Once again, love is in the air! And this year, Challenger Brands are making us swoon with paid ads that zag from the expected. From playful roasts to retro romance, here are our Valentine’s Day favorites.
🐠🍫 Most Literal – Fishwife
A Valentine’s Day gift pack straight from the sea? Fishwife reeled us in with a limited-edition trio featuring dark chocolate sardines (!). Bonus points for partnering with a fellow women-owned brand to make it happen. We’re hooked.
🎶 Most Retro – Mid Day Squares
Love at first bite! MDS gave us an all-out musical love story featuring their iconic chocolate squares. Follow along the story from the first date to growing old together. This sing-along ad is pure serotonin.
⚡️Best 80’s Flashback – Mid Day Squares’ Founders
Polyester tracksuits. Silk shirts. A VHS-quality Valentine’s Day photoshoot. The MDS founders prove that when you love what you do, you really commit.
🐶 Most Ugly-Cute – Farmer’s Dog
A scruffy pup. A heartfelt Valentine’s poem. Farmer’s Dog proves that you don’t need a big budget to win big on emotion.
🗑️ Best Roast – Who Gives a Crap
What do Valentine’s Day and trash have in common? If you’re Who Gives a Crap, the answer is a lot. Their scroll-stopping roast had us laughing and reconsidering our garbage bag choices.
🕯️ Fav Mood Setter – Gantri
Nothing kills the vibe like the big light. Gantri taps into the “no big light” trend with a Valentine’s ad that’s as warm and inviting as their lamps.
💌 Most Personal – Prose
Prose slid into our inboxes with a personalized Valentine, proving that small, thoughtful gestures go a long way. Surprise and delight? Nailed it.
Which Valentine’s Day ad stole your heart? ❤️
