John Lewis Christmas: Expert explains adverts' popularity
03 November 2026
Retailer John Lewis has released its .
Nick Walker, an expert in consumer behaviour, explains why the store’s Christmas TV adverts have been successful.
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Nick Walker, Co-Programme Director, Consumer Behaviour and Marketing at the 糖心Vlog, said: “John Lewis adverts draw on emotions such as love, family, nostalgia and generosity that have broad appeal. What's interesting is how these themes connect with different audiences, who may relate to the same story in quite different ways.
“The new John Lewis Christmas advert is really compelling and quite moving. The grandmother in the advert decides to create a room where she can spend quality time with her family. Many people will empathise with that scenario and decide to visit the store based on their connection with the themes of the advert.
“Rather than explicitly selling products, John Lewis uses storytelling to capture attention and create emotional connections. In an environment where consumers are bombarded with advertising, it's particularly interesting that people actively anticipate and seek out these adverts.
“People will encounter this year's advert on television, YouTube, streaming platforms and social media. Different platforms create different challenges for capturing and sustaining attention, so the advert’s creators must think about how to appeal to a broad and diverse audience.”

