“Christmas is the season when people run out of money before they run out of friends”
Larry Wilde. North-American comedian.
The switching on of the Christmas lights (on 4 December in my city, Madrid) marked the official commencement of the festive season. From that night onwards, over three million bulbs have been lighting up the city.
However, for many people, Christmas started long before that. For some, it started when they bought their first presents – for example, Melchior has set aside a pirate ship for my nephew. For others, it was when they bought the tickets that will enable them to travel and see their families again. For others, it was during the summer holidays, when they bought their first Christmas lottery ticket. As for Iberdrola, Christmas kicked off in June, when we started to prepare the Un viaje muy gordo (www.unviajemuygordo.com) (A Huge Trip) campaign, to reward our customers for choosing us as their natural gas supplier.
While some were filling their suitcases with shorts and beachwear, we were thinking about presents, Christmas carols, cards and lottery tickets…even trips to meet Santa Claus!
We had a lot of helpers in this initiative:
The Three Wise Men, who will come laden down with gifts for our customers: trips valued at €10,000, to travel when, where and with whom they wish; 50 prizes of a year’s supply of natural gas for free, so that they needn’t worry about their bills in 2013; and experience packages, so that they can relax in a spa.
The big Spanish Christmas lottery, El Gordo de la Lotería; some people will never forget their gas contract number. If the lucky number in the Christmas lottery draw is the same as the last five figures of their contract number, the customer will win Un viaje muy gordo (a fantastic trip), to the value of €10,000.
The enthusiasm of our customers, who were very excited about our proposal (tens of thousands have already decided to take part). Thanks to this experience, Iberdrola is sharing your emotion in this festive season (and I’m probably enjoying the longest Christmas I’ll ever live!)
Not to mention all the Season’s Greetings! So many Season’s Greetings that our customers have sent us via the website set up for the campaign. We proposed prizes for the best Season’s Greetings and received over five thousand!
Original, funny Season’s Greetings, such as:
“The Spanish Traffic Authority (DGT) would like to remind everyone to leave the drinking to the fish in the traditional Spanish Christmas carol at this time of year! MERRY CHRISTMAS!” (María Francisca Bajo, Bizkaia)
”!samtsirhC yrreM .tsrif eht deveihca ydaerla ev’uoy ,raf siht daer ot deganam ev’uoy fI .eveihca nac uoy segnellahc dna tnemeticxe htiw dellif eb ti yam ,raeY weN eht rof tseb eht lla uoy gnihsiW”(José Javier López, Madrid)
“Dear Santa: this year I want a slim body and a fat wallet, in that order!!! Please try not to get it wrong again like you did last year!!!!!!!!” (Miguel Ángel Figueroa, Madrid)
Moving greetings, such as:
“Put your right hand on your left shoulder and your left hand on your right shoulder: you’ve just received a hug from afar! Wishing you a very happy 2013” (Luis Dorrio, Pontevedra).
“May magic be your best suit, your smile be the best gift, your eyes the best destination and your happiness my deepest wish. Merry Christmas!” (Abilio Fernández, León)
Some greetings specifically written with Iberdrola in mind:
“The money I save on electricity and gas, I spend on others. This Christmas, Iberdrola and happiness!” (José Luis Cuadrado, Madrid)
Hacia Belén va Iberdrola Rin, Rin, yo me calentaba, yo me calenté, yo me iluminaba, yo me iluminé…” (Luis Pastor, Barcelona).
“This Christmas, don’t ask for myrrh, don’t ask for gold, change over to IBERDROLA AND YOU’LL SAVE SEVERALFOLD”. (María Carmen Jandula, Valencia)
Although we may run out of money at this time of year, we won’t run out of the words we need to wish all our friends the very best.
What about you, how do you wish people a Merry Christmas?
