Coca Cola Advertising With Santa Claus. Coca cola did not create the legend of santa claus. Sundblom s gorgeous illustrations from 1931 to 1964 helped codify our image of santa today.
Before 1931 there were many different depictions of santa claus around the world including a tall gaunt man and an elf there was even a scary claus. Sundblom redrew santa claus as a plump cheerful man with snow white hair and dressed him in red and white colors that had already become associated with santa but which happily matched coca cola s signature colors. Coca cola did not create the legend of santa claus.
Nevertheless when coke s advertising guru archie lee hired haddon sundblom to create fresh images of saint nicholas lee hit marketing gold.
The coca cola company began its christmas advertising in the 1920s with shopping related ads in magazines like the saturday evening post. Sundblom redrew santa claus as a plump cheerful man with snow white hair and dressed him in red and white colors that had already become associated with santa but which happily matched coca cola s signature colors. But in 1931 coca cola commissioned illustrator haddon sundblom to paint santa for christmas advertisements. The coca cola company began its christmas advertising in the 1920s with shopping related ads in magazines like the saturday evening post.
