December Marketing Ideas

As the holiday season approaches, many businesses are preparing their marketing strategies. Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah are all celebrated in December, so it’s important to tailor your messaging to each of these holidays. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry. We’re here to help. This blog post will outline some of the best December marketing ideas. 

Christmas Fun Facts 

• The two days before Christmas are the busiest shopping day of the year. 
• It is a tradition in Japan to eat KFC on Christmas. In 1974 KFC launched their “Kentucky for Christmas” marketing campaign. 
• In the early 1900s, Christmas lights were so expensive that stores would rent them out rather than sell them. 

Hanukkah Fun Facts 

• The word Hanukkah means “Dedication.” 
• The largest Menorah in the world is located right outside Central Park in Grand Army Plaza in NYC. It stands 32 feet tall and weighs 4000 pounds. 
• There is no “wrong” way of spelling Hanukkah. (ex. Hanukkah, Hannuka, or Chanukah) There is no one single way to translate the Hebrew word to English. 

Kwanzaa Fun Facts 

• Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, created Kwanzaa in 1966 After the Watts riots in L.A., Dr. Karenga wanted a way to bring African Americans together as a community. 
• Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” or “First Fruits” in Swahili. 
• The holiday runs for seven nights. each night representing one of the seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.) 
• The holiday is not religious, but some people combine aspects of Kwanzaa and their religious holiday to celebrate their race and religion. 

December Statistics 

• It is said that 1-in-3 men wait till Christmas Eve to start shopping. 
• In 2023, Americans planned to spend $875 on average on gifts, decorations, food and other key seasonal items.
• 56% of Americans planned to give gift cards as a present in 2023. 
• In 2023, 43% of holiday shoppers planned to start making purchases before November. 

Treating Holidays Respectively 

While many Americans will be shopping for gifts leading up to each of the major holidays, it’s important that when you do reference any of the holidays it’s important to take a pause and make sure you are doing so respectively, relative to the core of each holiday. 

For example, Kwanzaa is a holiday that celebrates African heritage and culture. The seven-day observation is more about reflection and community than gifts. Promoting Kwanzaa-specific sales is not recommended at all. Instead, take this opportunity to recognize and support black-owned businesses and nonprofit organizations. In your creative assets, use the colors red, black, and green. 

To create a Christmas-themed marketing campaign. Use Christmas colors (red, green, and gold), images of Santa Claus or other Christmas characters, and festive fonts to create marketing materials that will grab people’s attention. 

To create a Hanukkah-themed marketing campaign. Use Hanukkah colors (blue, white, and sometimes silver), images of Menorah, Dreidel, Star of David, Gelt, or any other Hanukkah symbols. 

Another strategy is to remain neutral on holidays all together and create a winter sales event. Stick to the usual seasonal symbols like snowflakes, snowmen, hot chocolate, mittens, etc. This strategy structure is very much like the others without holiday ties. Going this route will include a larger audience, can be beneficial for diverse businesses, and you you’ll distance your business from any claims of trying to capitalize on a particular holiday.

The 2024 Holiday Season: Interest Rates and Potential Strikes

The Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts are expected to positively “ripple through the stock market, hiring, government bonds, and mortgages, as well as other types of loans,” according to the Washington Post. Prices are anticipated to return to pre-pandemic levels. The recent rate cut could provide consumers with a boost in the coming months, aligning with the 2024 holiday season.

However, potential union strikes at major East and Gulf Coast ports could significantly disrupt the flow of goods and increase shipping costs, leading to major supply chain disruptions. According to the NRF, retailers’ holiday shipments might not arrive on time, and manufacturers may struggle to receive the supplies they need for production. Despite this, consumers are unlikely to notice shortages of store goods during the holiday shopping season, as most products are already stored in warehouses after being shipped in advance.

Harnessing AI for Marketing and Shopping

In the bustling digital landscape of 2024, marketers can now wield the powerful tool of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to craft strategic and effective marketing campaigns. AI’s predictive and generative capabilities can offer personalized customer experiences and better inform marketing decisions. At the same time, consumers have access to the same AI technology, using these sophisticated algorithms to research products, make comparisons, and ultimately inform their purchase decisions. As we embark on this intriguing journey into the age of AI, providing rich and detailed data to these intelligent systems becomes paramount. By adequately equipping AI, marketers can ensure their products reach the right consumers at the right time, revolutionizing the dynamics of the seller-customer relationship in the digital age.

Events 

Host an event for all to attend. All the usual events like hiring DJs, handing out freebies, food, etc. Except this time add a twist with having Santa show up, Menorah lighting, or Kinara lighting. Tie in a holiday tradition and serve holiday foods. Host a contest such as an eating contest, guessing contest, Santa lookalike, etc.

Social Media 

Use social media to keep your customer’s attention engaged. Advertise your sales, discounts, and events. Most importantly promote your seasonal products and services! 

Email Marketing 

Promote your sales, discounts, events, and seasonal products and services. Create a call to action that is catchy enough to have customers visit you in-store and/or online. Style the email to your audience and holiday spotlighted. Use the correct color and symbols as stated above.

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