Marks & Spencer and John Lewis Launch Rival Christmas Ads
Marks & Spencer and John Lewis have released competing holiday advertising campaigns to boost profits amid a challenging UK consumer market.
Retailers Marks & Spencer and John Lewis have launched contrasting Christmas advertising campaigns to drive festive profits during a period of low consumer confidence and rising costs.
Marks & Spencer adopted a playful, unified strategy across its food, beauty, fashion, and homeware sectors. The campaign features actors James Norton and Lucy Punch as a youthful Mr. and Mrs. Claus, with Norton's portrayal as a shredded Santa gaining viral attention. The company is utilizing this lighthearted approach as it continues to recover from a 2025 cyber hack that resulted in losses exceeding £100 million.
John Lewis released a campaign starring Kristin Scott Thomas as a glamorous grandmother, emphasizing the emotional value of physical gifts over cash. While the advert targets affluent customers, it has drawn criticism for depicting a level of wealth that some observers describe as out of touch with the general public.
