How to Get Ahead of Holiday Shopping: Benefits of Early Activation

As the holiday season approaches, brands face a critical decision: when to kick off their marketing campaigns. Data from Adobe Analytics reveals a staggering $76.8 billion spent online in October alone, underscoring the importance of early activation strategies.
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Here’s why your brand should consider activating early for the holiday season with Nativo.

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8 Reasons to Activate Early for the Holiday Season

1. Capture Early Shoppers
   • Growing Trend of Early Shopping: Consumers are starting their holiday shopping earlier each year. According to a National Retail Federation survey, a significant portion of shoppers begin their holiday purchases before November.‍
   • Competitive Advantage: Early activation allows brands to capture these early shoppers before competitors do, reducing the risk of losing sales to other brands that might activate later.
2. Extended Sales Period
   • Maximizing Revenue Opportunities: Launching holiday campaigns early extends the sales period, allowing for more touchpoints and opportunities to drive sales. It helps in spreading out revenue over a longer time frame rather than concentrating it in a short period.
   • Managing Inventory Better: A longer sales window enables better inventory management, reducing the risk of stockouts and overstock situations, which can hurt profitability.
3. Building Brand Awareness and Loyalty
   • Early Engagement: Activating early helps build brand awareness and keeps your brand top-of-mind as consumers plan their holiday purchases. It provides more time to engage with customers, build relationships, and foster loyalty.
   • Creating Buzz: Early promotions and campaigns can generate excitement and anticipation, leading to increased word-of-mouth and social media engagement, which are critical during the holiday season.
4. Leveraging Marketing Campaigns
   • Multi-Phase Marketing Strategies: Starting early allows brands to implement a phased marketing approach. This can include awareness-building, promotions, and retargeting efforts, effectively guiding consumers through the purchase journey.
   • Data-Driven Insights: Early campaigns provide valuable data and insights on consumer behavior, preferences, and trends, which can be used to refine strategies and improve the effectiveness of subsequent campaigns.
5. Beating the Holiday Rush
   • Avoiding Ad Fatigue: By activating early, brands can avoid the congested advertising space and high competition that typically occurs closer to major holidays like Black Friday and Christmas. This can lead to better ad placement and lower costs.
   • Improved Customer Experience: An early start can also mean better logistics planning, ensuring timely delivery and a smoother customer experience during the busiest shopping periods.
6. Taking Advantage of Early Trends
   • Trend Spotting: Early activation allows brands to tap into emerging trends and consumer interests, adapting their strategies to meet the changing demands of the market.
   • Promotional Opportunities: It provides more flexibility to test different promotional tactics, such as early-bird discounts, limited-time offers, and exclusive deals, which can attract a wider audience.
7. Enhanced Digital and In-Store Integration
   • Omnichannel Strategies: Early planning and activation enable brands to better integrate digital and in-store experiences, creating a seamless shopping journey that can drive higher sales and customer satisfaction.
   • Holiday Content Marketing: Brands can take the time to develop rich, engaging content that resonates with the holiday spirit and effectively communicates value to consumers.
8. Building Holiday Spirit and Brand Relationships
   • Connecting with Consumers: Early activation allows brands to connect with consumers during a time when they are already in a festive and generous mindset. This can enhance emotional connections and positive brand associations.
   • Aligning with Consumer Values: Many consumers appreciate brands that make holiday shopping easier and less stressful, and early activation can align with these values, fostering goodwill and loyalty.

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Pre-Holiday Sales: Maximizing Savings for Consumers

As the holiday season approaches, pre-holiday sales—such as Amazon Prime Day, the Sephora and Nordstrom sales, Labor Day sales, and more—offer consumers significant savings. These events allow consumers to shop early and stretch their budgets, especially given the current economic climate. Early holiday shopping also provides several additional benefits:

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• Wider Selection: Shopping during pre-holiday sales ensures access to a broader range of products before they sell out, allowing consumers to get exactly what they want.
• Exclusive Deals: Retailers often provide special promotions and discounts for early shoppers, offering additional savings opportunities.
• Reduced Holiday Stress: Early shopping minimizes the stress and rush associated with last-minute purchases, making the holiday season more enjoyable.
• Better Planning: Shopping early allows for better financial planning and budgeting, helping consumers avoid the financial strain of last-minute spending.
• Improved Shipping Times: Early purchases can avoid potential shipping delays and ensure timely delivery, providing peace of mind.
• Opportunity for Price Adjustments: Early shoppers have the advantage of requesting price adjustments if the price drops closer to the holiday season, ensuring they get the best deal.

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Activate with Nativo to connect with holiday shoppers and elevate your brand's presence ahead of the holiday season. Begin your campaign now to capture the attention of engaged shoppers nationwide.

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Ready to make your brand an essential part of the holiday shopping experience? Take action with Nativo now and maximize your impact during this festive season.

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