I think John Lewis have been topped this year....

Agreed.

I am already very bored of the shower of Christmas adverts that are currently doing the rounds, especially since I don't bother with Christmas in general, but this one did actually get me there.
 
Maybe a bit of bit of a humbug from me, but I'm not sure if I agree with a supermarket advert using such a scene from WW1 to help boost their Xmas sales. They say Xmas is for sharing, only they are not ...their selling.
 
frank said:
Maybe a bit of bit of a humbug from me, but I'm not sure if I agree with a supermarket advert using such a scene from WW1 to help boost their Xmas sales. They say Xmas is for sharing, only they are not ...their selling.
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When I watched the clip my first thoughts were "What is this an advert for" ?

The actual event is well documented (there were actually many similar events).
 
I'm sure I remember something similar from just a few years ago.
 
frank said:
Maybe a bit of bit of a humbug from me, but I'm not sure if I agree with a supermarket advert using such a scene from WW1 to help boost their Xmas sales. They say Xmas is for sharing, only they are not ...their selling.
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It's a bit of an unfair criticism of Sainsbury's who have been supporting the British Legion for 20 years. I thought it was a tastefully done advert and very poignant.
 
Laudrup said:
It's a bit of an unfair criticism of Sainsbury's who have been supporting the British Legion for 20 years. I thought it was a tastefully done advert and very poignant.
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Will you be more likely to shop at Sainsburys now?
 
Big business in cynical ad shocker.

To me this sanitized Disney version of war just makes a mockery of the sacrifice of so many young people. Sainsbury's got there first but it could have been any of the big retailers desperate to shore up their tumbling profits over the Christmas period. And trying to justify it by getting the support of the British Legion is even more crass.

Still at least they're only highlighting bars of chocolate - it could have been a BOGOF on packs of plasters.
 
Football & chocolate ... followed by bullet and bayonet, depressingly highlights the stupidity of war! :(
 
Spuff said:
Big business in cynical ad shocker.

To me this sanitized Disney version of war just makes a mockery of the sacrifice of so many young people. Sainsbury's got there first but it could have been any of the big retailers desperate to shore up their tumbling profits over the Christmas period. And trying to justify it by getting the support of the British Legion is even more crass.

Still at least they're only highlighting bars of chocolate - it could have been a BOGOF on packs of plasters.
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Supermarket teams up with Royal British Legion to retell story of Christmas Day football match, with all profits from a £1 chocolate bar going to veterans’ charity.

Charles Byrne, director of fundraising for the Royal British Legion, said: “We’re very proud of our 20-year partnership with Sainsbury’s and this campaign is particularly important.

“One hundred years on from the 1914 Christmas truce, the campaign remembers the fallen, while helping to raise vital funds to support the future of living.”
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Your unhealthy cynicism shouldn't get in the way of the facts.
 
If Sainsbury had said Xmas is for sharing and we are donating all profits from all their goods sold or even 50% from all goods on one Saturday in the lead up to Xmas then I would have had a bit more respect for them
 
frank said:
If Sainsbury had said Xmas is for sharing and we are donating all profits from all their goods sold or even 50% from all goods on one Saturday in the lead up to Xmas then I would have had a bit more respect for them
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They still want to be in business next year and they won't be if they are donating all their profits on the busiest day in the run up to Christmas. Sainsbury's customers and colleagues raised £4.5 million last year for the Poppy Appeal which is good going.
 
Well, I shall be shopping at Sainsburys from now on ... But then I already do :(
 
I thought I read somewhere that sainsburys was donating all the sales of the chocolate to charity??? could be wrong though
 
SpikeK6 said:
I thought I read somewhere that sainsburys was donating all the sales of the chocolate to charity??? could be wrong though
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Yeah they are:

"Supermarket teams up with Royal British Legion to retell story of Christmas Day football match, with all profits from a £1 chocolate bar going to veterans’ charity."
 
Laudrup said:
It's a bit of an unfair criticism of Sainsbury's who have been supporting the British Legion for 20 years. I thought it was a tastefully done advert and very poignant.
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spot on.
 
Big business is damned if they do and damned if they don't but in my view a small gesture is better than none at all (although I suppose you could say that giving a relative nobody a hit single for doing a low key acoustic cover song is charity).

I really liked the advert and was surprised that sainsburys popped up at the end but hey ho, good on them. Won't make me shop there this Christmas but that isn't the point I think, more about engendering long term loyalty which is what they'll need to weather out the next few years.
 
Is anyone really taken in by this commercial exercise?

IMO it is totally crass and disgusting, and an insult to the 18 million lives which were lost in that conflict.

Did it really stop other wars happening?




Fast forward to 1939 - nothing learned, nothing changed - same old, same old.
 
I am getting soft in my old age. I just shed a tear whilst watching the ad for the Spanish Christmas Lottery. It's always highly anticipated and this year's is quite emotional!
 
andy700 said:
Is anyone really taken in by this commercial exercise?

IMO it is totally crass and disgusting, and an insult to the 18 million lives which were lost in that conflict.

Did it really stop other wars happening?




Fast forward to 1939 - nothing learned, nothing changed - same old, same old.
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How have they tried to take anyone in?
 
Spuff said:
Big business in cynical ad shocker.

To me this sanitized Disney version of war just makes a mockery of the sacrifice of so many young people. Sainsbury's got there first but it could have been any of the big retailers desperate to shore up their tumbling profits over the Christmas period. And trying to justify it by getting the support of the British Legion is even more crass.

Still at least they're only highlighting bars of chocolate - it could have been a BOGOF on packs of plasters.
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Even more sanitized when one considers that elsewhere on the front the slaughter continued whilst that event took place.
 
Do you think the profit from the chocolate will be more or less than the cost of making the advert, let alone screening an ad that length? OTOH, it's being discussed on this and other sites so Sainsbury are already getting publicity before a bar of chocolate is even sold. :thinking:
 
Find the ad a bit distasteful tbh, can probably say the same for the chocolate bar!
 
I think this is a little different from blackadder.

To me, a massive supermarket is cynically using it's tie in to the British Legion, to gain more customers/profits through the door in the run up to xmas, at a time when its losing market share.

Sainsburys has made a big thing of raising £4.5m for the British legion in 2013, which is to be applauded. To put this into context though, Sainsburys pre tax profits in FY 2013/14 were £898m. There contribution to the Legion amounts to 0.5% of its profits!
 
squintykid said:
I think this is a little different from blackadder.

To me, a massive supermarket is cynically using it's tie in to the British Legion, to gain more customers/profits through the door in the run up to xmas, at a time when its losing market share.

Sainsburys has made a big thing of raising £4.5m for the British legion in 2013, which is to be applauded. To put this into context though, Sainsburys pre tax profits in FY 2013/14 were £898m. There contribution to the Legion amounts to 0.5% of its profits!
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Given 0.5% of your salary to a charity this year?
 
It's not really an advert it's a 3 minute film based on a true event. It's to make you reflect. Paid for by Sainsburys but supported by the RBL it's not not In the slightest bit tacky or distasteful. It conveys an important message. The madness of trench war. There are some striking similarities between this and Paul McCartneys 'Pipes of Piece music video.
 
Ruth, I'm Sorry I disagree with you but I'm entitled to my views.

viv1969 said:
Given 0.5% of your salary to a charity this year?
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In answer to your personal criticism of me, yes I do spend over 0.5% of my income supporting charities.

We use a couple of local health charities help, and given the co-allations massive cut back to charities I pay over 5% of my salary for the help we receive.

In addition to which, we support a couple of local animal rehoming charities, as well as financially helping, we volunteer our time as well.

We are not all out to take from society.
 
Please show me where I aimed criticism at you?
I asked a question, that's all.
 
Books, Films, Magazines, newspapers, tv shows, toys... and lots of other stuff all make money from the war.. everyone who is complaining about the sainsbury advert has at some time added to someones profit margin from the war and never really cared before.. until now?

great advert and supported by the british legion....
 
I really cannot believe how people are taking offence to this ad. Sainsburys have done this in conjunction with the RBL who incidentally arent exactly that outraged that Sainsburys have ONLY given them £4.5 million. Sainsburys do not exist to raise money for Charity, but have chosen to do so. With this ad (and the subsequent sale of those chocolate bars), they will be giving even more the RBL, who again, I wouldnt think are that outraged about it.

The RBL welcome it, and the extra revenue it will create for them, but hey, lets all get p****d off about it on their behalf eh?!
 
Just to add, do all you haters really think that people that dont normally go to Sainsburys will now start using them? Dont see why this would change on the strength of the advert. Its not like they are advertising some fantasticly priced Christmas essential that completely blows all the other supermarkets out of the water.

My nearest Tesco is 1.5 miles from my home, and my nearest Sainsburys is 4 miles (approx). I think this is a great ad, and applaud them for working so closely with the RBL, but it doesnt mean im now going to start adding 5 miles to a trip to the supermarket and back.
 
Nikon_Nick said:
Just to add, do all you haters really think that people that dont normally go to Sainsburys will now start using them? Dont see why this would change on the strength of the advert. Its not like they are advertising some fantasticly priced Christmas essential that completely blows all the other supermarkets out of the water.
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Arms race, innit? JL bring a penguin, Sainsburys bring an entire war. M&S must be worried. IIRC Lidl/Aldi did something clever last year.

At the end of the day, I can't see these adverts generating much in terms of trade. But any store that didn't step up to the plate and then coincidentally had a bad Christmas might have some explaining to do to shareholders.
 
Nikon_Nick said:
I really cannot believe how people are taking offence to this ad. Sainsburys have done this in conjunction with the RBL who incidentally arent exactly that outraged that Sainsburys have ONLY given them £4.5 million. Sainsburys do not exist to raise money for Charity, but have chosen to do so. With this ad (and the subsequent sale of those chocolate bars), they will be giving even more the RBL, who again, I wouldnt think are that outraged about it.

The RBL welcome it, and the extra revenue it will create for them, but hey, lets all get p****d off about it on their behalf eh?!
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You really think this is about charity? If Sainsbury's really wanted to make a meaningful gesture for charity they could have anonymously donated the cost of producing this commercial to the RBL which would have far outstripped last year's donations. It's absolutely about commercial opportunity and the RBL's endorsement wouldn't be the first time a charity has overlooked its principles when faced with a few quid rolling in.

But Abbot Mead Vickers BBDO, one of the largest ad agencies in the World have done a superb job. They can afford the best film production and creative talent and these people are experts at manipulating the majority with their particular brand of sentimentality. I find the commercial tasteless but I'm not offended, outraged or even a "hater" but then I never cried at Lady Di's death either.

And now I'm even looking forward to the follow ups - if Christmas is for Sharing then maybe Boxing Day can be for Resuming Hostilities. And next year? Maybe a Holocaust theme?

Oh, and by the way, the John Lewis penguin got more than three times the views of Christmas is for Sharing in the first 24 hours of both campaigns and that's what it's really all about.
 
It seems to be the "for profit" aspect of this which is apparently distasteful to some.

So what about the countless films made which contain dramatisations of war atrocities?

All were made with one thing in mind and one thing only. Making a profit.
 
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