How Walmart is Deploying the Grinch to Boost Holiday Marketing in 2025

November 17, 2025 — As the holiday shopping season reaches its peak, Walmart has unveiled an innovative marketing campaign that's turning heads across the retail industry. The retail giant is leveraging one of the season's most recognizable characters, the Grinch, to cut through the crowded holiday advertising landscape and drive Black Friday sales.

Walton Goggins Becomes the Grinch

In a creative twist on traditional holiday marketing, Walmart has cast actor Walton Goggins, known for his role in HBO's "White Lotus," as Dr. Seuss' iconic green grump. Goggins appears in a series of ads as part of Walmart's "WhoKnewVille" campaign, a Dr. Seuss-inspired marketing initiative that builds on the retailer's broader "Who Knew?" messaging platform.

The casting choice is strategic. Goggins previously starred in Walmart's "Who Knew?" campaign, which focuses on changing consumer perceptions about the variety and convenience the retailer offers. His natural ability to portray mischievous characters makes him a perfect fit for the Grinch role.

Multi-Platform Holiday Takeover

Walmart isn't just relying on television commercials. The campaign features an impressive multi-platform approach designed to maximize visibility during the critical holiday shopping period:

• ● Times Square Takeover: The Grinch's fuzzy green mitts stretch across multiple billboards in New York's Times Square, highlighting Black Friday deals on hot items like the Nintendo Switch 2, JBL speakers, and Vizio TVs.
• ● NFL Broadcast Integration: The character will make appearances during upcoming NFL games, reaching millions of viewers during some of television's most-watched programming.
• ● Omnichannel Presence: The campaign spans broadcast TV, streaming platforms, social media, out-of-home advertising, and digital channels.

A Three-Phase Sales Strategy

Walmart has structured its holiday promotions in three strategic phases:

• 1. Early Black Friday event (concluded November 16)
• 2. Main Black Friday push (November 25-30)
• 3. Cyber Monday deals (December 1)

This staggered approach allows the retailer to capture different segments of holiday shoppers, from early birds hunting for deals to last-minute buyers.

Standing Out in a Crowded Market

According to Walmart's marketing team, the goal is to create something that feels culturally relevant while standing out in what they describe as "a very crowded ecosystem of advertising." The campaign follows last year's successful "Mean Girls" reunion spot for Black Friday, showing Walmart's commitment to pop culture-driven marketing.

The "WhoKnewVille" campaign is already showing traction, with a 90-second version of the ad garnering over 9 million views on YouTube.

The Digital Marketing Takeaway

For brands and marketers, Walmart's Grinch campaign offers valuable lessons in holiday marketing strategy:

• ● Character-driven storytelling can create emotional connections with consumers
• ● Multi-platform integration ensures maximum reach and engagement
• ● Celebrity casting that aligns with brand messaging strengthens campaign authenticity
• ● Staggered promotional periods capture different consumer shopping behaviors

As retailers compete for consumer attention and dollars this holiday season, Walmart's creative deployment of the Grinch demonstrates how iconic characters, strategic media placement, and omnichannel execution can differentiate a brand in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

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