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Staples “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” 1998

Staples “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (1998) is a Staples commercial for Cliff Freeman & Partners. It won one award: Effie US 1998 Gold (Office Products & Services).

Parents rejoice as their kids head back to school, while Staples offers great deals on school supplies and technology, making back-to-school shopping easy.

Video: Staples on YouTube

Shot by shot

  1. The Staples logo, a red staple on a white circle, is centered on a red background, then fades to reveal a shopping cart and backpacks in a store.© Staples0:00
  2. A man pushes a red shopping cart through a Staples store, while a boy looks at his phone and a girl plays with a red balloon.© Staples0:00
  3. A man in a light shirt and shorts runs excitedly through a Staples store, holding two backpacks and then tossing them into a red shopping cart.© Staples0:07
  4. A young boy in a green shirt looks at his phone while a young girl in overalls holds a red balloon and looks at him in a brightly lit store aisle.© Staples0:09
  5. A man in a white t-shirt and purple shirt is pushing a red shopping cart in a Staples store, holding school supplies.© Staples0:11
  6. A man in a white shirt dances excitedly in a Staples store aisle, throwing school supplies from his shopping cart.© Staples0:12
  7. A young boy in a green shirt looks at his phone while a little girl in overalls smiles up at him, holding a red heart balloon in a brightly lit store aisle.© Staples0:14
  8. A man in a white shirt and shorts runs through a Staples store, holding a laptop with a "40% off" graphic on its screen, then puts it in a shopping cart.© Staples0:16
  9. A person in a green shirt holds a smartphone displaying the Staples app, showing a school supply list, inside a Staples store.© Staples0:19
  10. A boy and a girl stand in a Staples store aisle, the boy holding up a phone displaying a Staples app notification for order pickup.© Staples0:22
  11. A red button with the word "easy" in white text is centered on a white background, then a red circle expands from the center.© Staples0:25
  12. The Staples logo and tagline "That was easy." appear on a red background, with the logo animating in from a button.© Staples0:26

Stills © Staples. Made by Cliff Freeman & Partners.

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

The idea

Parents celebrate back-to-school with Staples' easy shopping and deals.

Tagline: “That was easy.”

parents celebratingkids uninterestedback to school dealseasy shopping experiencemusical number

The cut

Length
30 s
Shots
13
Average shot
2.3 s

What creatives use Staples “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” for

  1. 01Reference frames for your treatment

    Pitching something with the feel of Staples “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”? 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 man pushes a red shopping cart through a Staples store, while a boy looks at his phone and a girl plays with a red balloon.© StaplesA man in a light shirt and shorts runs excitedly through a Staples store, holding two backpacks and then tossing them into a red shopping cart.© StaplesA young boy in a green shirt looks at his phone while a young girl in overalls holds a red balloon and looks at him in a brightly lit store aisle.© StaplesA man in a white t-shirt and purple shirt is pushing a red shopping cart in a Staples store, holding school supplies.© Staples
    Frames from Staples “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”

  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 Staples “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” in order, with its length, framing and what happens in it.

    A man pushes a red shopping cart through a Staples store, while a boy looks at his phone and a girl plays with a red balloon.© StaplesA man in a light shirt and shorts runs excitedly through a Staples store, holding two backpacks and then tossing them into a red shopping cart.© StaplesA young boy in a green shirt looks at his phone while a young girl in overalls holds a red balloon and looks at him in a brightly lit store aisle.© StaplesA man in a white t-shirt and purple shirt is pushing a red shopping cart in a Staples store, holding school supplies.© StaplesA man in a white shirt dances excitedly in a Staples store aisle, throwing school supplies from his shopping cart.© StaplesA young boy in a green shirt looks at his phone while a little girl in overalls smiles up at him, holding a red heart balloon in a brightly lit store aisle.© Staples
    Length: 30 s · Shots: 13 · Average shot: 2.3 s

  3. 03Ad ideas: every spot built on a musical number

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

    Staples “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is built on a musical number. Search the library by idea to see every spot that uses it.

    Essity “Viva La Vulva”© EssityJust Eat “Every Neighbour Got Their Flava”© Just EatApple “A Critter Carol”© ApplePepsi “Pepsi Super Bowl LX”© Pepsi
    Essity · Just Eat · Apple · Pepsi

More from Cliff Freeman & Partners

  • Fox Sports Net "China" (2001) commercial still© Fox Sports NetFox Sports Net “China” 2001Dir. Traktor · Cliff Freeman & PartnersCannes Lions Grand Prix 2001
  • Fox Sports "Lightning" (2002) commercial still© Fox SportsFox Sports “Lightning” 2002Dir. Baker Smith · Cliff Freeman & PartnersDGA Awards 2002
  • Budget "Aromatherapy" (2000) commercial still© BudgetBudget “Aromatherapy” 2000Dir. Dante Ariola · Cliff Freeman & PartnersCannes Lions Gold 2000
  • outpost.com "Band" (1999) commercial still© outpost.comoutpost.com “Band” 1999Dir. John OÕHagan · Cliff Freeman & PartnersCannes Lions Gold 1999
  • Hollywood Video "Don" (1999) commercial still© Hollywood VideoHollywood Video “Don” 1999Dir. Baker Smith · Cliff Freeman & PartnersCannes Lions Gold 1999
  • Fox Network "Billiards" (1998) commercial still© Fox NetworkFox Network “Billiards” 1998Dir. Christopher Guest · Cliff Freeman & PartnersCannes Lions Gold 1998

Award-winning retail commercials

Questions

Which agency made Staples “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”?

Cliff Freeman & Partners created it for Staples (1998).

What awards did Staples “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” win?

1 awards, including Effie US 1998 Gold (Office Products & Services).

What is the tagline of Staples “It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”?

“That was easy.”

Sources for the credits and awards

web.archive.orgyoutube.com