THIS WEEK: UK ADVERTISING IN THE MEDIA

In this weekly series we pull together, in one place, a selection of must-reads from across our industry media. Hope you find it a useful edit of another week in advertising!

Ad Association warns of latest lockdown’s ‘adverse impact’ on Christmas trading

The Advertising Association has weighed into prime minister Boris Johnson’s contentious decision to call a second national lockdown in England by highlighting the unfortunate overlap with the peak holiday spending period, which risks economic carnage without mitigating measures.

More than half of adlanders are completely avoiding the office

More than half of adland employees are currently not going in to their office at all, a Campaign survey has found.

Will advertising budgets weather a second lockdown during the crucial Christmas period?

Marketers hoping for a bumper festive trading period after a forgettable year have been dealt a blow with the news of a second national lockdown in England this month. But having learned lessons from the first, can clents really afford to slash spend again in the lead up to a crucial Christmas? The Drum asks media buyers which clients will keep spending – and which won’t.

Christmas 2020: the ads making the best of a bad year

Ahead of a Christmas like no other, Campaign rounds up the latest festive ads.

John Lewis & Partners reveals news of ‘Christmas like no other’ charity campaign

While news of John Lewis and Waitrose’s Christmas ad is still firmly under wraps, the retailer has shared some news on its broader campaign, billed as a ‘Christmas campaign like no other, for a year like no other’.

Very.co.uk’s Charming Spot Waves Goodbye to Christmas Day Clichés

Very.co.uk has launched a heart-warming and funny new Christmas campaign, created by Grey London, which encourages us to embrace every single moment in the countdown to December 25th instead of focusing on the clichéd portrayal of Christmas day.

Argos Sprinkles Some Festive Joy in Magical Christmas Campaign

The much-loved Argos Christmas gift guide, affectionately nicknamed ‘Book of Dreams’ is the inspiration for the retailer’s highly anticipated 2020 Christmas advertising campaign, launched last night to millions of viewers across the UK during Family Fortunes.

TK Maxx enlists garish goat for festive ad

High-street retailer TK Maxx has enlisted a fashion-forward goat for this year’s Christmas campaign to highlight the gift of giving after a stressful year.

Asda’s discount Christmas ad brings back earnest fan Sunny

The real-life dad again stars in the supermarket’s ad promoting low prices.

Christmas ads 2020: will brands stick with the sparkle or will Covid-19 dampen spirits?

From what we’ve seen so far, there’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to ads depicting Christmas in the time of a global pandemic. As the festive showdown gets underway, The Drum explores the approach taken by brands so far to try gauge what we can expect from the rest of 2020’s Christmas ads. Will advertisers deliver a well-needed dose of sparkle, or will Covid-19 be the Grinch that stole Christmas ads?

Pick of the Week: Amazon’s love letter to the arts is the boost we need

Taïs Vinolo plays a young dancer whose dreams are temporarily dashed by Covid.

Brands tread line between reality and escapism in Christmas ad dilemma

First wave of ads reveals fruits of brands’ uncertain bets after tumultuous year.

Phillip Schofield Always Delivers in Craft Gin Club’s Christmas Campaign

Craft Gin Club, the UK’s No.1 gin subscription service, launches its 2020 Christmas campaign starring national treasure and notorious gin lover, Phillip Schofield.

Consortium sets up job advice scheme as cutbacks bite

A consortium of UK industry experts is launching a new initiative to get marketers back into world amid predictions that the new lockdown will trigger further job cuts on the back of the estimated 40,000 people who have already been made redundant during the Covid pandemic.

I’ll take comfort where I can if TV is ‘least worst’ performer in Q4

Some marketers have new-found appreciation of investing in their brand.

Consumers want more ethical media but how can the industry provide it?

Recent moves by agencies and media owners to spur diversity and sustainability are encouraging. Now we need a broader conversation about creating universal standards.

Havas opens its doors to Watford ad school

Students of the respected Watford creative ad course will relocate to Havas’ King Cross office.

Crisis triggers wave of ad agency start-ups

The unique circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic allied to recession have seemingly laid the groundwork for a series of “disruptive” start-ups to emerge.

Ad chiefs are calmer as second lockdown hits

As tougher coronavirus restrictions return across the UK, agency executives do not expect the impact to be as bad as the first time around, Simon Gwynn reports from Glasgow.

How the world’s biggest advertisers are spending (or not) as industries adapt to the coronavirus pandemic

After some initial pauses in spend, many marketers have now retooled and have moved out of response mode and adapted to an environment where consumers and businesses are getting used to living with Covid-19.

Finalists Announced for 2020: The Drum Awards for Social Purpose

The Drum Awards for Social Purpose celebrates the most innovative and effective work in socially responsible marketing. The awards highlight the efforts of marketers with vision, and campaigns that drive brand purpose, which serve to remind the industry that marketing really can change the world.

Sir Martin Sorrell interview: ‘S4 Capital’s real competition is Accenture’