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DIY Store's £100 Christmas Ad Is Hailed The Best Of 2019

DIY Store's £100 Christmas Ad Is Hailed The Best Of 2019

And it only cost £100 to make! Step aside, John Lewis

EMS 7

EMS 7

Although John Lewis might've taken the crown for top Christmas ad over the past several years, it looks like we have a new contender in town - and theirs cost less than £100 to make.

Hafod Hardware store in Rhayader, Wales, has warmed hearts across the country with its touching two-minute ad featuring a young but very talented little two-year-old called Arthur Jones. Already many viewers a hailing it the 'best Christmas ad of 2019'.

The footage shows Arthur waking up alone in a house, having his breakfast and setting off to Hafod's DIY shop, where he embarks on a full day's work: serving customers, restocking the shelves, and even taking care of some accounts.

At the end of his long day, he locks up and goes to pick up a Christmas tree, only to then transform into his older self, with the line 'Be a kid this Christmas' appearing across the screen.

Meanwhile, singer Andrea von Kampen's emotive cover of Alphaville's 1984 hit 'Forever Young' plays throughout the clip.

Hafod Hardware/SWNS

Little Arthur's dad Tom Jones (yes, that's his name) and his filmmaker pal Josh Holdaway made and edited the ad for less than £100.

Tom is the owner of the independent shop, a family business which has been open since 1895.

For three years, the company has set out releasing heartwarming Christmas ads in the vein of John Lewis' efforts in a bid to get people in the spirit of the festive season.

Speaking of their latest video, which has already raked in thousands of views, likes and comments on social media, Tom said: "The aim is to make it the best Christmas advert of the year. The comments we've had so far have been amazing.

"Making this video with my son has been an experience I will cherish for a lifetime. They say never work with animals or children but he was a joy.

"He's such a bright boy and I would be lying if I said it was difficult to get him to perform on screen.

Hafod Hardware/SWNS

"He often comes to visit me in the shop, so weren't really asking him to do anything he hadn't done before. Whenever I watch the advert, it makes me well up with pride.

"Forever Young was the song I really wanted. I asked Andrea if she could do a cover and she was happy to do it.

"She recorded it in a studio and paid $100 for a sound engineer. I said we'd pay - so that's all the advert has cost us. She's got an incredible voice, it's perfect for the advert.

"All three adverts touch upon the significance of family at Christmas and so it was extremely important to me that Arthur had a role in each one.

Hafod Hardware/SWNS

"Showing the transition of him as a young baby in the first advert, through to the young man he is today, really does capture the essence of what we have been trying to create."

Tom went on to say: "People always compare our videos to the likes of John Lewis and we try to get the same message across as the mutli-million pound adverts do.

"But there is an underlying message. We are just a small independent shop in Mid Wales trying to compete with the big boys like John Lewis and M&S.

"We've shown that it can be done on a very small budget."

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: John Lewis, Christmas, UK Entertainment