Brief:
Our longstanding client, Waitrose, wanted to transform one of their pre-existing spaces to showcase and reveal their 2023 Christmas Advert in November. The venue chosen was the King’s Cross Waitrose Cookery School which already had a lot of elements that worked well for our clients’ requirements. Story were on hand to elevate the space and spread a little Christmas magic by installing additional AV, branding and theming that complemented the messaging shown in the advert.
Delivery:
Waitrose wanted to showcase their delicious festive food offerings via a beautifully displayed grazing table. The pre-existing kitchen counter was the base for this and Story added a rich and festive green vinyl to the front of the counter to elevate the overall look and feel of the grazing table display. Story also sourced and provided the cutlery, glassware and catering staff to serve the delicious canapes and drinks on the night so that the Waitrose team could focus on preparing the seasonal spread!
In order to display the advert, Story installed a scenic wall with a 65” screen embedded within it which became the focal point for the eagerly anticipated advert reveal. Once the advert had been shown, there were also headphones available for guests to go and watch the advert again as many times as they wished! In addition to the vinyl already mentioned on the kitchen counter we also added vinyls to the inside drinks counter, internal window and added some snowflake shaped vinyls to the floor to ensure the space was branded in line with the Waitrose Christmas branding. To draw guests’ eyes upwards, we also worked with our trusted suppliers on suspending 3D snowflakes from the ceiling. The whole venue looked colourful whilst we incorporated the Christmas brand colours of green, purple, red and pink. Finally, Story added lighting throughout the space to help give the Cookery School a VIP event feel for the evening.
This year Waitrose also wanted to make use of the outdoor space just outside of the Cookery School. Story sourced a giant teepee marquee adorned with fairy and festoon lights, which was transformed into a magical ‘Christmas at Home’ theme by the Waitrose styling team with shimmer curtains, neon signs and of course some festive tinsel! In line with the Waitrose Christmas Advert, our team carefully selected thematic elements that seamlessly blended with the advert and even included a bathtub filled with bottles of prosecco and poseur tables to match the coffee tables showcased in the advert.
We incorporated sophisticated furniture such as a gold mirrored bar to keep in line with the rich colour palette of the evening. In order to showcase some of their delicious desserts for the season we also sourced green painted plinths in a range of different sizes with a bespoke Waitrose stamp on the front which made for a great press photo opportunity!
Result:
By aligning our creative vision with Waitrose’s brand identity, we were able to deliver an experience that not only celebrated the Christmas season but also strengthened the connection between Waitrose and their audience. The result was a press launch that left a lasting impression and set the stage for a season filled with joy and of course, delicious treats. Our client said:
“We’ve worked with Story on a number of our events now, and every time the brief is achieved with perfection. Whether it was incorporating elements of our Christmas ad, setting up the giant screen and sound system, organising the outside bar and bathtub, this event was managed and executed brilliantly and all of our guests had a brilliant time celebrating the start of Christmas with us. Thank you team Story!'”
