Who’s it for: Spark by Colenso BBDO and PHD
Why we like it: Spark’s Santaline has been taking children’s wish list requests for the past 24 years, but this year, there will be someone there to answer the phone rather than it going through to voicemail. As the ad explains, the helpers were required to have a jolly disposition and that’s on display as the Metlifecare retirees wear festive accessories and take calls with a big smile. It’s also lovely to watch as the two generations of children and elderly are connected through a shared love of Christmas.
Who’s it for: Westpac by FCB Media
Why we like it: The ad breaks may be full of Christmas spots and the holiday is drawing closer, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop looking at serious topics like diversity in business. Westpac gets straight to the point in this video with the findings from a Deloitte study, commissioned by the bank, that asked businesses to share their thoughts on women in leadership. The video lets the numbers speak for themselves before Westpac shares its views about the value of women’s skills and diversity in the workplace. Paired with a print takeover that saw only 29 percent of the New Zealand Herald printed (to represent the percentage of women business leaders in New Zealand), this campaign made us sit up and pay attention.
Who’s it for: TSB
Why we like it: Christmas day might see children running to the tree with excitement about what lies beneath but that doesn’t mean adults don’t have wish lists too. In the spot, TSB explores what makes the best present in the world and the varied responses show it’s not always something that can be wrapped up and placed under a tree. We particularly love how the father goes from new sheets for his bed to an around the world trip to show his son all the different cultures.
Who’s it for: Trade Me by DDB
Why we like it: If your friend accidentally puts a sculpture head through your parents’ glass coffee table, don’t fret, Trade Me has you covered. The narrative of parents going away on holiday and leaving the house under the responsibility of their party-loving teenagers is not a new one, but Trade Me’s put its own spin on it to show how its service can come in handy to replace anything that gets damaged—or in this case, destroyed.
