Graphics for this holiday were not strong. Someone needs to tell web teams a popup doesn't count as holiday decoration. Popups were everywhere. I understand they work, but geez you could give a fella a minute to take in your website before blowing a popup in my face.
Even given the strange black and gold Christmas decorations on some sites there were solid seasonal Heroes. The Hero is the largest image on a website. Here are my picks for the best holiday heroes a week before Christmas:
1. L. L. Bean http://www.llbean.com/
You always feel festive and like you need a sweater on to look at Bean during the holidays.
2. Lands End http://www.landsend.com/
Simple, clean and to the point Lands End knows how to create a Christmas spirit and still get their deal across.
3. Talbots roll gest more festive with each roll http://www.talbots.com/online/home_page.jsp
4. Pottery Barn http://www.potterybarn.com/
Love the old woodie they open with and the simulated snow but it doesn't stay on screen nearly long enoug.
5. BlueFly http://www.bluefly.com/
Nice hand drawn Christmas lights bordering the hero. Well done.
6. Amazon http://www.amazon.com/
Amazon did a nice job of dressing up for the holidays this year.
7. Macy's http://www.macys.com/
Enough red and green here to choke.
8. Nieman Marcus http://www.neimanmarcus.com/
Great food shot, easy to forget how important food is this time of year. Nieman wasn't as over the top as I expected, but not bad.
9. Urban Outfitters http://www.urbanoutfitters.com
Has that strange young thing going for them.
10. Vermont Country Store http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/store/
Not as good as Bean but good enough to capture #10 on Best Holiday Heroes.
Scrooge Awards Go To:
(didn't dress up much if at all or were dressed strange)
http://www.dell.com
http://www.overstock.com/ (black and gold for Christmas?)
http://www.abercrombie.com (another black background with a single bow)
