Holiday Promotion Ideas for Growing Businesses

Holiday promotion ideas are key to driving sales and building brand loyalty during the busiest shopping season of the year. For growing businesses, the holiday shopping season is a golden opportunity to engage with holiday shoppers, build relationships, and boost revenue without breaking the bank. Implementing a creative holiday marketing strategy can help you stand out, capture attention, and spread holiday cheer, all while staying within budget.

Holiday Marketing Campaign Ideas to Boost Sales

Here are some promotions and marketing tactics to help kick off the holiday season and grow your sales.

Buy One, Get One 50% Off Deals

A Buy One, Get One 50% Off (BOGO) deal is a tried-and-true promotion that encourages customers to purchase more, increasing sales volume. This promotion works especially well for smaller items or stocking stuffers. By offering a discount on a second item, customers feel incentivized to buy more while you maintain a healthy profit margin on the first full-price product. An outline boutique might run a BOGO 50% Off on accessories like scarves, socks, or jewelry during the holiday shopping season. Customers purchasing gifts for others are likely to pick up a few extra items, taking advantage of the discount.

To effectively execute:

• Offer the discount on smaller or lower-cost items where the margin is flexible.
• Ensure the promotion is clearly communicated in all marketing channels, including emails, social media, and in-store signage.
• Include the BOGO deal on key shopping days like Black Friday or Small Business Saturday to boost holiday sales.

Host a VIP Virtual Shopping Experience

Creating a VIP holiday shopping experience is a powerful way for e-commerce businesses to show appreciation for their top customers. These events foster customer loyalty by offering exclusive early access to products or services, holiday gift ideas, special discounts, and perks like free shipping or gift cards. This personalized approach strengthens customer relationships and increases holiday sales.

An online jewelry store could host a virtual VIP event for its most loyal customers, offering early access to the holiday collection, exclusive discounts on premium items, and free shipping on all purchases. Personalized email invitations with early access links could create a sense of exclusivity, making customers feel valued.

To effectively execute:

• Identify loyal customers through your loyalty program, past sales, or engagement metrics.
• Offer exclusive perks such as gift cards, free shipping, or personalized gift suggestions.
• Build anticipation by sending personalized invitations via email, giving early access to special promotions or holiday deals before they go live to the public.
• Promote the VIP shopping experience through social media and email marketing, creating excitement and urgency leading up to the event.

By offering this kind of VIP experience online, e-commerce businesses can maintain a personal connection while driving sales during the holiday shopping season.

Pre-Booking Specials for Service-Based Businesses

For service-based businesses, like salons or landscapers, a pre-booking special is an excellent way to drive revenue during the holidays while ensuring future business. Offering discounts for pre-booking services for the upcoming season can incentivize holiday shoppers to secure their appointments early, ensuring your calendar stays full during busy periods. For example, a local landscaper could run a promotion during the holiday season offering 10% off spring landscaping services if customers book by the end of December. Similarly, a salon might offer a discounted rate on appointments booked for the New Year, capitalizing on holiday traffic.

To effectively execute:

• Announce pre-booking offers through emails, social media posts, and website banners.
• Encourage customers to book now by highlighting limited availability or offering an exclusive perk, such as store credit or a complimentary service.
• Feature the pre-booking special in your holiday gift guides as a thoughtful gift idea for loved ones who appreciate experiences over products.

Host Holiday Classes or Tutorials

Holiday-themed classes are a fantastic way to bring holiday cheer to your customers while generating revenue and building a sense of community. Whether you own a bakery, a florist, or a craft store, consider offering seasonal workshops that allow customers to learn new skills or create something festive. A bakery could host a cookie decorating class where customers learn how to decorate holiday cookies while enjoying a fun atmosphere with holiday music and treats. A florist could offer a wreath-making workshop, where customers craft their own holiday decor. These classes are not only revenue drivers but also opportunities to cross-sell products or future services.

To effectively execute:

• Use social media to promote the class, showing off past events or examples of what customers will create.
• Offer online or in-person classes depending on your audience’s preferences.
• Create limited-time offers by bundling classes with products (e.g., sell a wreath-making kit as part of the class registration).

Create Engaging Holiday Videos

Video content is one of the most powerful ways to engage with your audience, especially during the holidays. By creating engaging holiday videos, you can showcase your products or services in a festive light, highlight holiday gift guides, or share behind-the-scenes content that shows how your business is preparing for the holiday season.

A small business that sells handmade crafts could create a video showing the process of crafting their items, with a holiday theme. Alternatively, a clothing boutique could produce a holiday gift guide video showcasing various gift ideas for family members, styled in festive outfits.

To effectively execute:

• Create short, engaging videos that show off gift guides, holiday spirit, and behind-the-scenes preparation for the holiday rush.
• Share your videos across social media platforms and through email newsletters to drive engagement and holiday sales.
• Keep the content festive and upbeat to capture the holiday mood.

Offer Store Credit for Every $10 Spent

Offering store credit for holiday purchases is an excellent way to incentivize larger sales while encouraging customers to return post-holiday season. For example, offering $5 of store credit for every $50 spent gives customers an incentive to shop more during the holidays and ensures repeat business in the new year. This approach would work well for a clothing boutique or home goods store. Offering a “Spend $50, get $5 store credit” promotion could encourage customers to purchase their holiday gifts now, knowing they’ll have a reason to return and shop for themselves later. This also helps maintain customer engagement after the holiday shopping season.

To effectively execute:

• Set a store credit threshold that encourages higher purchases while protecting your margins.
• Promote this holiday promotion as a limited time offer on key holiday shopping days like Black Friday.
• Use follow-up email campaigns in the New Year to remind customers to redeem their credit.

Gamification

Gamification is a great way to make holiday promotions fun and interactive for your customers. You can create an advent calendar of mini promotions for each day of December or use a spin-to-win wheel that offers discounts, free products, or other prizes.

Google’s Santa Tracker is a perfect example of using gamification to keep customers engaged throughout the holiday season. A retail store might create an online advent calendar with daily deals that have to be “opened,” offering different promotions each day of December leading up to Christmas.

To effectively execute:

• Build a digital or physical interactive advent calendar to offer small daily promotions.
• Use gamification to drive website traffic by incorporating fun, interactive elements (e.g., “Spin to Win” a discount code).
• Promote the game through social media to maximize customer engagement.

Gift Guides and Stocking Stuffers

Offering a holiday gift guide filled with gift ideas makes holiday shopping easier for your customers and can significantly boost your sales. Organize your gift guide by categories like stocking stuffers, gifts under $50, or gifts for him/her. Highlight your products or services and showcase them as perfect holiday gift ideas. An online gift shop could create a guide featuring stocking stuffers under $25, paired with more premium holiday gifts. The guide could be promoted on the business’s website, social media, and email to drive traffic and sales.

To effectively execute:

• Create a visually appealing guide organized by category and include your best holiday products or services.
• Share your gift guide across all marketing channels, including email campaigns and social media posts.
• Promote your holiday gift guide as a helpful tool for holiday shoppers who need assistance finding the perfect present.

By incorporating these creative holiday promotion ideas into your holiday marketing strategy, you’ll create an engaging, festive atmosphere that drives sales and builds customer loyalty. Whether you’re offering BOGO deals, hosting exclusive events, or providing gift guides that help holiday shoppers make decisions, these tactics will position your small business for a successful holiday season.

Offering Holiday Discounts Without Hurting Profit Margins

Many small businesses worry that offering discounts will hurt their bottom line. Here are some ways to offer value without sacrificing profits:

• Set Minimum Purchase Requirements: Encourage larger purchases by offering discounts only when customers spend a certain amount (e.g., “$10 off when you spend $50”).
• Value-Added Perks: Instead of deep discounts, offer value-added services like free gift wrapping, personalized notes, or small freebies for orders over a set amount.
• Bundle Products Together: Create bundled gift sets that provide a perceived deal while maintaining your margins. For example, offering a holiday skincare bundle or a festive gift basket can feel like a special value.
• Free Gifts with Purchase: Encourage higher spending by offering a small free gift with a minimum purchase. This type of promotion works especially well with stocking stuffers or branded merchandise.

Leverage Free Shipping as a Holiday Promotion Tactic

Free shipping is a top consideration for many holiday shoppers. Use this as a key promotion strategy:

• Offer Free Shipping for Orders Over a Certain Amount: Encourage larger orders by offering free shipping once customers reach a specific spend threshold.
• Highlight Free Shipping on Product Pages: Make sure free shipping is prominently displayed on your product pages. This can be the tipping point for a purchase.
• Limited-Time Free Shipping: Run a short-term free shipping promotion, especially leading up to Black Friday or during the final stretch of holiday shopping, to create urgency and drive last-minute sales.

Holiday Packaging and Its Role in Driving Sales

Holiday packaging can add significant value to your product or service:

• Festive Packaging: Offer holiday-themed packaging to elevate the experience and make it easier for customers to give your products as gifts. This can be as simple as using festive tissue paper or branded holiday boxes.
• Gift Wrapping: Providing free gift wrapping as part of your holiday promotion is a small but valuable perk. Customers appreciate this added convenience when shopping for holiday gifts.
• Simplifying Gifting: Make holiday gift-giving easier by promoting your holiday packaging. Customers love products that come ready-to-gift, and it can be a great selling point during the holidays.

Cross-Promotion Ideas for Partnering with Other Brands

Small businesses can team up with local or complementary businesses to increase exposure:

• Collaborate with Local Businesses: Join forces with other small businesses in your area to create joint promotions. For example, a bakery could partner with a local florist to offer a “Sweets and Blooms” holiday bundle.
• Bundled Deals with Complementary Products: Offer bundled holiday deals that feature complementary products or services from different businesses. This is especially effective for attracting new customers.
• Share Marketing Costs: Collaborating with another business means sharing the cost of marketing, which helps reduce expenses while expanding your reach.

Promotions on a Budget

Small businesses often need to be resourceful when creating holiday promotions. Here are some strategies that offer value without large discounts:

• Focus on Value, Not Discounts: Emphasize the quality and uniqueness of your products or services instead of relying solely on price cuts. Customers are often willing to pay more for value-added perks, like exclusive holiday packaging or personalized notes.
• Offer Free Gift Wrapping or Small Gifts: Perks like free gift wrapping, handwritten notes, or a complimentary holiday ornament can add value to your customers’ experience without significantly cutting into profits.
• Use Limited-Time Offers to Create Urgency: A limited-time offer, like “12 Days of Deals” or a flash sale, encourages customers to act fast without requiring a deep discount. Highlight the urgency to tap into the holiday spirit.
• Partner with Local Businesses: Partnering with other businesses for a joint promotion helps lower marketing costs while expanding your customer base. This strategy can work well for bundled products or services that complement each other.

Attracting Eco-Conscious Shoppers with Sustainable Holiday Promotions

Consumers are increasingly eco-conscious, and you can tap into this by offering sustainable holiday promotions:

• Highlight Eco-Friendly Options: Promote products made from recycled or organic materials in your holiday gift guide. Show customers that you’re committed to sustainability during the holiday shopping season.
• Use Sustainable Packaging: Offer eco-friendly holiday packaging to attract shoppers who prioritize sustainability. Highlight this in your marketing to show that you’re environmentally conscious.
• Donations to Green Causes: Engage eco-conscious customers by donating a portion of holiday sales to environmental charities or causes.

Ensuring Your E-Commerce Platform Can Support Holiday Promotions with Shopify

When planning holiday promotions, it’s essential to ensure your e-commerce platform can handle the logistics seamlessly. For Shopify users, the platform’s built-in Discounts feature is an excellent tool for managing promotions like percentage discounts, fixed amount discounts, or free shipping offers. However, for more advanced promotions such as product bundling, using an app like Bundler or others can enhance your capabilities and help you create tailored holiday offers.

If you’re looking to create more advanced promotions, such as bundled products, the Bundler app is an excellent tool to enhance Shopify’s capabilities. Bundling products allows you to offer special deals when customers purchase multiple items together, such as a holiday gift set or a combination of related products.

Here’s how you can implement product bundling using other Shopify apps :

• Holiday Gift Sets: You can bundle related products to create a holiday gift set that feels like a deal but keeps your margins intact. For example, if you run an online clothing store, you could bundle a scarf, hat, and gloves together and offer the entire set for a 15% discount. This not only encourages customers to buy more but also positions your store as a one-stop shop for holiday gifts.
• Cross-Sell Bundles: Use Bundler to offer cross-sell bundles that pair complementary products. For instance, if your store sells electronics, you could bundle a phone case and a screen protector together at a discounted price, encouraging customers to add both items to their cart. Bundler allows you to create automatic discounts for these bundles, making it easy for customers to see the value.
• Discount on Bundled Items: Bundler allows you to apply automatic discounts when customers purchase a specific combination of products. For example, a beauty store could create a promotion where customers who purchase a holiday makeup set (e.g., eyeshadow, mascara, and lipstick) receive 10% off the total price. Bundler makes it easy to track which products are part of the bundle and apply the discount automatically.

Using Shopify’s Discounts feature and other Shopify apps, e-commerce businesses can offer a wide range of creative holiday promotions that engage customers and boost sales. These tools make it easy to set up and automate discounts and bundles, ensuring a smooth and seamless shopping experience during the busiest time of the year.

Providing thoughtful holiday promotions not only helps customers find solutions to their needs during the busy season but also supports small businesses by driving sales and building loyalty. By offering creative and well-planned promotions that address common challenges—such as gift ideas, free shipping, and value-added perks—small businesses can stand out, connect with their customers, and make holiday shopping easier. These efforts ensure both a memorable shopping experience for customers and long-term growth for small businesses during the holiday season.