Best Buy: Commercial Christmas

: "Look at how cool these new apps and creators are!"

In the mid-2010s, Best Buy faced what many called an "existential crisis." People were "showrooming"—going into the store to look at a TV, then buying it cheaper on their phones while standing in the aisle. To fight back, their Christmas commercials pivoted to humor and star power.

In the middle of this, Best Buy didn't just release a commercial; they staged a tech-infused takeover. The "Silicon Valley" Christmas best buy commercial christmas

, the co-founder of a then-fledgling app called Instagram .

: "Look at how much faster this computer is!" : "Look at how cool these new apps and creators are

: "Look at how this device brings us together when we’re apart."

In a series of fast-paced, high-energy spots, they brought in: , the man who invented the camera phone. The "Silicon Valley" Christmas , the co-founder of

The year was 2011, and the world was changing. Steve Jobs had just passed away, the iPhone 4S had introduced us to Siri, and the retail world was bracing for a holiday season that felt caught between the old-school magic of a physical store and the looming shadow of online shopping.