Argos delivers speed, seasonal excitement and spectacular gift ideas in adrenaline-fuelled Christmas advert

Argos will today unveil its 2015 Christmas TV advertisement, offering an adrenaline-fuelled 60 seconds of extreme winter sports action to showcase its top brands and exciting new services, which will have viewers on the edge of their seats in anticipation of Christmas.

Created by advertising agency CHI&Partners and directed by Mark Zibert through Rogue Films, the advert marks the start of Argos’ Christmas campaign ‘Just Can’t Wait for Christmas’.

It will break on TV tonight during Channel 4’s Gogglebox, with further high profile spots during ITV1’s X Factor, Channel 4’s Homeland and ITV1’s Jekyll and Hyde.

The campaign highlights top brands available at Argos this Christmas such as Samsung, Fitbit, Nespresso and Xbox, alongside Argos’ ground-breaking new Fast Track Collection and Same-Day Delivery services, which offer consumers the most innovative shopping experience available by combining online shopping with immediate fulfilment UK-wide via store or delivery.

The film was shot on a mountainside in Chile’s Valle Nevado, known by daredevil skiers for its 6,000m peaks and vast stretches of treeless off-piste terrain.

World-class Canadian snowboarder Justin Lamoureux kicks off the action, leaping from a 10-metre ledge holding a red flare. The film then follows a cast of 50 professional skiers and snowboarders as they rush down the mountainside – led by Lamoureux and surrounded by snow-mobiles, snow-buggies, zorbs, and even an Elsa bed from Disney’s Frozen, filled with Argos’ top Christmas gifts, including Beats headphones, Minions, Xboxes, TVs, wearable tech and toys. Hovering overhead, wing-suited Star Wars-masked stuntmen complete the action.

Bursting with colour, energy and speed, the film was shot using a combination of GoPro, drone and hand-held cameras. Some of the 100-strong crew were also on skis, allowing them to get right into the heart of the action.

Stephen Vowles, Argos Marketing Director, said: “‘Just Can’t Wait for Christmas’ is for all those shoppers seeking a fast and super-convenient way to get those most-wanted gifts from top brands like Samsung, Fitbit and Lego. It’s a great demonstration of how, at Argos, we’ll get you all of your most-wanted products quicker than anyone else can thanks to our unique new Fast Track collection and delivery services.

“We wanted to create a Christmas experience which would provide a breath – or a gulp – of fresh air, in amongst all of the usual cuddly animals, love songs and sentimentalism; and which heralds the most 21st century way to shop - online combined with immediate fulfilment through delivery or store.”

Jim Bolton, Deputy Executive Creative Director at CHI&Partners, said: “This ‘Fast Track’ advert is just as exciting to watch as it was to make. We hope it gets people’s hearts pumping, and reminds them that Christmas isn’t just about tearful moments and family hugs. It’s also about joy, excitement and a playful dollop of fun in the snow – not to mention fast and convenient shopping.”

The TV ad will be supported by a broader Christmas campaign built on the creative concept of ‘Just Can’t Wait for Christmas’. The campaign will extend across digital and non-digital channels and includes media bought by Mindshare, a content campaign from AllTogetherNow, CHI&Partners’ sister agency within The&Partnership, and digital display from Summit.

‘Just Can’t Wait for Christmas’ was created by Colin Smith and Angus Vine, creatives at CHI&Partners, and produced by Rogue Films.