December 2024
Wrapping Up the Holidays: 5 Campaign Lessons from 2024
The holiday season is the most lucrative time of the year for businesses, but it’s also the most competitive. With campaigns wrapping up, now is the perfect time to reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and what lessons we can carry into next year.
The 2024 holiday season brings unique challenges and opportunities, with evolving customer expectations, new technologies, and economic shifts shaping the retail landscape. Let’s explore five key lessons from this year’s holiday campaigns to help you refine your strategies for 2025.
1. Start Planning Earlier Than Ever
Lesson: Successful campaigns began months in advance, with businesses securing inventory, finalizing creative assets, and leveraging CRM data to target the right audiences.
Takeaway: Use your CRM to analyse past holiday sales trends and begin planning as early as mid-year. Insights on customer preferences and purchase behaviours can guide everything from product offerings to marketing messages.
2. Omnichannel Strategies Are Non-Negotiable
Lesson: Customers expected seamless experiences across all platforms, from online stores to physical locations. Businesses that connected these touchpoints saw higher engagement and sales.
Takeaway: Integrate your CRM with social media, e-commerce platforms, and in-store systems to provide consistent and personalized experiences.
3. Personalization Drives Results
Lesson: Campaigns that used tailored messaging, product recommendations, and exclusive offers outperformed generic approaches.
Takeaway: Leverage your CRM’s segmentation tools to create hyper-targeted campaigns. For example, send personalized “last-minute gift ideas” emails to customers who browsed specific categories.
4. Sustainability Resonates with Shoppers
Lesson: Consumers gravitated toward brands with strong sustainability messaging, such as eco-friendly packaging or charitable giving initiatives.
Takeaway: Highlight sustainable practices in your campaigns and use your CRM to track customer interest in these initiatives, allowing for future refinement.
5. Post-Holiday Retention Matters
Lesson: The real winners of the holiday season were businesses that turned seasonal shoppers into long-term customers.
Takeaway: Plan retention campaigns ahead of time. Use your CRM to send thank-you emails, exclusive post-holiday offers, or loyalty program invitations to keep new customers engaged.
Looking Ahead to 2025
The holiday season may be over, but the insights gained are invaluable. By leveraging the lessons of 2024 and using your CRM to analyse performance and customer data, you can build even more effective campaigns next year.
At Lunar CRM, we help businesses harness their CRM systems to drive success during and beyond the holiday season. Contact us to learn how we can support your campaign planning and retention strategies for 2025 and beyond.