The holidays are around the corner and now, more than ever, Canadians are feeling the pressure of the gift giving season. More than half of Canadians wish the holidays came with more time to spend with friends and family, and less time spent stressing about what presents to give. Interac launched its new campaign in time for the holidays to encourage Canadians to spend their time on what matters most: making memories with the people most important to them.

The campaign features a national TV buy with a spot that asks Canadians: what if we had all the holiday stuff, without the stuff stuff? The story follows a family who decide to forego traditional gift giving and make the most of their holidays by spending time with each other and their neighbours.

Out-of-home billboards and print feature striking seasonal visuals. Each execution reminds consumers of the joy and experiences that can be found in holiday items. Headlines include, ‘Buy cocoa, warm hearts’ and, ‘Buy lights, brighten spirits.’

“We’re taking a new approach to talking about the way Canadians spend their money during the holiday season,” says Matt Houghton, director of digital and integrated marketing for Interac. “We’re reinforcing that meaningful gift-giving and purchases can help Canadians focus on what matters most to them during the holidays: the people, places and traditions that create memories.”

Gerald Kugler, group creative director at Zulu Alpha Kilo says: “The holidays are always a high-spend period for Canadians. We want to encourage them to spend their money on thoughtful gifts or experiences that bring people together.”

The campaign also includes in-mall posters, in-cinema takeovers, a partnership with Toronto Life and a range of social and digital executions. The campaign is being supported by a national media buy handled by Media Experts. The French Shop is handling creative for the Quebec market.

Interac is a registered trademark of Interac Corp.