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Dear Pulse Readers,
On the fourth day of the heatwave, my true love gave to me…
All around the globe there are record-breaking temperatures in July. Typically this is the time of year that many slow down and jet off to vacay hotspots – but at BMF we’re ramping up December holiday & festive season campaign planning for our clients.
For us – and for clever retailers – it’s “Christmas in July”.
The origin of ‘Christmas in July’ is unclear. Was it a response to the limited summer holidays that drive consumer spending? Who knows. However it came to be, Christmas in July has worked its way into consumer culture.
Despite the fact that those in the northern hemisphere are looking for ways to cool down, for marketers, now is the time to fire up the oven to bake holiday marketing campaigns.
In this issue, get inspired by recent ‘Christmas in July’ campaigns, and see a preview of what brands have planned for the EOY festive season to spark your holiday planning – from experiences, to gifting, and more. We’ve also included a cheat sheet for developing an effective holiday campaign – check it twice!
Stay inspired,
Bruce, Brian, Ed + The BMF Team
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Pulse Check: Holiday Campaign Planning
Get ahead of the game with our handy cheat sheet for developing an effective holiday campaign. ➔
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The New + The Noteworthy
Everything Worth Doing/Seeing/Getting/Booking
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Merry Christmas in July! Check out this mini gift guide, curated by BMF’s PR team, for year-round stocking stuffers and presents so perfect you’ll wish you were your own Secret Santa. Full disclosure: all of the inclusions are BMF’s clients. ➔
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The Hallmark Channel knew we needed a little something extra this summer and JUST dropped a special release of three new Christmas movies – a July miracle! They’ll be playing their feel-good holiday films until the end of the month…which means you’ve got two days to binge them all! ➔
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Those peeps Down Under sure know how to throw a good party. For their Christmas in July celebration they created a huge market with over 60 stands, including ones for mulled wine, fondue, and boozy hot chocolate! Check it out here. ➔
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Start thinking early about this year's Christmas presents: get inspired by Wallpaper’s guide to contemporary art gifts for every mood and occasion. ➔
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Speaking about Australia and their parties, did you know they set up raclette igloos all throughout July for foodies and cheese lovers alike? Dig into this melty, gooey tradition! Cornichons and Schnapps included. ➔
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The magic of storytelling is a key component of the holiday season, and marketers are always looking for fresh inspiration for festive campaigns. Get inspired by the new Hans Christian Andersen museum in Denmark, celebrating the author of famous fairy tales like "The Little Mermaid," "The Ugly Duckling," and "The Princess and The Pea." See his fantastical worlds brought to life and book your tickets here. ➔
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The Frequency
What We're Listening To Now.
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IT’S ALL HAPPENING! Finally, The Backstreet Boys have announced that they’ll be releasing a Christmas album, “A Very Backstreet Christmas” via BMG, on October 14th. Christmas in July, indeed. It’s their first ever (strange, we know…) Xmas record, and it’s safe to say that their fans have been waiting 30 years for this sort of Christmas magic.
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The Destination
Now Departing...
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While we’re boiling here in the northern hemisphere, Down Under is enjoying their mild winter – and an extra reason to celebrate Xmas in July! Sounds like a perfect time to escape to Sydney. Get inspired with our updated travel guide to The Harbor City. ➔
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The Sublime
Creators, Innovators, And Cool $#!+ You Should Know About.
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KFC released matching Christmas in July jumpers for consumers and their furry friends. Their collection sold out like hotcakes but stock up on other ugly Xmas sweaters here. ➔
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Christmas is historically a time of blockbuster new releases. Check out this list of December movies that’ll screen and stream this holiday season. ➔
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Is your must-see Christmas movie during the festive season “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens? Netflix is releasing an animated, psychedelic, time-traveling, musical adaptation of this beloved title starring Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, and Luke Evans. Available this December. ➔
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It was Christmas in July at San Diego Comic-Con, where LEGO, Funko, Mattel & Hasbro announced new products ahead of the holiday season, like this LEGO x The Office collab. Check out more here. ➔
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Still looking for Christmas campaign inspiration? Click here to read about the most effective US ads of last December. Our personal favorite? This one. ➔
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M&M subtlety gave everyone a master class in how to tie Christmas campaigns to summertime launches. Earlier in the month they released the perfect hot weather treat – ice cream sandwich cookies, dotted with delicious M&Ms. Then they casually followed it up with a sneak peek into their Christmas candy release – M&M’S Sugar Cookie. The sweepstakes to get a taste was short and sweet, but kept the cookie theme top of mind while priming consumers for the holiday season. Christmas in July done right! ➔
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The Grinch stole Christmas and, with the help of International Delight, he’s set his sights on Christmas in July. Bringing a unique take to summertime holiday marketing, the coffee creamer company ditched the Christmas in July name to create ownable excitement and buzz. Check out the sweet holiday-inspired sips here. #MerryGrinchmas ➔
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The Week In Review
ICYMI...
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Travel
- AMR Collection Launches Christmas in July Flash Sale ➔
- Christmas in July: Top Things To Do To Escape Australia’s Winter Blues ➔
- U.S Travel Launches Sustainable Travel Coalition ➔
- Hilton Introduces First Global Brand Platform ➔
Fashion & Beauty
- 9 Random-but-Useful Products Our Editors Bought This Month ➔
- Daily Checkout: The UGG Blanket That Has Our Social Media Producer Christmas Shopping In July — Shop Now ➔
- Martha Stewart's $32 Holiday Tree and More Christmas in July Sale Items You Need Now ➔
- Why Nostalgia Amplifies Brand Collabs ➔
- Demnna Reveals Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga ➔
Entertainment
- Let It Show: Celebrate Christmas in July With These Festive Flicks ➔
- Jordan Peele Explains His New Sci-Fi Horror Film, “Nope” ➔
- Christmas in July: Radio City Rockettes Holiday Show Tickets ➔
- GAC Family Announces ‘Great American Christmas in July’ Event Hosted by Jen Lilley ➔
Technology
- Christmas in July: LEGO, Funko, Mattel, Hasbro Announce New Products at SDCC to Score Ahead of the Holidays ➔
- Nura’s High-Tech Earbuds Raised $1.6M on Kickstarter ➔
- 10 Best Tech Gifts for Artists ➔
- Technology As A Safety New for Critical Environments ➔
Media
- Firework Launches Next-Gen Consumer Insight Initiative with First Ever “Christmas in July” Video Commerce Experience ➔
- Toys for Tots Continues to DoGoodNow with “Christmas in July” ➔
- BrandSpace Brings Christmas Cheer to Agencies in July ➔
- No Matter The Time Of Year, There’s A Holiday You Should Be Planning A Campaign For ➔
Events
- 6 Activities To Do With Your Kids To Celebrate Christmas In July ➔
- ‘Christmas in July’ Toy Drive to Give Back to Kids in Brownsville, East New York ➔
- Christmas in July Comes to Arlington Farmers Market ➔
- Phillies and The GIANT Company to Kick Off Week-Long Christmas in July Toy Drive ➔
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