The WARC Podcast

Festive, but effective: what's working in festival marketing

8 snips
Oct 23, 2025
Biprorshee Das, India Editor at WARC and author of the 'What's Working in Festival Marketing' report, joins Rica Facundo to explore the high stakes of festive marketing. They discuss how brands can create meaningful connections instead of adding to seasonal noise. Biprorshee highlights effective storytelling, the innovative use of technology, and fresh, frugal creativity. They also examine the blend of tradition and modernity, suggesting that festivals should be experiential rather than discount-driven, turning marketing into a cultural celebration.
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INSIGHT

Meaning Beats Noise In Festive Peaks

  • Festivals reward brands that show up with meaning instead of adding to the noise.
  • The best campaigns become part of rituals and own a piece of the season year after year.
ANECDOTE

John Lewis Built A Christmas Ritual

  • John Lewis's annual Christmas films became a ritual that cements the brand at Christmas.
  • Their 2018 film about Elton John showed emotion over products and built long-term salience.
INSIGHT

Refresh Icons Without Losing Core

  • Iconic brands must refresh familiar assets to avoid fatigue while retaining core meaning.
  • Coca-Cola reinterpreted Santa to modernize its Christmas positioning and drove major sales uplift.
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