christmas isn't selfish, it's not all me me me". The creators of the ad knew what they were doing when highlighting the traditional virtue of sharing - it really resonated with the respondents.

Aldi Christmas Advert 2023

Kevin and the Christmas Factory

The Aldi commercial with Kevin the Carrot is always enchanting. Even though there's a bit of darkness in the story, it always ends happily, creating a feeling of empathy which is important at Christmas time.— Female, 37
Waitrose
Food. This ad is built around a party (read: togetherness)
and so it was able to discreetly showcase a selection of real food people can buy and, for the most part, the respondents loved it! The choice of music (Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough) also earned points for the ad's likeability.
When comparing the feedback on Aldi and Waitrose ads,
it becomes clear that they target very different audiences. Those who preferred the Waitrose ad - preferred it specifically because it was not a cartoon, it was made for adults and the lifestyle they relate to around the holidays.

Waitrose Christmas Advert 2023

It's Time For The GOOD Stuff

I found Waitrose's video appealing because of the party vibe it had. It put me in a festive mood and showcased the food they offer in a good way - it looked very yummy.— Male, 22
TK Maxx
Cute funny animals are a go-to tactic for getting a positive reaction from people. TK Maxx concocted an effective concept that is very hard to dislike: furry friends dressed in designer outfits that were lovingly picked out for them as Christmas gifts. So, the "season for giving" motif shines through. Warmth was the most common word used to describe this ad. The presence of warm clothes in a snowy setting paired with the message of goodwill translated very well into a heartwarming feeling for consumers.
TK Maxx Christmas Advert 2023

Festive Farm

The TK Maxx commercial appealed to me because it showcased inclusivity and the idea that Christmas is for all creatures. — Female, 54
Marks & Spencer
Christmas cards set alight, a Christmas hat shredded, an elf on the shelf batted away. These are some of the edgy scenes that invited outcry. While some appreciated the ad's honesty and fresh perspective on traditions, the majority felt it was disrespectful and sent a selfish message. The closing line "This Christmas do only what you love" didn't help.
This genre of advertising does not allow much room for challenging tradition. Creativity, uniqueness, humour - sure. As long as they don't mess with the classic holiday spirit.
Marks & Spencer Christmas Advert 2023

M&S Christmas Clothing & Home

The M&S advert totally trashed Christmas, in fact referred to it as ThisMas, which may offend religious Christian people. — Male, 52

Ranking of the four ads based on the respondents' feedback

Don'ts of Christmas advertising

  • 1
    Turn your ad into a cinematic experience
    Make it visually attractive, have a real (and relatable!) plot to get people invested in your story, choose the right soundtrack to amplify the experience.
  • 2
    Get emotions involved
    Can you make your audience laugh? Cry? An ad is more likely to be memorable if it gets a strong emotional response.
  • 3
    Stick with the classic themes of family, sharing and togetherness
    But make them your own. Test with your audience to know if your ad concept is unique.

Do's of Christmas advertising

  • 1
    Be smug and edgy at the expense of sacrificing the holiday spirit
    If your ad is hysterically funny then mayyybe you can afford to also be smug and edgy, but are you willing to make this gamble?
  • 2
    Be tone-deaf to the cultural moment
    Triple check your cultural references and try to avoid the sensitive subjects that are currently polarising society.
  • 3
    Go after traditional values
    Experiments are rewarded as long as they still convey the core values and themes people associate with Christmas. Marks & Spencer's attempt to subvert expectations by going against these themes led to backlash from consumers.

There is no Christmas-cookie-cutter formula that makes an ad appealing

However! Elements such as characters, music, story, and the overall tone and message of the ad play a significant role. In the end, it's all about knowing the target audience's preferences. And that is something Yasna.ai can help you with :)