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Harvey Nichols “Sorry, I Spent It on Myself” 2014

Harvey Nichols “Sorry, I Spent It on Myself” (2014) is a Harvey Nichols commercial directed by James Rouse for adam&eve\TBWA, produced by Outsider. It won 19 awards, including Cannes Lions 2014 Film Grand Prix, Epica 2014 Gold Fashion, Footwear & Personal Accessories and One Show 2014 Silver Pencil — Non-Broadcast.

People give cheap, mundane gifts to their loved ones for Christmas, having spent their money on luxury items for themselves from Harvey Nichols.

Video: Harvey Nichols on YouTube

Shot by shot

  1. A multi-generational Black family gathers in a living room, exchanging gifts around a silver Christmas tree, with one man unwrapping a present.© Harvey Nichols0:00
  2. A young Black woman with long dark hair smiles and looks to the right, while an older Black man smiles in the blurred background, next to a white Christmas tree.© Harvey Nichols0:13
  3. A woman's foot, wearing a black high heel with a red sole, is seen on a beige carpet amidst discarded wrapping paper and gift boxes.© Harvey Nichols0:17
  4. A family of five, dressed in casual attire, sits around a silver Christmas tree in a living room, exchanging gifts.© Harvey Nichols0:21
  5. An elderly woman in a purple sweater opens a gift while sitting on a couch with three other people around a coffee table with a lit candle and snacks, next to a decorated Christmas tree.© Harvey Nichols0:26
  6. An elderly woman with white hair and glasses sits on a green couch, opening a small, clear plastic package of paperclips, with a Christmas tree in the background.© Harvey Nichols0:41
  7. A man and woman sit on a bed in a bedroom, the man looking at something in his hands while the woman smiles at him.© Harvey Nichols0:54
  8. A young man in a grey t-shirt sits on a bed, looking down at a small box, then smiles at a woman next to him.© Harvey Nichols1:01
  9. A man in a white t-shirt sits on a bed, looking down, while a woman in a dark dress talks to him, next to a green handbag in a bedroom.© Harvey Nichols1:09
  10. A woman in a dark blue top and brown pants sits, admiring a bright green handbag on her lap, in a cozy interior setting.© Harvey Nichols1:14
  11. A young boy with a striped shirt looks confused while opening a small gift next to a smiling man in a living room.© Harvey Nichols1:21
  12. A woman in a pink and black dress stands in a living room, holding a champagne glass, while a man and a boy sit on a couch, looking at her.© Harvey Nichols1:27

Stills © Harvey Nichols. Made by adam&eve\TBWA, Outsider and James Rouse.

Every shot, full-quality frames and clips, and search across every commercial. Free account.

The idea

Selfish gifting for Christmas, buying luxury for yourself, cheap gifts for others.

Tagline: “A little something for them, a bigger something for you.”

Christmas family gatheringgift exchangedisappointed reactionsluxury item revealhumorous contrastselfish twist

The cut

Length
104 s
Shots
24
Average shot
4.3 s

What creatives use Harvey Nichols “Sorry, I Spent It on Myself” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Harvey Nichols “Sorry, I Spent It on Myself”? A screenshot from a video player won't hold up in a deck.

    Download any frame of this spot at full quality, with its credits, or search every spot for the same look.

    A multi-generational Black family gathers in a living room, exchanging gifts around a silver Christmas tree, with one man unwrapping a present.© Harvey NicholsA young Black woman with long dark hair smiles and looks to the right, while an older Black man smiles in the blurred background, next to a white Christmas tree.© Harvey NicholsA woman's foot, wearing a black high heel with a red sole, is seen on a beige carpet amidst discarded wrapping paper and gift boxes.© Harvey NicholsA family of five, dressed in casual attire, sits around a silver Christmas tree in a living room, exchanging gifts.© Harvey Nichols
    Frames from Harvey Nichols “Sorry, I Spent It on Myself”

  2. 02Shot list example: how it was cut

    You need the structure of a great spot, shot by shot, for your storyboard.

    Every shot of Harvey Nichols “Sorry, I Spent It on Myself” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A multi-generational Black family gathers in a living room, exchanging gifts around a silver Christmas tree, with one man unwrapping a present.© Harvey NicholsA young Black woman with long dark hair smiles and looks to the right, while an older Black man smiles in the blurred background, next to a white Christmas tree.© Harvey NicholsA woman's foot, wearing a black high heel with a red sole, is seen on a beige carpet amidst discarded wrapping paper and gift boxes.© Harvey NicholsA family of five, dressed in casual attire, sits around a silver Christmas tree in a living room, exchanging gifts.© Harvey NicholsAn elderly woman in a purple sweater opens a gift while sitting on a couch with three other people around a coffee table with a lit candle and snacks, next to a decorated Christmas tree.© Harvey NicholsAn elderly woman with white hair and glasses sits on a green couch, opening a small, clear plastic package of paperclips, with a Christmas tree in the background.© Harvey Nichols
    Length: 104 s · Shots: 24 · Average shot: 4.3 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a gift exchange

    Before you present an idea, you need to know who has done it, and how.

    Harvey Nichols “Sorry, I Spent It on Myself” is built on a gift exchange. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Sekonda “Pass the Parcel”© SekondaDe Bijenkorf “155 Years”© De BijenkorfMYER “You Give Me Something”© MYERBevilles “Along for the Ride”© Bevilles
    Sekonda · De Bijenkorf · MYER · Bevilles

More commercials by James Rouse

More from adam&eve\TBWA

  • Harvey Nichols "Shoplifters" (2016) commercial still© Harvey NicholsHarvey Nichols “Shoplifters” 2016Dir. Layzell Bros · adam&eve\TBWACannes Lions Grand Prix 2016
  • John Lewis Financial Services "Tiny Dancer" (2015) commercial still© John Lewis Financial ServicesJohn Lewis Financial Services “Tiny Dancer” 2015Dir. Dougal Wilson · adam&eve\TBWALondon International Awards Grand Prix 2016
  • John Lewis "Monty's Christmas" (2015) commercial still© John LewisJohn Lewis “Monty's Christmas” 2015Dir. Dougal Wilson · adam&eve\TBWACannes Lions Grand Prix 2015
  • Foster's "Good Call" (2014) commercial still© Foster'sFoster's “Good Call” 2014adam&eve\TBWAIPA Effectiveness Awards Grand Prix 2014
  • Puma "I Got High" (2026) commercial still© PumaPuma “I Got High” 2026Dir. Elliott Power · adam&eve\TBWACreative Circle Gold 2026
  • Calm "Missed Birthdays" (2025) commercial still© CalmCalm “Missed Birthdays” 2025adam&eve\TBWAANDY Awards Gold 2025

Award-winning retail commercials

Questions

Who directed the Harvey Nichols “Sorry, I Spent It on Myself” commercial?

James Rouse directed it, produced by Outsider, for the agency adam&eve\TBWA.

Which agency made Harvey Nichols “Sorry, I Spent It on Myself”?

adam&eve\TBWA created it for Harvey Nichols (2014).

What awards did Harvey Nichols “Sorry, I Spent It on Myself” win?

19 awards, including Cannes Lions 2014 Film Grand Prix, Epica 2014 Gold Fashion, Footwear & Personal Accessories, Epica 2014 Gold Luxury & Premium Brands and Epica 2014 Gold Retail Services.

What is the tagline of Harvey Nichols “Sorry, I Spent It on Myself”?

“A little something for them, a bigger something for you.”

Sources for the credits and awards

The WorkThe Workaicpawards.combritisharrows.comoneclub.orgdandad.orgwinners.epica-awards.comwinners.epica-awards.comwinners.epica-awards.comweb.archive.orgweb.archive.orgshootonline.com

Harvey Nichols “Sorry, I Spent It on Myself” (2014) Commercial by James Rouse: Credits, Awards & Stills