With the holiday season fast approaching, brands are rolling out creative and sometimes bizarre advent calendars, capturing the festive spirit with unique offerings. From traditional chocolate treats to more unconventional picks like sauces and crisps, this year's calendars promise to cater to all tastes. Let's take a closer look at what some of the most talked-about advent calendars have to offer for 2024.
This year, Heinz has taken the plunge with its own limited-edition "12 Days of Saucemas" calendar, literally bringing its sauces front and center. Retailing at £25, this calendar features 12 full-size bottles of beloved Heinz sauces, including the classic Tomato Ketchup and even Truffle Mayonnaise. And if you're interested, you can snag one through the heinztohome.co.uk website, with free delivery on the order. But act quickly; only 2,000 are available!
The Heinz calendar certainly stirred mixed reactions among fans. While some were thrilled, calling it their idea of "heaven," others were quick to point out its lack of festive flair. A reviewer from Instagram, @UKNewestFoods, gave the calendar low marks for its design, citing the absence of seasonal themes or flavors. Despite this, they conceded the price was fair compared to buying the sauces separately, which would cost more than the calendar itself.
Meanwhile, Walkers made headlines with its crisps-themed advent calendar, priced at £10. This unique offering aims to bring savory goodness to the traditional advent experience. Users, particularly fans of Walkers crisps, received mixed reviews. A representative from popular TikTok account, UK Newest Foods, branded the calendar "absolutely not worth the money" due to its limited flavor selection: Ready Salted, Prawn Cocktail, Cheese & Onion, and Salt & Vinegar. With only four flavors spread across 24 bags, many felt shortchanged, expressing how Walkers could have done much more.
Adding to the criticism, users shared thoughts on social media, with some wishing for seasonal flavors rather than the standard variety. The general sentiment mirrored disappointment, especially since Walkers have multiple flavors they could have tapped for their advent offering.
Beauty aficionados weren't left out, as Benefit launched their "Gorgeous Grocer" advent calendar, which quickly sold out but is now back in stock. Retail priced at £156, this calendar is reported to be worth nearly double at £295, featuring best-selling products like the BADGal Bang! mascara and Gimme Brow+ Brow Gel. Unique styling, reminiscent of a shopping basket, adds creative flair.
While the calendar contains some fan favorites, the sizing of the products raised eyebrows. Among the 24 items, many were travel-sized, which might not appeal to everyone. Beauty editor Laura Mulley highlighted some hits and misses, pointing out the convenience of minis for travel but noting the limited shade range of certain items could be disappointing for some users. Those who prefer full-size products may find themselves wanting more from this calendar.
Despite the critiques, the sheer volume of advent calendars flooding the market is undeniable. Many brands have creatively tapped the idea of this festive tradition to cater to consumer desires for novelty. The trend of branded advent calendars shows no signs of slowing down, with options ranging from wine to pet treats, ensuring something for everyone.
This upward trend signifies not only the holiday excitement but also the strategic marketing efforts from brands aiming to attract consumer interest. Through cleverly themed boxes filled with smaller merchandise, companies are creating unique experiences for shoppers.
With prices often comparable to buying individual products, it's clear why these calendars are becoming increasingly popular. Shoppers are drawn to the novelty of opening doors each day, not just for goodies, but for unique experiences.
The holiday season is never complete without treats and surprises behind those little doors, and if this year’s advent calendars are any indication, they’re sure to capture the imaginative spirit of consumers, paving the way for even more creative options next year.
