A group of ice skaters (including one Olympian) and hockey players are dressed up as colorful yetis for British retailer Argos' new holiday campaign.
Promoting Argos' Fast Track Delivery and Fast Track Collection services, these Christmas yetis speed through narrow, snowy streets and drop off Christmas gifts to the tune of "What's This?" from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Seems like kind of a random music choice, but it's not like there's a wealth of yeti-themed holiday songs to pick from, so I gave it a pass.
As for why these characters are yetis in the first place, some regional folklore maintains that yetis are supernaturally fast for their size, making them solid candidates for delivery/collection services. Why they didn't go with a real animal that most people already associate with speed is a reasonable question. In fact, why dress up the skaters at all? They're already fast.
Of course, in the end, it's just about goofiness and color and fun, which is fine, I guess.
"What we love about this fun, fast-paced campaign is that it beautifully captures the spirit of excitement and anticipation surrounding Christmas," says Stephen Vowles, marketing director at Argos. "Fun loving and friendly, these larger-than-life, speeding yetis colorfully bring to life the role that Argos hopes to play in the Christmases of families nationwide this Christmas—and the skill, speed and precision that make us market leaders, with our super-speedy, same day Fast Track Delivery and Fast Track Collection services."
Adds Jim Bolton, deputy executive creative director at CHI & Partners: "This campaign brings out the excited Christmas Eve kid in all of us who just can't get to sleep, they're so eager for the big day to arrive. We hope our lovable yetis bring excitement to thousands of British households this Christmas, reminding us of the joyous, fun-filled experience the festive season should be."
If this starts a trend of replacing traditional Christmas symbolism with cryptids, I'm all in.
Also, Argos did this amusing parody of this year's John Lewis Christmas ad:
CREDITS
Client: Argos
Agency: CHI & Partners
ECD: Micky Tudor, Jonathan Burley
Creative Director: Jim Bolton
Creatives: Ben Da Costa, Duncan Brooks, Sarah Levitt
Producer: Adam Henderson
Planners: Rebecca Munds & Josh Roth
Business Director: Gary Simmons
Account Director: Stephanie Leonard
Account Manager: Nathan Brocklesby
Production Company: Caviar
Director: Henry Scholfield
Producer: Giles Skillicorn
Photographer / Director of Photography: Jallo Faber
Costume: Animated Extras
Editor: James Rose, Cut & Run
Post-Production: Electric Theatre Collective
Producer: Sian Jenkins
VFX Supervisors: Yourick Van Impe
Post Supervisor on Shoot: Angus Wilson
Audio: Sam Robson, 750mph
Music Company: Wake The Town
Voiceover: Miquita Oliver
Media Agency: Mindshare
Social Media Agency: AllTogetherNow