It’s that time of the year again. A time when we celebrate our mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, mothers-in-law, or any figure in our lives who has been like a mother to us.

In 2023, according to a report on Statista, a whopping 35.7 billion USD was spent on Mother’s Day gifts in the US alone. For advertisers, this is a gold mine not to be missed.

We’ve collected a few of our favorite ads that will get your creative juices flowing.

1. Cartier

Cartier never disappoints. Combining their signature minimalism with the powerful imagery of a mother and her infant, the brand creates a visually and emotionally striking ad.

The copy highlights not just the three Cartier bracelets, but also the relationship of ‘love, friendship, and fidelity’ between mother and child.

2. KFC

It took me a minute to appreciate just how clever this ad is. By angling the 2 vertical lines of a positive pregnancy test, KFC associates their famous tub of wings with some of the most joyful moments in a mother’s life.

3. Colgate

A slight shift in perspective and Colgate’s famous smile becomes a mama’s pregnant belly. Relevant. Minimal. And oh so creative.

4. Nissan

Mothers always know when to guide us when we’re lost. Things may take a wrong turn, but Nissan knows that when our mothers step in, we’re in safe hands.

5. Burger King

Never ask a pregnant woman what she wants to eat.

Why?

It’s likely a combination of ingredients that aren’t supposed to work together.

That is, until Burger King decided to create eclectic flavor combinations for these soon-to-be moms. From pie and beef to cucumbers and jam, the Pregnancy Whopper makes their weird cravings not so weird. 

Quirky with a side of inclusion, don’t mind if I do! 

6. Pizza Hut

A cheesy one-liner with a hint of wordplay — who doesn’t love that? Add two slices of pizza to this, and you have a hungry customer ordering in pizza to share with their mom!

7. Costa Coffee

Costa Coffee beautifully embraces the emotional bond between a mother and child, while also nudging us to go on that much-needed coffee date with our mothers.

8. Zomato

The genius of this ad is hidden not in the design, but in the year and date it was published.

In 2016, Mother’s Day was celebrated on May 8.

Now you would think that that was it.

But no.

Zomato, a popular food-delivery app in India, first started operations in 2008, and this ad was launched 8 years later!

Not only did they shine a light on their lucky number 8, but also showed us that our mothers are truly our lucky charms.

9. McDonald’s

Happy Meal, happy tummy.

Happy tummy, happy us.

Happy us, happy mothers.

Simple yet powerful copy wins again.

3 Key Insights

1. Emotion sells. Whether it’s Cartier’s elegant design or Burger King’s quirky yet creative campaign, every brand focuses on a mother’s emotional bond with her child, evoking nostalgia in some and joy in others.
2. Color palettes deeply influence the perception of an ad creative. Shades of red and pink convey love — in this case, the love between mother and child.
3. Sometimes, minimal works best. A plain background with logo ensures that design and copy get the spotlight.

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Mother’s Day presents the perfect opportunity to feature enticing discounts, gift box bundles, and special collections. You can create a temporary category for Mother’s Day products and design an ad highlighting special promotions and sales.

Don’t miss out on this Mother’s Day. You still have a few days left to come up with some clever ad designs!