IKEA has launched its first Christmas ad, ‘Silence the Critics’, in which objects around a couple’s home come to life and rap about their ‘rubbish’ cluttered house. By acknowledging the stress that comes with having family around, the retailer is hoping that ‘home shame’ will drive customers to buy.

Rather than hunkering down with the family over the festive period, Britons are likely to do all their Christmas shopping online, before jetting off on holiday to avoid tiresome family and the dreary weather. So what roles do generosity and social bonds play in the British festive landscape of 2019?

Lidl is a German ‘hard discount’ supermarket chain that set up shop on British shores in 1994. Since then, it has quietly – but dramatically – altered the landscape of grocery shopping in the UK. With online shopping being king across industries, how is Lidl continuing to attract loyal customers?

Lidl has launched a Christmas campaign in which it 'vandalises' competitors’ billboards to highlight its lower prices. As post-recession bargain-hunting has become ingrained into the British psyche, the ads speak to those who prioritise value when deciding where to shop.