Ahead of the Thanksgiving holidays, Verizon has dropped a new multichannel advertising campaign that focuses on holiday deals.
The spot stars actors Paul Giamatti and Cecily Strong parodying Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. In the spot, Scrooge, played by Giamatti, searches for reception and Strong encourages him to switch to Verizon for a free 5G phone and another gift. A Spanish-language spot starring Cristo Fernandez will debut during the Latin GRAMMYs.
“We decided to lean into the nostalgia and comfort that we all associate with iconic holiday classics in our creative this year,” said Kristin McHugh, SVP, marketing activation & creative at Verizon. “By highlighting A Christmas Carol and The Year Without A Santa Claus, we’re leaning into recognizable films and cherished characters to authentically communicate the incredible value and connectivity that Verizon offers during the holidays.”
The campaign drops ahead of Thanksgiving during a holiday shopping season that kicked off early this year – a trend in recent years – as shoppers balance concerns for inflation and product availability. According to the National Retail Federation, 46% of holiday shoppers started shopping before November.
“Our holiday campaign is geared toward new and existing customers who are looking to give and receive the best gifts at the best price this season,” says McHugh. “The creative featuring Paul Giamatti and Cecily Strong highlights our unbeatable Black Friday deals, while our Spanish language ad with Cristo Fernandez leans into the great offers and even greater network connectivity when you upgrade or switch during the holidays.”
NPD expects revenue for consumer technology sales will drop 3-6% this holiday season, so brands will be competing on price. “Competitive prices are on everyone’s minds this year, and we know how important value is,” says McHugh. “In addition to helping our customers save big on gifts for their loved ones, we’re hoping to spread a little cheer through humor and nostalgia in all our creative.”
The Verizon ad spots will live both online and across national television broadcasts. Additionally, a shoppable holiday campaign will run exclusively on Verizon’s social channels.
