A Feel-Good Christmas Campaign for the High Street.

Having worked with HBH Woolacotts for a number of years, we understood their vision straight away. They didn’t want a traditional, sales-driven Christmas campaign, instead their focus has always been on creating something that resonates with their communities in Cornwall and Devon. For this campaign, the goal was to celebrate the role of the high street, support rural communities, and evoke a genuine festive feeling rather than simply encouraging people to buy.

We knew this campaign needed to balance tradition with innovation, creating something both nostalgic and fresh. Our team wrote a bespoke Christmas tale in the style of a festive poem, giving the ad a warm, storybook quality.

For the visuals, we blended illustration and traditional animation with modern digital techniques and AI enhancements. The result was a magical hybrid style, rich with festive charm, but still contemporary enough to surprise and delight.

This wasn’t just an advert, it was a celebration of the high street. By focusing on atmosphere, emotion, and community spirit the ad reminded audiences why local shops matter, especially during the festive season.

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The campaign caught more attention than anyone expected. In fact, executives at Sony previewed the advert during production and were so impressed that they wanted to feature their products within it. This meant going back and remaking sections of the animation to incorporate their brand, a huge compliment to the creative direction and execution of the piece.

The advert was met with an overwhelmingly positive response. Communities across Cornwall and Devon embraced it, praising its heartwarming message and nostalgic style. The advert was scheduled on Sky, ITVX, YouTube and social reels. Unlike traditional adverts that fade after Christmas, this one created lasting goodwill, so much so that HBH Woolacotts have chosen to bring an updated version back for another festive season.

The campaign also strengthened HBH Woolacotts’ CSR credentials, reinforcing their commitment to supporting local communities and the survival of the high street. By focusing on values rather than sales, the ad positioned the brand as a true community champion.

In an era where national brands dominate advertising at Christmas with big-budget productions, this campaign proved that local retailers could compete by leaning into what makes them unique - authenticity, community, and heart.

For HBH Woolacotts, this wasn’t just a Christmas campaign, it was a powerful expression of who they are, what they stand for, and the role they play in the lives of people across Cornwall and Devon.

Together, we brought festive cheer to more than 400,000 local people.