Selfridges unveils Christmas campaign despite temporary store closures

Selfridges has unveiled its latest Christmas campaign despite being forced to shut the doors of its retail stores for the next four weeks.

The London-based business is to reveal the window display to its Once Upon a Christmas campaign on Thursday, which it said will be “uplifting” amid the uncertain backdrop.

It said its campaign will launch physically at its world-famous Oxford Street store and digitally on its website and online platforms.

Selfridges has said it was pushing forward with preparations to ensure it can offer an “unmistakable in-store Christmas experience” when its stores are able to reopen in line with government guidelines.

The company is closing all of its stores from today until at least 2 December, apart from its Oxford Street food hall.

Its window displays will feature Santa Claus and the Fairy Godmother among other recognisable characters and will also include artists’ windows featuring bespoke Christmas trees by Anthony Burrill, Hanna Hansdotter and Helen Bullock.

Selfridges also said the windows have been designed with more focus on sustainable and recycled materials, coming after it announced ambitious sustainability targets through its Project Earth commitments earlier this year.

The company said it has expanded its range of sustainable gifts and has also developed larger ranges of personalised gifts as part of its Christmas proposition.

It will also run virtual shopping appointments with its team of “Elfridges” experts to support online customers and will operate click-and-collect services in London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Selfridges also revealed new data from OnePoll which found that eight of Britons say they are wishing for a traditional Christmas, but 24% of people worry Christmas traditions may be cancelled due to the pandemic.