This is a post I’ve always looked forward to writing each year since I began this blog in 2015.
Somehow I had discovered the wonderful Christmas adverts which the British retailers come out with every year, and I would write a post that featured my favorite ones.
In previous years I could usually count on John Lewis to have a good to great ad, and more recently on Hafod Hardware.
But I thought this year’s John Lewis ad was underwhelming, and Hafod did not make one this year.
And when I viewed all the other retailers’ ads for this holiday season, nothing caught my fancy, and so I have opted not to play any of them.
But rather than being a Scrooge, I thought I would replay my favorite John Lewis ad, from 2014. This one featured Monty the Penguin.
The video had close to 19 million views, and created a Monty the Penguin commercial frenzy. A Monty stuffed animal sold out, but there were also books, ties, onesies, slippers, home furnishings such as tablecloths and napkins available. Upon purchase, these goods were popped into beautifully designed Monty-themed shopping bags that were seen throughout the high street, to ensure Monty was the icon of Christmas 2014.
I hope next year’s ads return to their usual brilliance…
*image from Express
Borden's Blather 
I like that ad, too. When I was that age I loved to play with stuffed animals. I preferred the ones that were stuffed with money.
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You got stuffed animals stuffed with money? I must have been getting the wrong kind!
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No, but I wish I had. I would have retired before graduating high school.
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LOL!
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and then with all your wealth you could have invested early on in Bitcoin!
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And then by now I’d be as rich as Jeff Bezos.
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not not quite up to Elon Musk though?
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No, I don’t like the smell of his name.
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I don’t like the gel in his mane.
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Hee-hee. 😄
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were yours stuffed with coal?
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Noo. .smartie I think tbat would be the stuffed animals of certain stooges! 🙂
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present company excluded, of course…
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Haha! Nope, you are included. LOL!
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if I knew how to give myself a head smack!
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Do you want some lessons? 😉
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I think I’ll learn best by just continuing to watch you…😀
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Smart aleck!
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did you mean to say smart, Jim!
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Nope! 😛
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it was worth a shot… 🙂
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LOL!
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those were always the best type…
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I love this ad; it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and christmasy ❤
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glad you enjoyed it!
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This is a great one, that’s for sure!
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glad you enjoyed it, Becky!
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I am glad you aren’t Scrooge, Jim. Maybe the retailers are a bit tight for funds after 20 plus months of covid.
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you’re probably right. this past year and a half have not brought out the best in many of us…
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Such a sweet commercial! Glad you shared it again. ❤
I loved stuffed animals. Still have the one Brad gave me when we were dating. 🙂
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so does the stuffed animal go with you when you celebrate your anniversaries?
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Ummm….no, it guards our bedroom. 😊
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🙂
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This is an outstanding Christmas commercial! What a pleasure to watch. 😍
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I think so too, John. Glad you enjoyed it…
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Great advert. But very long and the cost to have it played must have been astronomical.
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it’s like a mini-movie. but it seems to have paid off. and that’s why Hafod Hardware’s ads are so impressive – total cost is around $130
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That was delightful. I think you and Clive turned me on to the Hafod Hardware commercials. Those were always done so well.
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glad you enjoyed it, Pete. And yes, Clive is a big fan of the Hafod ads as well…
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I agree with you, Jim, about the other ads. I remember Monty. ❤ When Tom announced that Hafod Hardware wasn't doing an ad this year, I understood, but it feels like something is missing. I went back and watched their old ones. They are not too far from us, so we will visit them when things have settled down. Xx
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the Hafod ads are just as good the second, or fifth time. How nice that you might be able to visit them!
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Who says you can’t buy love?
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and sometimes it’s worth it!
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I always look forward to this post from you, and you must be really disappointed this year. thanks for the return of monty though!
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monty was a good fill-in…
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I think it was a wise move to share Monty again. This year’s John Lewis ad is dire, and I have yet to see a good one from anyone else. They are almost as bad as the tv shows they interrupt…
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I’m glad I’m not the only one who wasn’t impressed with this year;s batch of ads.
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It’s a widespread opinion here. I hope yours are better!
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I haven’t checked yet. I doubt it…
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They can hardly be worse…
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what a nice commercial. I’ve never seen that before. That I sat at my computer and played a video shows the faith I have in you. I *never* do that.
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glad you enjoyed it Jeff – and thanks for the vote of confidence!
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What a darling commercial. Too bad there aren’t more like it.
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John Lewis has put out a few good ones over the years. the 2018 one with Elton John is another great one…
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👍👍
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Proof positive that warm and fuzzy sells very well. It’s all the optics of advertising with the sole purpose of making a profit.
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I’m a sucker for such ads. And I’ll admit that I had thought about buying a Monty stuffed animal, but there were none to be had!
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I haven’t seen any yet this year!
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any ads, or any good ones?
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Thank you for the replay of Monty, Jim…I agree this year’s ads are dire they should have been left on the cutting room floor…
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Hopefully, they return to their glory days next year…
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I for one do hope so as I always look forward to them…I’m sure covid must have dampened their creative streaks 🙂 x
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another unintended consequence of covid…
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I used to love the John Lewis advertisements. I loved the one with Lily Allen singing in 2013.
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I am not aware of that one; I’ll have to go back and watch it. thanks for the tip.
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Let me know what you think.
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I just watched it; another wonderful story. I’d never heard of Lily Allen…
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Yes the story is really nice
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Oh, my! What a great commercial!
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I’m glad you liked it, Jennie…
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🙂
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It sucks that this years Ad was disappointing but that penguin one is so sweet!
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the penguin one is a classic…
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I haven’t seen this. So cute.
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it is a nice one. although I have come across a very nice one in the past couple of days. it’s a four minute ad by Chevy…
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