The plush toys of the stars of Aldi’s 2021 Christmas advert officially go on sale in store and online from today.
And, as they seem to do every year, people are already queueing to buy them.
Festive shoppers keen to get their hands on the cuddly toys have been taking to social media this morning to share their place in the online queue, with many reporting that they have been placed in a queue with more than 60,000 people ahead of them.
A message on the Aldi website holding page reads: “We’re very sorry, but there are currently lots of people trying to access the Aldi website. We’ve automatically placed you in a queue, but don’t worry about refreshing – this page will update automatically as you enter the site.”
“There are 30,000 people queuing to access Aldi’s website to buy soft toys,” one Twitter user wrote.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Ahhh the annual Aldi waiting in an online queue, it’s almost as traditional as mince pies and sprouts,” another tweet read.
In-person queues outside Aldi stores this morning have also been reported around the UK too.
ADVERTISEMENT
The budget supermarket retailer has certainly become known for its Christmas adverts starring everyone’s favourite character ‘Kevin the Carrot’ in recent years, and this year, it’s absolutely no different, as the release of the 2021 edition earlier this month went on to amass millions of views and thousands of comments and interactions.
If you’ve not seen the advert yet, it’s a take on Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol – renamed ‘A Christmas Carrot by Charles Chickens’ – and it features various different and excellently-named, festive food-themed characters.
Characters starring in the advert include its lead ‘Ebanana Scrooge’, ‘Marcus Radishford’, ‘Peas & Goodwill’, ‘Tiny Tom’.
ADVERTISEMENT
Kevin the Carrot himself also took on the role of ‘the Spirit of Christmas’.
The story follows the Christmas-loathing Ebanana, who is reminded of the joys of the festive season by the Spirit of Christmas until he eventually realises the positives of Christmas, and goes around spreading goodwill.
The plush toys of each of the advert’s characters are priced at £3.99 each.
As well as all the characters from the Christmas advert, Aldi has also announced that a plush toy version of its famous and much-loved ‘Cuthbert the Caterpiller’ – who many will remember grabbed headlines after being embroiled in a legal battle earlier this year – will also be available to buy in store and online.
This year, Aldi has partnered with award-winning giving platform Neighbourly – which helps businesses make a positive impact in their communities by donating volunteer time, money, and surplus products, all in one place.
ADVERTISEMENT
The retailer will donate 1.8 million meals to families in need this Christmas.
Sean McGinty – Marketing Director at Aldi UK – added: “Christmas is a time for hope, and we’re privileged to be working with Marcus, who is one of the most inspirational young people in the UK, having done so much in the past 18 months to help provide free school meals for children.”
“We hope our campaign will remind everyone of the true meaning of Christmas,” he added.
Steve Butterworth – Chief Executive at Neighbourly – said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Aldi in their year-round food redistribution programme and in their commitment to donate 1.8 million meals this Christmas.
“These donations will help a record number of families across the UK during what is expected to be the busiest year on record for local charities and causes.”
ADVERTISEMENT
You can watch the 2021 Aldi Christmas advert in full here.
Space NK to give away hundreds of free goody bags at opening of new Trafford Centre store
Emily Sergeant
Space NK is set to open its new store in the Trafford Centre this weekend, and hundreds of shoppers are expected to turn out.
As the leading beauty retailer – which also recently just opened a swanky new store in Manchester Arndale – prepares to welcome cosmetics fans through the doors of its newest Greater Manchester home this weekend, customers are being told they’re in for a real treat, as the brand has now confirmed some exciting launch day plans.
The first 300 people to visit the new Trafford Centre store on Saturday (21 September) when it opens at 10am will receive an exclusive Space NK goody bag filled with items from some of the world’s best beauty brands.
Not only that, but the first 200 shoppers to spend £150 in store will also receive a goody bag that’s worth an incredible £300.
Known and loved by millions of shoppers all across the country for offering a wide range of products, including skincare, cosmetics, and even beauty ‘gadgets’ too, Space NK stocks more than 130 world-renowned brands.
Drunk Elephant, Nars, Charlotte Tilbury, and Diptyque are just some of the big names the retailer is known to stock, alongside a whole host of exclusive products.
The new Trafford Centre store will feature 18 makeup ‘gondolas’, more than 300 shelves of the most in-demand brands, and dedicated areas for customers to try products at their leisure.
To make sure no launch-day customer walks away empty handed, Space NK branded tote bags will be handed out to Trafford Centre shoppers, alongside a selection of different beauty samples for anyone joining the queue.
Across the opening weekend, on both Saturday and Sunday, any customer who makes a purchase in-store will also get the chance to play the ‘Spin to Win’ wheel game, and there’s loads of amazing prizes set to be won – including a much-coveted Space NK advent calendar, just in time for the festive season.
DJs will be blasting tunes to entertain shoppers all weekend long, and there’ll also be an exclusive set from TikTok sensation, the Altego twins, as well as complementary croissants and cookies for the first customers in the queue.
Space NK will be located on Lower Peel Avenue in the Trafford Centre, and it officially opens for business from 10am on Saturday 21 September.
Featured Image – Supplied
Shopping
Manchester City recreate Definitely Maybe album cover for launch of limited edition Oasis themed kit
Danny Jones
Football season is back underway and although clubs have already released their shirts for this season, the news of the Oasis reunion was simply too big for their club Manchester City not to mark the occasion with a long-awaited limited edition kit.
Man City already have three official match jerseys that they’ll be donning through the domestic season and in Europe, but given that the Burnage boys are back, both Noel and Liam Gallagher are massive Blues and it’s been 30 years since their debut album Definitely Maybe, they had to do something special.
We’d heard rumours of a potential kit collaboration between Noel and City for some time now, with reports dating back a couple of years now but it looks as though, much like the band’s comeback after 15 years, the stars have finally aligned and fans can now grab a sensational collector’s item.
Behold, we give you the limited edition ‘Definitely City’ fourth shirt:
30 years since Definitely Maybe, it’s Definitely City 🤘🩵 Introducing the 24/25 @pumafootball x @ManCity Definitely City Kit by Noel Gallagher
We’d seen several glimpses of the full collection over the past few weeks, with the jersey itself having been leaked multiple times and snaps of the older Gallagher brother in the trademark sky blue overshirt being used as a teaser most recently, but now it’s officially available to the public.
Co-designed by the legendary songwriter and guitarist himself (there seems to be no suggestion of Liam’s involvement at any point in the process), the kit itself is a striking combo of salmon pink into gradients of pale blue and off-white – certainly one to remember.
If you’re a fan of bold colourways like with the retro 1999-inspired third kit for this season, then this Oasis-themed fourth kit is probably right up your street too. It also features the already debuted cup printing with Noel’s own handwriting for the font.
The club and manufacturers Puma have also released a track jacket, bomber jacket, bucket and baseball caps, as well as a retro top that’s giving very 90s pre-match jersey/goalkeeper kit; a new polo shirt, a high neck drill top, limited edition ball, as well as a simple dark ‘Definitely City’ tee.
You can see samples down below and view the full collection HERE.
The new Oasis x City fourth kit is flanked by a whole roster of club fashion. (Credit: Manchester City/Puma)
We’ve already seen the success that nostalgic football and music collabs have produced with the likes of The Stone Roses x Manchester United collection released earlier this year, but it doesn’t get much bigger than one of the greatest rock bands of all-time and the best team in the land joining forces.
What do you make of the crossover then and, more importantly, if you’re a Man City fan, is it the fourth shirt or another part of the Definitely City collection that most takes your fancy?
To be honest, whether you’re a Blue or not, you can’t deny recreating that iconic album cover might be one of the coolest ways we’ve seen a kit reveal in years.