Have you considered that the best gift doesn't have to be new?

eBay’s new campaign isn’t holiday focused, but the “buy used” strategy is perfect.



And they do have a three gift focused ads in their series of funny videos with Jim Gaffigan, Kevin Hart, Michael Showalter and Michael Ian.

Would you call it the gift of hope or the gift of broken dreams?

Years ago, my cousin started a tradition of giving everyone a scratch-off lottery ticket for Christmas. This spot is even funnier than he is.

Need a gift idea for an egoistical drinker?

Johnnie Walker is offering free bottle engraving at Grand Central.

Who wouldn’t want a personalized liquor bottles?
Custom anything sells big.

And I really dig these logo posters.

And they've got bottle engraving gift based ads all up and down the MetroNorth lines.

Is this in the holiday spirit?

JC Penny has put a seasonal spin on their campaign attacking Macy’s flagship store.

(If you’re not familiar with the holiday classic, Miracle on 34th Street revolves around the Santa at the Macy's Department Store.)

Are you giving your customers something to cheer about?

My holiday ad round up wouldn’t be complete without the Gap’s Cheer Factory, even though the campaign has been endlessly discussed already.

Early reactions online were quick to label it annoying, but it seems to have grown on people, including me (except of course for the War On Christmas types ranting about it.)

CheerFactory.com generates cheesy, fun video ecards and 20% off coupons.

And this spot is cute enough to melt any cynics ice-cold heart.

And you know a campaign has arrived when awesome tributes like this start popping up:

How much product can Crate & Barrel fit in that box?

The holidays must have me in a good mood, because I'm actually enjoying the puns and word play in Crate & Barrel's holiday campaign.

Do the 12 days of Christmas begin or end on the 25th?

Target has turned their Times Square billboards into an NYC inspired version of The Twelve Days of Christmas.





I love the bagels. (Now watch someone boycott Target for trying to convince kids that it's the Twelve Days of Hanukkah.)

Are you ready for a barrage of holiday ads?

There seem to be better campaigns out this year – and more of them. So I’m going to spend the next few days posting the ones that have caught my eye.

(I especially appreciate an ad that gives Chanukkah a nod.)

One nice thing about converting to Judaism is that I no longer have to worry about the commercialization of Christmas. So I can post all the “holiday” ads I want without fearing for the moral decline of American society.

Not that I’ve ever understood the whole War On Christmas movement. I’m pretty sure Christmas gets enough attention this time of year. And how does acknowledging someone else’s belief diminish yours?

But no matter what you think, there’s one group that deserves everyone’s respect – the creatives that have to come up with a fresh take on the holidays each year.

Is someone giving your sucky ads something to suck on?

Someone (I've dubbed them "The Pacifier") is “improving” ads with cute stickers.


Can't be sure if they actually intend to comment on the ads.

But it is like a cross between the Decapitator and the Googly Eye Cru.

What sells better than sex? Vampires, of course.

I’m digging this visual metaphor from iGo, a line of eco-friendly chargers and power management systems.
VampirePowerSucks.com contains a "calculate your energy loss" app and an augmented reality feature that throws a blood splatter over your face when you hold the little power outlet graphic up to your webcam.

You can then enter your pic in a contest or post it to the usual social media suspects.

How would you convince the elderly to go online?

I recently spent a half an hour waiting in the local office of the Social Security Administration, which gave me plenty of time to ponder the process that lead to the creation of these posters.

How did they decide to use the unrecognizable star of a sitcom about identical cousins from the early 1960’s as their spokesperson?

Thanks to Nick at Nite, I loved watching the Patty Duke show when I was a kid.

The theme song is really catchy though.

Who says air travel has to be a revolting experience?

Airline passengers are often one delay away from starting a riot. But Virgin America is hoping to spark a revolution with more ads in their flag waving campaign:

Is drinking cocktails sexy?

I always feel a bit more manly holding a highball glass. But of course, Absolut thinks it’s what’s in the glass that counts.


Or maybe it’s just who’s holding the glass? That’s actresses Zooey Deschanel in the Cosmo execution and Kate Beckinsale in the others.


You can read all about the campaign on BrandFreak.

I found a pretty cool iPhone app on their Facebook page.

Here are the other versions they have up in a takeover of the subway station under Grand Central.