Christmas 2024: What Worked, What Flopped, and How to Slay Christmas 2025

Christmas 2024: What Totally Worked

1. Personalization = Pure Gold

Shoppers didn’t just want to buy something—they wanted to feel like their gifts had meaning. Personalized items like engraved jewelry, custom mugs, and curated gift boxes were MVPs this year.

• What to Do in 2025: Expand your personalized offerings. Make it easy for customers to add customizations and promote these options early, so there’s time to produce and ship them.

2. Gift Guides Were the Real Heroes

“Gifts for the Dog Lover.” “Stocking Stuffers Under $30.” Shoppers loved having curated options to cut through the overwhelming sea of holiday ads.

• What to Do in 2025: Go niche. Create super-specific gift guides (think “For the Cozy-Obsessed,” “For Techies Who Have Everything”) and push them on social, email, and your website.

3. Early Birds Took Over

By December 1, so many shoppers were done. They hit up Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, snatching gifts before the December madness even started. Early campaigns stole the show.

• What to Do in 2025: Launch your Christmas promos by Thanksgiving weekend. Tease them during Black Friday and keep rolling out early-bird offers through November.

4. Sustainability Won Hearts

Shoppers, especially Gen Z, want their gifts to feel good and do good. Brands that offered recyclable gift wrap, low-waste packaging, or eco-friendly products stood out big time.

• What to Do in 2025: Go green, baby. Spotlight your sustainable efforts—whether it’s biodegradable packaging or a tree-planting initiative—and bake it into your marketing.

5. Mobile Was the MVP

Mobile shopping completely owned Christmas 2024. Clunky desktop sites? Out. Seamless mobile experiences? That’s where the magic happened.

• What to Do in 2025: Test every inch of your mobile site before the season starts. Make checkout lightning fast, and ensure product pages look great on small screens.

6. Procrastinators Came in Clutch

The final week before Christmas? It was chaos. Last-minute shoppers flocked to brands offering expedited shipping or gift cards to save the day.

• What to Do in 2025: Get ahead of the panic. Advertise shipping deadlines everywhere, promote e-gift cards as lifesavers, and offer in-store pickup for those cutting it close.

Christmas 2024: What Bombed Hard

1. Generic Campaigns Got Ghosted

Those same “Merry Christmas!” graphics and boring ads from three years ago? Shoppers completely tuned them out.

• What to Do in 2025: Make it personal. Use humor, emotion, or storytelling to connect with your audience. Think holiday nostalgia, funny “relatable” moments, or behind-the-scenes looks at your business.

2. Shipping Promises Gone Wrong

Some brands overpromised on shipping and couldn’t deliver—literally. Delayed gifts = angry customers.

• What to Do in 2025: Be transparent. Advertise your shipping cutoff dates loud and clear, and offer digital backup options like e-gift cards for last-minute shoppers.

3. Ignoring Self-Gifters Was a Missed Bag

Shoppers weren’t just buying for others. Self-gifting (hello, treating yourself) is a major trend, and some brands totally slept on it.

• What to Do in 2025: Push “gifts for YOU” campaigns. Self-care kits, personal upgrades, and indulgent treats are perfect for this vibe.

4. Clunky Checkouts = Lost Sales

Long, annoying checkouts drove cart abandonments through the roof. People are not here to jump through hoops during the holidays.

• What to Do in 2025: Simplify everything. Fewer clicks, more auto-fill options, and one-tap payment methods like Apple Pay or Google Pay.

5. Underusing Email Was a Facepalm

Some businesses didn’t fully tap into their email lists, which could’ve been holiday goldmines.

• What to Do in 2025: Use email like a pro. Send out gift guides, exclusive deals, and reminders for shipping deadlines. Make your subject lines impossible to ignore.

How to Level Up for Christmas 2025

1. Start Sooner, Win Bigger
   Launch your holiday campaigns right after Thanksgiving. Tease your offers early, and keep your promotions rolling through December.
2. Hype the Self-Gifting Trend
   Not everyone’s shopping for others. Create campaigns aimed at treating yourself, especially for indulgent products.
3. Own the Personalization Game
   Anything custom is an instant hit. Make it easy for shoppers to add their own spin to your products.
4. Sustainability Is Non-Negotiable
   Go green in your messaging. Eco-friendly initiatives aren’t just trendy—they’re necessary.
5. Think Mobile First, Always
   If your mobile site isn’t flawless, you’re leaving cash on the table. Test it like your holiday sales depend on it (because they do).
6. Leverage Last-Minute Buyers
   Have a clear “last-minute gifting” plan. E-gift cards, store pickup, and reminders about shipping cutoffs are your secret weapons.
7. Be Bold, Not Boring
   No one wants to see another cookie-cutter “holiday sale” post. Use humor, creativity, and visuals that pop to stand out in a crowded space.

Christmas isn’t just about selling—it’s about making people feel something. Whether it’s joy, nostalgia, or relief (looking at you, last-minute shoppers), your campaigns should create an experience. Nail that, and Christmas 2025 will be your best yet.