Asda has launched a whimsical festive advertisement featuring gnome commandos tasked with saving Christmas.
- The advertisement opens with employees Maggie and Bill facing a snowstorm that blocks access to the store.
- Bill activates a gnome that sends out a call for help to a team of gnomes across the country.
- These gnome commandos quickly arrive to transform the store into a Christmas wonderland.
- The advertisement concludes with the gnomes setting off in Asda delivery vans, having prepared the store for the festive season.
Amidst the growing Christmas anticipation, Asda has unveiled a festive advertisement centred around a dedicated team of gnome commandos determined to save the holiday season. The commercial opens with Asda employees Maggie and Bill peering out into an imposing snowstorm, creating a narrative of urgency that engages viewers right from the start. Maggie, with visible concern, remarks, “Every road is closed between here and Sheffield, how are we going to get the store ready for Christmas?” This sets the stage for an innovative and entertaining resolution.
In a creative twist, Bill picks up a gnome and presses its nose, which lights up green and sends a signal across the country. This call is received by hundreds of gnomes, stationed in various locations from gardens to pub shelves, who assemble in response. Set to the nostalgic tune of The A Team, these gnome commandos, known as Max, Gnibbles, Gnorma, Gnicky, and Gnarla, embark on their mission to transform the Asda store into a festive spectacle.
The gnomes, embodying the spirit of teamwork and efficiency, display Asda’s range of Christmas offerings including ‘Exceptional’ mince pies, a George ombre sequin dress, penguin bao buns, and a gingerbread gnome. They meticulously work through the night, showcasing Asda’s capability to provide a wide assortment of quality products for the holiday season. As the first light of dawn breaks, chief gnome Max declares, “It’s time to go Gnome,” signalling the completion of their merry task, as they depart in Asda delivery vans.
Asda’s choice of gnomes as the protagonists is both strategic and charming. For several years, these characters have been a customer favourite, with a reported sale of over 100,000 festive gnomes in the past four years. Asda’s chief customer officer, David Hills, articulated this sentiment, stating, “Asda’s gnomes are long standing favourites with our customers and they were staring us in the face as the obvious characters for our Christmas campaign.”
Following its premiere on social media, the advertisement is set to make its television debut during a popular prime-time slot, potentially reaching a broad audience and capturing the festive spirit. This move is part of a wider retail trend, evident with the recent launch of another major supermarket’s Christmas campaign featuring a beloved fictional character. Asda’s advertisement aims to not only entertain but also highlight the assortment of exceptional holiday products available at the store.
Asda’s festive advertisement ingeniously combines beloved characters with holiday spirit to showcase its extensive Christmas offerings.
