Holiday marketing begins early

How early? Well, UK retailer John Lewis actually plans two years ahead, analysing trends and preparing themes for holiday windows, displays and communications content. This is the only way to coordinate products, messages and in-store merchandising on schedule.

Selfridges was the earliest of all UK retailers to reveal its 2018 holiday window displays, on 18 October. The theme is rock 'n roll. Quoting the store: 'It’s about freedom, exuberance, living for today, and having a rocking time to the accompaniment of a great soundtrack'. See the full window displays from Oxford Street, London, here!

Hamley's Regent Street windows are all about holiday time in London, including markets and festivals. This year's focus is on plush toys, plush toys, plush toys in the windows and inside (plus other must-have toys).

Fenwick Newcastle's windows feature a jolly snowman come to life, from the children's book by Raymond Briggs, delighting the small boy who built the snowman.

Aldi's holiday advert again features Kevin the Carrot, returning from 2017 and 2016. The hashtag #SaveKevin engaged viewers to trend Aldi on social media following the advert on air.

Rival Lidl is airing three holiday adverts this year, themed 'upgrade your Christmas' with funny consequences. A Lidl exec says: 'Our classic humour and imagination runs through the series, providing Lidl laughs and mouth-watering products to marvel at'.

Nearly every day now, a retailer will be revealing windows or adverts and -- of course! -- special promotions to attract shoppers.

Vending machines are selling - what?!

Vending machines are everywhere and sell almost everything. They're self-serve, convenient, often cost-efficient and even when people don't buy, they do notice the machines and the branding--a plus.

At left, the Moet & Chandon Champagne vending machine with mini-bottles of bubbly, shown inside a Selfridges store before Christmas.

In Singapore, a BooksActually vending machine sells, well, books (see photo at right). This machine is installed in the National Museum of Singapore.

One unusual type of vending machine will (if approved) stock medical supplies to be dispensed, as needed, to emergency medical teams and firefighters in Victoria. The idea is to have products available when and where needed, without the cost of someone making daily rounds or having outdated medicines on hand.

In Melbourne, a fresh-food vending machine from FüD will sell healthy meals. The equipment is constructed of recycled materials and any unsold foods will be donated to charitable groups, minimising waste.

In France and America, short-story vending machines spill out tales designed to fit the customer's reading time. Have only 3 minutes? Press that button and the machine prints a long, thin piece of paper with a short story suitable for just 3 minutes, free, courtesy of Short Edition.

No noise = No-logo branding

Selfridges is running an interesting 'No noise' campaign right now, with a select group of products being marketed minus the logo.

Here are just three of the no-logo products. Test yourself! Just in case, the brand names are shown at the end of this posting.

The inspiration for this unique retail initiative is the founder's Silence Room, originally opened in 1909. Today's shoppers will be invited to switch off their mobiles and enjoy a few minutes of calm and quiet in the newly renovated Silence Room in London.


And now, for those brand names . . .

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From left: Heinz, Heinz and Clinique.

But you knew that, just by looking at the labels and package shapes.