Holidays are more than a shopping season—they’re a time for creating memories, celebrating traditions, and forming connections. For online businesses, this means an incredible chance to craft holiday marketing campaigns that not only drive sales but also leave a lasting impact. Are you ready to make this season your most successful yet?
In this blog, we’ll uncover inspiring ideas from top brands and share practical strategies to help your campaigns shine brighter than ever.
Here is our list:
- Etsy: Give “I Get Your” Gifts
- Glossier: Festive Beauty Bundles
- Starbucks: Drink In. Breathe Out
- Sephora: Don’t Overthink It. Give Something Beautiful & Reinventing Traditions
- Urban Outfitters: Happy LOLidays
- Macy: Macy’s Gift Guide
- Kohl’s: Your Cart, Our Treat
- Lush: Lush Giving
- LookFantastic: Home of Iconic Gifting
- John Lewis: The Gifting Hour
Before you go any further, take these highlights with you:
- Holiday marketing campaigns truly embrace the spirit of giving
- Emotional connection and storytelling will get you a long way, even more than you’ll ever expect.
Now, are you ready to dive in? Let’s rock it!
1. Etsy: Give “I Get Your” Gifts
This holiday season, Etsy’s “I Get You” Gifts campaign shines by promoting what matters most during the season - thoughtfulness and connection. By blending personalization with heartfelt storytelling, Etsy positions itself as the go-to platform for unique, meaningful gifts.
“I Get Your” Gifts - One of the best holiday marketing campaigns. Image source: Etsy
What Makes Etsy’s Holiday Marketing Campaign Stand Out
- Personalized gifting: Etsy emphasizes gifts tailored to the recipient’s preferences, like engraved names or custom messages, creating stronger emotional connections.
- Diverse offerings: A wide range of unique, handmade, and vintage products ensures something special for everyone.
- Creative media use: Through social media and influencer collaborations, Etsy expands its reach with curated collections and gift inspirations.
- Community engagement: The marketplace highlights seller stories and encourages user-generated content. By doing so, it fosters trust and a sense of belonging among its buyers and sellers.
What Shopify Sellers Can Learn from This Campaign
- Customize your products by adding a personal touch that shoppers love. Options like engraved names or personalized messages turn a purchase into something truly special. It’s an easy way to connect with customers and stand out.
- Showcasing what makes your products unique is just as important. Use eye-catching visuals and strong storytelling to grab attention and highlight your brand’s identity.
- Sharing your story builds trust. When customers see the passion behind your brand, they’re more likely to support you—not just during the holidays but all year round.
2. Glossier: Festive Beauty Bundles
The holiday season is a golden opportunity for businesses to attract shoppers and boost sales. Glossier’s 2024 holiday marketing campaign sets a remarkable example by blending personalization, exclusivity, and emotional appeal to create an unforgettable experience. For small and medium-sized sellers, it’s an inspiration to rethink their own holiday strategies and stand out in a crowded market.
Glossier’s holiday campaign ideas. Image source: Reddit
What Makes Glossier’s Holiday Marketing Campaign Stand Out
- Personalized beauty bundles: Glossier’s curated sets allow customers to choose products based on skin types and preferences, creating a more tailored shopping experience.
- Exclusive deals: Limited-edition holiday packaging and products add excitement and urgency, encouraging immediate purchases.
- Interactive gift guides: Online tools like quizzes simplify gift selection while enhancing user experience.
- Emotional appeal: The campaign emphasizes the joy of gifting, positioning products as a way to make holidays special for loved ones and oneself.
📌 More pro tips for sellers: If you are running a Shopify store, consider using a Shopify app like FoxKit AIO Upsell Cross-sell to create product bundles tailored to the festive season.
Here’s a helpful tutorial on how you can make a convenient product bundle with FoxKit app:
What Shopify Sellers Can Learn from This Campaign
Once again, personalization builds stronger customer connections. By tailoring product offerings or bundles to customers’ needs, you create a shopping experience that feels thoughtful and unique. Next, exclusive items, like limited-edition packaging, generate excitement and drive urgency.
Also, don’t forget about tools such as gift guides or recommendations that enhance convenience, helping customers make quick and satisfying decisions.
🤓 You may also want to read: Top 4 Gift with Purchase Ideas to Rock Your 2025 Sales
3. Starbucks: Drink In. Breathe Out
Starbucks’ 2024 holiday marketing campaign, "Drink In, Breathe Out," is a refreshing take on this festive season. It focuses on creating calm moments during the busy festive season. From our experts’ point of view, Starbucks sets an excellent example of how to connect with customers during this hectic time.
Starbucks’ holiday campaign: Drink In. Breathe Out. Image source: Starbucks
What Makes Starbucks’ Holiday Marketing Campaign Stand Out
- Relatable messaging: The campaign captures the stress of the holidays and positions Starbucks as a peaceful escape. All were represented through their storytelling. A hero film, using stop motion and animation, shares a story of finding calm through simple pleasures like enjoying a Starbucks drink.
- Strong media presence: Starbucks promotes the campaign across TV, digital platforms, outdoor ads, and in-person events.
- Seasonal products: The launch of holiday favorites, like Toffee Nut Lattes, and new drinks, like Gingerbread Cream Iced Chai Tea Lattes, ties directly to the campaign.
- Emotional connection: By showcasing Starbucks as a community space, the campaign fosters a sense of belonging and shared experiences.
What Shopify Sellers Can Learn from This Campaign
Sellers can learn a lot from creative holiday marketing campaigns like this one. First, talk about both the joyful and stressful sides of holidays. During this season, it would be great to position your products as a way to bring comfort or simplicity and free people from the shopping stress.
Second, tell a great story. Starbucks used a visually creative film to capture attention and connect emotionally with their audience. You can do the same by sharing stories that show how your products make life better or bring people together.
📌 Pro tip for sellers: Don’t forget the term visual storytelling as you craft your campaign ideas. This holiday season is the perfect time to embrace your brand’s story in the most delightful way and inspire your audience.
And if you need the right tool to do so, check out Foxify - Smart Shopify Visual Builder. From landing pages to product pages, you can create the most engaging visuals and make sure your story is shared in the right way!
Festive store demo by Foxify. Image source: Foxify Demo
4. Sephora: Don’t Overthink It. Give Something Beautiful & Reinventing Traditions
“Don’t Overthink It. Give Something Beautiful” by Sephora. Image source: DesignerRush
This year, Sephora’s holiday marketing campaigns feature:
- “Don’t overthink it. Give something beautiful”: Simplify the holiday gift-giving process and reduce the shopping pressure.
- “Reinventing Traditions”: Encourage people to challenge the holiday norms and celebrate inclusivity.
These holiday campaign ideas by Sephora combine 3 key factors: humor, inclusivity, and creativity while simplifying holiday gifting and celebrating meaningful connections.
Reinventing Traditions by Sephora. Image source: BETC
What Makes Sephora’s Holiday Marketing Campaign Stand Out
- Humor makes it simple: The "Don’t Overthink It, Give Something Beautiful" campaign adds a touch of humor to holiday shopping. It reminds people that Sephora’s curated beauty gifts are easy and stress-free solutions.
- Inclusivity brings people together: The European campaign celebrates non-traditional families and friendships, showing that the holidays are for everyone. This message of belonging feels warm and universal.
What Shopify Sellers Can Learn from This Campaign
Does Sephora’s approach offer actionable ideas for online sellers? We believe it does.
Think of how you can make shopping stress-free. A simple solution is to create a campaign showing how your products solve common holiday challenges, like quick gift ideas or last-minute shopping solutions.
Then, ask yourself about inclusivity. You may highlight products or messaging that resonate with diverse customer groups. For instance, if you are running a clothing store, you can showcase styles for various body shapes, age ranges, occasions, or any diversity you’ve got in mind. It’s a way to show inclusivity.
5. Urban Outfitters: Happy LOLidays
Here comes one of our favorite holiday marketing campaigns - "Happy LOLidays." This one by Urban Outfitters redefines the holiday shopping experience by combining fun, affordability, and cultural relevance.
What impresses us the most lies right in its ability to transform the traditionally stressful process of gift-buying into something playful and engaging. Indeed, Urban Outfitters has shown how brands can connect with younger audiences while keeping things budget-friendly.
Happy LOLidays by Urban Outfitters is blooming over the Internet. Image source: Marketing Dive
What Makes Urban Outfitters’ Holiday Marketing Campaign Stand Out
- Interactive content: The "UO Carol," directed by Laurence “Baz” Morais, combines animation and live-action scenes. Featuring TikTok star Lubalin and a dance challenge by Lars Gummer, it invites audiences to engage while actively promoting trendy products.
- Curated gift guides: The LOLiday Gift Guides highlight over 700 gifts under $25, organized into fun categories like "Gifts for Your Situationship." These guides make gift shopping effortless and entertaining.
- Affordability focus: By emphasizing budget-friendly options, the campaign directly addresses economic concerns while ensuring that trendy, desirable items are accessible to all.
What Shopify Sellers Can Learn from This Campaign
Urban Outfitters’ campaign highlights the power of making shopping enjoyable. Online stores can do a similar thing, too, by creating interactive content. This means you can think of a social media challenge that showcases your products or features short videos demonstrating the creative uses of your items.
Affordability is another key lesson. Organize your products into clearly labeled, budget-friendly categories like "Gifts Under $25" or "Holiday Deals." If you sell niche products, consider bundling smaller items into gift sets to add value while keeping costs low.
More from this LOLiday campaign, you don’t need a physical store to create a festive shopping experience. Add holiday-themed visuals to your website, such as banners and animated elements, or create interactive gift quizzes to guide customers to the perfect purchase. These features can make your online store feel as engaging and festive as a brick-and-mortar holiday display.
If you are looking for tools to help you out, take a look at Foxify Smart Page Builder. It’s the leading visual builder with diverse offerings, such as:
- 150+ high-converting and stunning demos
- 50+ built-in upsell and cross-sell extensions
- FoxTransfer plugin to help you clone any web design
And so much more! Try Foxify free now!
6. Macy: Macy’s Gift Guide
"Macy’s Gift Guide," launched on October 28, 2024, shows that humor, emotional connection, and a multichannel approach can create successful holiday marketing campaigns. Featuring actress Alison Brie as a relatable gift guide, the campaign uses humor and charm to help shoppers find the perfect gifts without stress.
Macy’s holiday campaign - Macy’s Gift Guide. Image source: Macy’s Inc.
What Makes Macy’s Holiday Marketing Campaign Stand Out
- Character-driven storytelling: Alison Brie’s role as the Macy’s Gift Guide adds personality and warmth, making gift shopping feel easy and enjoyable. Her humorous mentor-mentee dynamic with actor Matt Bush makes the campaign even more engaging.
- Multichannel strategy: Their campaign is everywhere—on TV, social media platforms like TikTok, and digital channels. Also, the brand uses the hashtag #MacysHolidayGifts to spread the word and encourage customers to join the fun and increase visibility.
- Emotional appeal: Macy’s highlights the joy of giving and the special moments created through thoughtful gifts, striking a chord with shoppers looking to make their holidays meaningful.
What Shopify Sellers Can Learn from This Campaign
Macy’s holiday campaign proves that it’s pretty creative to build a friendly and relatable brand persona to connect with customers. For online stores, why not try a "holiday helper" character in your emails or social media posts to share gift ideas and tips?
Moreover, any online store can use multiple channels to reach a wider audience. Share engaging content like videos or fun challenges on platforms where your customers spend time.
Finally, focus on the emotional side of giving. Share stories or testimonials showing how your products make meaningful gifts. After all, we are celebrating the holiday spirit and embracing the joy of giving.
7. Kohl’s: Your Cart, Our Treat
Next on our list of the best holiday marketing campaigns is the infamous campaign "Your Cart, Our Treat" by Kohl. Their major targets are to turn the holiday season into a chance, build brand awareness, and clear inventory before the new year.
The brand launched this campaign on December 3, 2024, and took a unique approach to spreading holiday cheer. Specifically, during the “Your Cart, Our Treat,” Kohl offered exciting giveaways and focused on community engagement.
Kohl has got some impressive Christmas marketing campaign ideas. Image source: The Krazy Coupon Lady
What Makes Kohl’s Holiday Marketing Campaign Stand Out
- Giveaway Saturdays: On December 7, 14, and 21, Kohl’s covers the cost of 4 carts at each of its 1,100+ stores. This event drives foot traffic and creates buzz, giving shoppers a reason to visit in hopes of being one of the lucky winners.
- Daily gift drop: A featured product is highlighted each day from December 3 to 24, letting Kohl’s keep customers engaged and excited with fresh gift ideas
- Super Saturday deals: Offering up to 50% off select items ensures that shoppers looking for last-minute deals feel incentivized to buy.
- Kohl’s Cash and Rewards: By rewarding everyday purchases with Kohl’s Cash and extra perks for cardholders, the campaign encourages repeat visits and customer loyalty.
- Community initiatives: Donations of over $1 million to nonprofits through the Kohl’s Cares program show a commitment to giving back, further boosting their brand’s positive image.
What Shopify Sellers Can Learn from This Campaign
Kohl’s campaign shows how holiday marketing campaigns can be about more than just profits. If you’re holding onto extra inventory, running special promotions can help you clear it out while boosting brand visibility. More about this, you can do holiday giveaways on social media, landing pages, or any channel that works well for your business.
Highlighting affordable gift options is another smart strategy. Specifically, you may consider creating a dedicated section in your store for budget-friendly items like "Stocking Stuffers Under $10." This approach appeals to shoppers who are cost-conscious but still want quality gifts.
8. Lush: Lush Giving
"Lush Giving," is all about turning holiday shopping into a meaningful and joyful experience. Instead of focusing solely on sales, Lush invites customers to embrace the spirit of the season with products that celebrate self-care, sustainability, and inclusivity.
Speaking more about their holiday campaign ideas, Lush launched “Lush Giving” quite early on September 20 and was in stores on September 26.
Lush Giving is spreading the holiday spirit this year. Image source: Lush
What Makes Lush’s Holiday Marketing Campaign Stand Out
- Nostalgic and innovative products: Lush offers beloved classics like the Snow Fairy range alongside new items such as the Candy Cane Bubble Bar and the Luxury Lush Pud Bath Bomb. These products combine festive cheer with a focus on self-care.
- Sustainability in focus: Lush’s use of ethically sourced ingredients and recyclable packaging—alongside initiatives like the Bring It Back scheme—demonstrates their commitment to the environment.
- Cultural inclusivity: By including products for holidays like Hanukkah and Diwali, Lush highlights the importance of representing and celebrating diverse traditions.
- Immersive shopping experiences: Whether online or in-store, Lush creates magical moments for customers. Interactive features enhance the shopping experience, drawing attention to the holiday collection.
- Commitment to giving back: Lush’s milestone of £100 million in charitable giving aligns their brand with kindness and community support, making their campaign about more than just sales.
What Shopify Sellers Can Learn from This Campaign
Online sellers can learn the value of offering unique and seasonal items to draw in customers from Lush. Think about creating limited-edition collections or holiday-themed product bundles to inspire shoppers and boost sales.
Cultural inclusivity will play a big part, not just in your Christmas marketing campaign ideas but also on many other occasions. Including products that cater to different holiday traditions can help broaden your audience and foster stronger customer relationships. Additionally, enhancing the shopping experience—through virtual tools, live demos, or interactive website features—can replicate the immersive quality of Lush’s campaign in an online setting.
9. LookFantastic: Home of Iconic Gifting
Let’s move on with Home of Iconic Gifting by LookFantastic. The campaign’s tagline, "No one does beauty like we do, and no one does you like you do," speaks to the brand’s commitment to individuality and self-expression.
Through a diverse range of products, creative promotions, and a focus on customer empowerment, LookFantastic is making the holiday shopping experience feel more personal, relevant, and exciting.
The best holiday marketing campaigns - Home of Iconic Gifting. Image source: The Industry.beauty
What Makes LookFantastic’s Holiday Marketing Campaign Stand Out
- Celebrating diversity and individuality: The brand’s new Christmas advert highlights a wide range of customers, showcasing diverse beauty expressions across various demographics.
- Exclusive and high-value products: The campaign also features exclusive, high-value offerings like the Christmas Cracker (£40, worth £130) and the Iconic Beauty Advent Calendar (£565 in value).
- Building anticipation: Just like the advent calendar, LookFantastic excels at creating anticipation by releasing exclusive items and special collections early. This strategy not only builds excitement but also encourages early holiday shopping, extending the season’s retail opportunities.
- Personalized gift guides: The Christmas Gift Guide simplifies holiday shopping by offering personalized product recommendations for a wide variety of tastes. It’s a practical, customer-centric approach that removes the guesswork from gift selection, helping to increase conversion rates.
What Shopify Sellers Can Learn from This Campaign
We realize there are 2 things from LookFantastic and similar holiday marketing campaigns: Anticipation and personalization.
To start, building anticipation is a proven strategy to maintain customer interest throughout the holiday season. Early product launches or countdown promotions can keep your audience engaged for longer periods, extending the window of opportunity for holiday sales.
Next, personalizing the shopping experience is a key element of LookFantastic’s success. By offering tailored gift guides or product recommendations, you make the shopping process easier for your customers and increase the likelihood of a conversion. Focusing on inclusivity and diversity in your advertising, as LookFantastic did, can also help your brand resonate with a broader audience, strengthening customer loyalty and encouraging repeat business.
📌 More pro tip for sellers: How you can feature a countdown timer on your store with FoxKit AIP Upsell Cross-sell:
10. John Lewis: The Gifting Hour
John Lewis is the last name on our list for their holiday marketing campaign, The Gifting Hour. This time, John Lewis takes a creative and emotional approach to the festive season.
It all starts with the story of Sally, a woman in a rush to find the perfect gift for her sister. As she walks through the store, the campaign reveals a magical, heartwarming journey that highlights the importance of thoughtful and meaningful gifts.
A glance from The Gifting Hour by John Lewis. Image source: John Lewis
What Makes John Lewis’ Holiday Marketing Campaign Stand Out
- Emotional connection: The campaign is centered around the theme of family and the joy of giving. Sally’s journey shows the stress and excitement of holiday shopping, something many viewers can relate to. This emotional connection helps make the campaign feel real and personal.
- Audience participation: John Lewis made this campaign even more engaging by inviting people to take part in a competition. The #MySonnet talent search encouraged customers to submit their own covers of the song “Sonnet.” This not only created buzz but also made the audience feel involved in the campaign.
- Memorable music and visuals: The choice of music—Richard Ashcroft’s “Sonnet”—sets the emotional tone of the ad. Combined with stunning visuals, it creates a powerful atmosphere that draws viewers in and keeps them emotionally connected to the story.
What Shopify Sellers Can Learn from This Campaign
John Lewis once again embraces the role of storytelling. What their campaign did so well through storytelling was to connect with viewers. It’s not just about the products—it’s about the feelings and memories that come with giving a thoughtful gift. Sellers can adopt a similar approach by focusing on the emotions that their products bring to customers. It means sharing stories about how your products help create meaningful moments that can help your brand stand out.
More than that, let’s not forget about engaging your audience. John Lewis invited people to participate in the #MySonnet talent search. This was a smart way to build excitement and make customers feel like they were part of something special. Applying this to eCommerce, sellers can use this idea by running contests, encouraging social media engagement, or asking customers to share their own experiences with your products.
Inspiring Holiday Marketing Campaigns - FAQs
1. Why is holiday marketing important?
Holiday marketing is crucial because it helps businesses capitalize on the increased shopping activity during the holiday season. It allows sellers to boost visibility, attract new customers, and increase sales through targeted campaigns and promotions.
Since many consumers plan their purchases around the holidays, effective holiday marketing can drive traffic to your store, create a sense of urgency with limited-time offers, and encourage repeat business.
Additionally, holiday marketing fosters stronger customer relationships by tapping into the emotional and social aspects of gift-giving, making it an opportunity to build brand loyalty and stand out in a competitive market.
📌 Get to know more about holiday marketing: Holiday Marketing Strategies: The Ecommerce Playbook
2. What is the best promotional strategy for the Christmas season?
The best promotional strategy for Christmas combines emotional connection, storytelling, and personalization. Here are some more details:
- Tap into the emotions of the season by focusing on themes like family, giving, and joy. This helps customers connect with your brand and encourages meaningful purchases.
- Compelling stories is how you share that your products can make the holidays special. A strong narrative builds a deeper connection and makes your promotions more memorable.
- We always recommend every online seller offer personalized recommendations or discounts based on customer behavior. Tailoring the experience shows you understand their needs and boosts loyalty.
