Ahead of 2019's John Lewis Christmas ad launch, watch every film since 2006

By John McCarthy-11 November 2019 12:49pm

Ahead of John Lewis' much anticipated Christmas ad reveal, The Drum explores the retailer's previous work.

The department store is a leading light in UK Christmas advertising with its high profile work often capturing headlines and, for some, defining the festive season. But atop financial difficulties (with profit dropping 99% in a year) its reliance on effective marketing is increased following last year's Elton John spot.

Over the last decade, John Lewis' Christmas ad production budgets have often exceed £1m. But behind the scenes, its IPA effectiveness Grand Prix win revealed that the big-budget ads, on average, produced £8 of profit for every £1 spent, and drove a 16% rise in sales.

For years, the company has followed the same formula. Deeply emotional creative has served the drive sales but following a reportedly mixed response to 2015's 'Man on the Moon', John Lewis marketing head Rachel Swift hinted that the department store was to go in another direction.

First here's the first tease for the 2019 ad. An 'Excitable Edgar' appears to be the focus.