Harvey Nichols Hilariously Markets Christmas Shopping To The Selfish This Season.

They say it's better to give than to receive, but not at the marketing department in Harvey Nichols. Their new hilarious holiday campaign, ‘Sorry, I Spent It On Myself’ offers a range of ‘Ultra Low Net Worth’ (ULNW) gifts for those customers who understand that a little something for their nearest and dearest means a bigger something for themselves.


above: The tongue-in-cheek product range designed for the campaign includes mundane items like toothpicks, canned goods and gravel

The Harvey Nichols Christmas Commercials:
The campaign began with a teaser / preview of the new ULNW collection:



The above teaser was followed up with the commercial shown below in which, scene by scene, we begin to discover that in each case the suspiciously well-dressed gift-giver appears to have spent more time and money on themselves at Harvey Nichols, than on their loved ones, instead offering a present from the Harvey Nichols ULNW Gift Collection:



‘At this time of year it can be all too easy to get caught up in the spirit of giving. We hope that our new ‘Sorry, I Spent It On Myself’ Gift Collection will provide our customers with low-cost gifting options for others that will allow them to spoil themselves that little bit more this Christmas.’ said Julia Bowe, the Group Press & Marketing Director of Harvey Nichols

The full Harvey Nichols ‘Sorry, I Spent It On Myself’ Gift Collection
With a varied and competitively priced selection, there’s something for everyone; a Plastic Door Stop for Mum; Non-Swiss Biro Pen for Dad; and nothing quite says Merry Christmas like a packet of Authentic Lincolnshire Gravel.




The ‘Sorry, I Spent It On Myself’ Gift Collection became available in store and online starting Wednesday, November 27th. Sadly all online versions of these items are already sold out:

- Christmas Lunch in a Tin (with most of the trimmings)
- Non-Swiss Biro Pen, 81p
- Real Plastic Door Stop, £1.43
- Elastic Band Gift Set, £1
- Authentic Lincolnshire Gravel, £1.61
- Metal Plated Paper Clips, 99p
- See-Through Glass Salt Cellar, £1.73
- Sink Plug (Water Resistant), £1.13
- Multi-Bristled Toothbrush, 95p
- Toothpicks (100% Wood), 47p
- Genuine Wire Sponge, 96p

"This Christmas, a little something for them means a bigger something for you"
If you visit their special website, you will find, in addition to the commercial, a little slide show comparing the ULNW gifts side by side with something you could splurge on for yourself:



They also offer a free downloadable no frills "Sorry, I spent it on myself" Christmas card:

download the card here

Make your wish list here

 #SpentItOnMyself

Credits:
client: Harvey Nichols
Advertising Agency: adam&eve DDB, London, UK
Creative Directors: Richard Brim, Daniel Fisher
Published: November 2013

A Look Inside The Apple Apartments That Turned Beatles History Into Luxury Living.

Earlier this year, 94 Baker Street launched The Apple Apartments. A boutique, luxury development of 5 apartments within a building that formally housed the Beatles' Apple Records and Apple Boutique.


above: 94 Baker Street in 1967 housed the Beatles' Apple Records and Apple Boutique

The apartments (which are now available to rent) launched in July 2013 with much fanfare, including a 1960's inspired psychedelic light projection on the building's exterior - as a nod to the original mural commissioned by George Harrison and painted over the Georgian building by art students in the 60s.



above: Psychedelic light projection on 94 Baker Street as part of the Apple Apartments launch in 2013

First, a little history:



As well as the base for The Beatles record empire in the late 1960s, the Apple Boutique was opened at street level and sold clothes and accessories.



above: the exterior and interior of the Apple Boutique at 94 Baker Street

The aim of the shop was, according to Paul McCartney, to create “a beautiful place where beautiful people can buy beautiful things" (this quote was projected onto the building during the launch). The launch party for the Apple Boutique in December 1967 was attended by John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Cilla Black and Kenneth Tynan.



above: original images from the launch party of the Apple boutique in 1967

The Apple Boutique was an early venture of The Beatles’ Apple Corps company. It was only open from December 1967 until July 1968.


above: the Apple Boutique closed less than a year after opening.

During the heyday of The Beatles tenure, a psychedelic-style mural was commissioned by George Harrison and painted over the Georgian building by art students but planning permission had not been sought and the artwork was ordered to be covered in white paint to satisfy Westminster Council and the landlord, the Portman Estate.


above: The 94 Baker Street exterior mural being painted by art students

The New Apple Apartments
Now, restored by the Malins Group the design theme for the luxury apartments  amalgamated the influences of the eternally stylish monochrome look on the runway for Spring Summer 2013; the 60's images from the Beatles days in occupation; and John Lennons 'Imagine' music video.


above: The 94 Baker Street exterior as it appears today

A Blue Plaque was erected on the 17th March 2013 to commemorate John Lennon and George Harrison.

above: The plaque replaced one that initially only honored John Lennon. The new plaque’s inscription reads: ‘John Lennon M.B.E. 1940-1980 George Harrison M.B.E. 1943-2001 worked here.’ M.B.E. stands for Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, an honor that Queen Elizabeth II bestowed on all of the Beatles back in 1965.

There are four two bedroom and a one bedroom apartment all benefiting from surround sound, comfort cooling/heating system, Sky TV and direct lift access to each flat.

Highlights of the exclusive apartments include: Diffused fresh air, heating and comfort cooling to all principle rooms, Multi Room Audio Visual System, Black solid wenge floors, Full height black wenge and white ice etched glass doors, with satin inlay, White ice etched glass pocket doors, Italian high gloss concealed kitchens with shark nose worktops, V&A designer sanitary ware, Marble slabs to bathrooms, Bespoke wardrobes with grey oak cabinetry, Velvet carpets and Designer feature wallcoverings.

The photos below depict the show flat which is available on a furnished basis. Other apartments can be rented as furnished or unfurnished, depending upon negotation.

The Lobby:



The Living Room:





Bedroom and en suite bath:




Artist Scott Eaton who created the Venus iPad Docking Station and the Hercules XIII Tablet Stand was commissioned to create the unsual lamps seen in the master bedroom:



The apartments were sold to Middle eastern investors just four weeks after the launch for £10.2 million and are being rented for between £750 and £1,150 a week.

"The investors have bought all five apartments, four two-bedroom, which were priced from £1.625,000 and £1.750,000 and a one-bedroom at £1.250,000, and the retail space at ground level. The apartments will be available to rent at the end of the year, for between £750 and £1,150 a week" according to agents Kay & Co, who secured the deal.

Lauren Atkins, MD of The Malins Group, whose development portfolio includes residential developments in Belgravia, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Mayfair and Westminster, said: “The Apple Apartments have a unique place in the history of The Beatles and the purchasers have bought the ultimate slice of memorabilia. We incorporated exceptional design and specification, with the very best materials and finishes. This has been a very special project and we are really excited that they have sold within a month of the launch. It is a great endorsement for the standards and quality of the work by the Malins Group.”

Available from November 2013. Photos shown in this post depict the show flat which is available on a furnished basis. Rent excludes administration fees of £300 inc. VAT plus £50 per person inc. VAT for referencing which is payable upon creation of a legally binding tenancy agreement.



Interested in renting or scheduling a viewing? Go here.

Giant LEGO Snowglobe Features 14 London Landmarks For Christmas.

For the past few years, the first LEGO Certified Professional in the UK, Duncan Titmarsh of Bright Bricks, has created large LEGO sculptures for Christmas and displayed them in various public venues in the UK. Last year, it was a giant LEGO Advent Calendar in London's Covent Garden’s West Piazza and in 2011, the World's Larget LEGO Christmas Tree (35 feet tall) displayed at St. Pancras station.









This year, London’s Covent Garden’s West Piazza celebrates the launch of the world’s first LEGO Snow Globe. It features an inflatable snowglobe in which LEGO sculptures of 14 London landmarks including Shakespeare's Globe Theater, the London Eye, The Battersea Power Station and Big Ben are placed. The snowglobe, which can be walked into via an archway, took six people over 75 days to build, used 120,000 LEGO bricks and stands over 3 meters tall.





some close-ups:







The Snow Globe and its festive scene of London will be open to the public free of charge from November 14th to December 22nd.

Duncan speaks about his LEGO Snowglobe:


Images courtesy of Bright Bricks and London Mums Magazine