Top 3 trends shaping holiday shopping in 2024

ICYMI, Shopify exceeded its Q3 revenue prediction by 24%! Experts expected roughly $67.78 billion, but the firm garnered $69.72 billion in sales by the end of September. The holiday is indeed looking good, even outside the Amazon ecosystem.

But you know what would solidify your holiday success? Knowing and making the most out of the holiday trends and predictions this year. 

• Holiday shopping in 2024 🛍️
• A formidable marketing partner 💪
• Agile holiday 💨

BIG IDEA

This 2024, not only are shoppers kicking off their holiday shopping earlier than ever, but they’re also introducing new shopping trends! For instance, most consumers prefer sustainable choices this season.

💡 To help you capture attention during this exciting (and competitive) time, Firework dove in and identified 3 trends to secure this lucrative season work in your favor.

1. Explore immersive video content.

If you're looking to hook your audience, video is where it’s at. It's the perfect medium to show off your brand and products in an immersive way. This holiday, create content that's engaging and festive using:

• Stories: Spotlight limited-time offers to build excitement and a sense of exclusivity.
• Reels: Think product demos, holiday setups, or fun team moments that align with the season. 📱
• Live videos: Whether it’s a product demo, Q&A, or flash sale, live content builds urgency and fosters real-time engagement.

2. Engage with user-generated content (UGC)

These days, many brands are having their superstar moments through UGC content. After all, nothing builds trust like real customers sharing their experiences.

And the best part? It’s completely free!

• Contests: Get creative with contests that invite customers to share their best moments with your products. A prize for the most engaging post can boost participation and generate buzz around your brand. 🎁
• Giveaways: Who doesn’t love a freebie? Running a giveaway helps expand your reach as participants share the contest with their friends and followers.

3. Personalized marketing

The holiday season is the perfect time to make your customers feel more valued—through personalization.

• Customer preferences: Tap into customer data to offer personalized product recommendations and ensure your marketing is relevant to each shopper.
• Paid advertising: Invest in paid ads to reach a broader audience, but be sure to laser-focus on those most likely to make a purchase.
• Email marketing: Send the right message at the right time to the right inbox to increase the chances of a sale.

🎊 Let sales pop like confetti

Embrace these strategies to make it unforgettable and incredibly profitable. And don't forget the cherry on top—optimize your store's mobile experience and offer flexible payment options to bag in those holiday dollars.

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UGC video ads are high converters, especially for BFCM and holiday campaigns, because they influence purchase decisions.

There’s still time to get UGC and set up influencer partnerships ready for these holidays. 

It only takes up to 14 days to win this Q4 through Insense’s managed service; they manage the entire UGC video production for you from creative research to post-production!

Join 1,700+ eComm brands using Insense, including:

• Opopop - Insense produced 17 ready-to-use videos that generated 14+ million impressions and 11,000+ conversions
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Book a no-commitment strategy call to learn more and get up to 20% off their managed service until November 15.

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BITES OF THE WEEK

• Trending Troubles: Check out the major challenges retailers will face this coming holiday season.
• Creator-driven Shopping: Content creator endorsements drive purchases of millennials up to Gen Alpha. 
• Seasonal Shifts: This holiday season will feel different due to a late Thanksgiving, elections, and evolving shopping behavior.

HOT TOPIC

Reinvent your holiday tactics with these 4 agile hacks

The holiday season is always a whirlwind, but this year is shaping up to be different. Consumer behaviors are evolving faster than ever, and expectations are at an all-time high.

⏲️ For most sellers, this season will be a race against time. Keeping up can be a bit overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. 

Retail Dive shared tips to stay flexible and ready to win this holiday season:

• Update your digital touchpoints—email, SMS, social media, and in-store displays—to ensure your promotions are seen at the right time.
  • Tip: Don’t forget your mailers. Make sure your bio, CTAs, and QR codes take customers to your latest online deals.
• Put the data you've collected all year to work. Use it to personalize customers' shopping journey and make their experience even more engaging.
  • Tip: Trust the trends you see in your data. For example, if most purchases are made on mobile, ensure your pages are fast and promotions are easy to access.
• Bridge in-store and online experiences. Shoppers are hopping online and offline, and it’s essential to meet them where they are. 🤝
  • Tip: Endless aisle strategies and QR codes are the game-changers during the holiday rush.
• Personalize promotions to encourage repeat purchases. Send your customers personalized SMS promotions with exclusive online deals or popular holiday items. 🛍️
  • Tip: Use short links and track click-through data to see what's trending this season and adjust your promotions accordingly.

The 2024 holiday season is bound to be fast-paced and full of surprises. With these tips in hand, you’ll not only survive the holiday rush—you’ll thrive!

So, embrace agility, keep your eyes on the trends, and get ready to make this season your best yet. 💰