• by Adam Charles , November 6, 2024

The holiday shopping season gets earlier and longer each year, with 2024 set to be a bumper bonanza for bargain-loving shoppers. A post-Thanksgiving Black Friday is no longer the seasonal cutprice kick-off, with leading retailers including Walmart, Target, and Best Buy going head-to-head with Amazon with deals in early October.

But for many brands, implementing such an extensively long pricing and promotions strategy to entice shoppers isn’t feasible in the long run. So how can they compete with these big players to cut through the noise? By dialling up the experience.

Transform Your Store into a Holiday Wonderland

A customer enters your store and is instantly transported to a magical winter wonderland. The scent of pine and cinnamon fills the air, twinkling lights cast a warm glow, and soft holiday melodies play in the background. This isn’t just shopping; it’s an escape from the norm and a way to immerse your customers into your retail offer.

Engage the senses: Create a multisensory cozy cabin environment with a faux fireplace, plush seating, and rustic decor, that invites customers to linger and explore.

Interactive displays: Install a "Letter to Santa" writing station with custom stationery or offer DIY ornament-making workshops.

Tech enhancements: Implement augmented reality (AR) installations where shoppers can virtually “try on” items or design custom gifts or offer virtual reality stations where customers can "visit" the North Pole.

Pro tip: Take a leaf out ofMacy’s playbook and its seasonal "Believe" campaign that transformed stores into Santa’s workshop, resulting in a 12% increase in foot traffic compared to the previous year.

Create FOMO with Exclusive Events

Nothing drives engagement like the fear of missing out (FOMO). Launch limited-time experiences that bring your brand to life in unique, holiday-themed ways.

Pop-up spaces: Create Instagram-worthy pop-up stores or workshops offering exclusive products or experiences. Offer exclusive, limited-time products that are only available at the pop-up. This could include holiday-themed items, collaborations with local artists, or unique gift sets.

Flash events: Host a series of flash sales leading up to major holidays, each featuring different products or categories. Promote these events through countdowns on social media.

Interactive Q&A sessions: Combine product launches with live Q&A sessions where customers can ask questions about the products being released, enhancing engagement.

Pro tip: To heighten the sense of exclusivity, offer early access or VIP invitations to your most loyal customers. This not only drives engagement but strengthens customer loyalty, making attendees feel like insiders.

Spread Holiday Cheer Through Community Engagement

The holidays are about giving back. Align your brand with this spirit by focusing on community and causes.

Digital wish trees: For every digital “wish” added by customers, donate to charity.

Community workshops: Host gift-wrapping classes or holiday cooking demonstrations to foster a sense of community around your brand.

Pro tip: Patagonia’s “Buy Less, Demand More” campaign encouraged repairs over new purchases, boosting repair services by 40% and further bolstering the feel-good factor that is at the core of the Patagonia brand.