Coca Cola Advertising With Santa Claus
But in 1931 coca cola commissioned illustrator haddon sundblom to paint santa for christmas advertisements.
Coca cola advertising with santa claus. Before 1931 there were many different depictions of santa claus around the world including a tall gaunt man and an elf there was even a scary claus. Nevertheless when coke s advertising guru archie lee hired haddon sundblom to create fresh images of saint nicholas lee hit marketing gold. The coca cola company began its christmas advertising in the 1920s with shopping related ads in magazines like the saturday evening post.
In 1930 artist fred mizen painted a department store santa in a crowd drinking a bottle of coke. In the early 1930s coca cola turned to haddon h. The first santa ads used a strict looking claus in the vein of thomas nast.
But coca cola advertising did play a big role in shaping the jolly character we know today. Coca cola did not create the legend of santa claus. Sundblom s gorgeous illustrations from 1931 to 1964 helped codify our image of santa today.