Local hardware store’s $130 commercial is capturing hearts

A family-owned business in Wales has captured hearts with an inexpensive holiday advertisement that rivals any by its competitors.

Hafod Hardware in Rhayader, Wales  launched the video ad this week and  instantly struck a chord with viewers who can’t seem to get enough of it.

(Video: ITV News/YouTube)

The viral ad, that has been called the “best Christmas ad of the year,” cost less than $130 to make and features a day in the life of little Arthur, the two-year-old son of the store’s owner Tom Jones. The video follows Arthur as he runs the store, which has been in the family for four generations, starting his day at home eating breakfast before heading over to the shop.

The ad showed Arthur opening the store for business, sweeping the floors and stocking shelves with a version of the 1984 Alphaville hit song, “Forever Young,” playing throughout.

He also rang up and wrapped store purchases, offering a thumbs-up to customers, before closing up shop for the night. The two-minute video ends with little Arthur exiting the store and a slightly older Arthur carrying a tree home for Christmas.

“Be a kid this Christmas” is the message that appears at the bottom of the screen at the end.

The video was praised online for its message.

“The story this year is, Christmas isn’t just for kids, [you] can all just be a kid at Christmas,” Jones told BBC News.

“People have been coming in this morning saying congratulations… they’ve been bringing in bottles of champagne for us to say well done,” he added. “It has been crazy… we’ve been overwhelmed with nice emails and messages from all over the world.”

Four generations of the family were featured in the video which Jones told Wales Online was filmed in just one day. The only expense, he noted, was the cost for permission to use the song.

“He was so good,” Jones said of his son’s much-praised performance in the ad. “They say never work with animals or children but he was a joy — I’m bursting with pride.”

(Image: ITV screenshot)

He also pointed to the “underlying message” in the ad which is to “shop at your small independent shops.”

“I understand Christmas can be a very expensive time for everyone and they need to save money where they can, but if they can afford to, just try and shop at your small independent shops and support us, it makes a big difference,” he said.

“The locals are incredible, they’re our bread and butter, we’re very lucky to have the community we have here in Rhayader,” he added.

The ad has garnered more than half a million views on Twitter where it has received over 20,000 likes. The message continues to make an impact as social media users shared their praise.

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