15 Christmas Promotion Ideas for Ecommerce (2025 Edition)

1. Launch 100 Days Until Christmas campaign

Nearly half of consumers start planning their holiday shopping shortly after Halloween, according to Bankrate. Yet most brands wait until December to launch their campaigns. This is your opportunity to get ahead.

The most strategic approach? Use countdown emails at key milestones (100 days, 50 days, 30 days) to build anticipation and capture early shoppers before your competitors flood their inboxes.

MindWare, a developmental toy brand, sent a “100 Days Until Christmas” email in mid-September with a free shipping incentive and clear gift categories.

In the next example, Ferko’s uses the same concept with a “20 Days Until Christmas” campaign featuring up to 35% off and CTAs for holiday gifts. This kind of countdown helps sustain urgency while keeping the same cohesive theme throughout the season.

How to execute your early campaign

• 100 days out (mid-September): Tease your holiday collection or encourage thoughtful gift-shopping; offer a small early-bird perk such as free shipping.

• 60 days out (late October): Share gift ideas and seasonal products — focus on inspiration, not discounts.

• 30 days out (late November): Launch gift guides, bundles, and early-access offers before inboxes fill up.

2. Survey customers about holiday wishes

Instead of guessing what customers want, ask them — and use their answers to shape your holiday offers. You’ll get more relevant data and make shoppers feel heard.

Ferko’s, a jewelry brand, did this by sending a short pre-holiday survey. The email promised “something special,” gathered insights on product interest, and built excitement ahead of Christmas.

How to execute pre-holiday research

• Send a 3–5-question survey in October: ask what products shoppers hope to see, and when they usually start holiday shopping.

• Offer a small incentive: 10% off, bonus points, or giveaway entry.

• Use responses to segment your list and personalize future campaigns with a “You asked, we listened” email showing the impact of their feedback.

3. Add subtle holiday flair to your website

You don’t need a full redesign to make your store feel festive. Small visual touches can instantly put shoppers in the holiday spirit — even on a lean budget.

Simple updates, such as holiday-themed announcement bars, banners, and email signup forms, can set a seasonal mood without requiring any heavy lifting.

For example, DAMIANI swapped its hero banner for a festive version featuring holiday imagery and copy — a small change that made the site feel fresh and gift-ready.

Poo-Pourri also refreshed its newsletter signup form design to match its seasonal branding, keeping a consistent look across the website and email campaigns.

How to execute

• Update banners, hero images, and announcement bars with festive colors and copy.

• Add seasonal touches to signup or coupon popups using no-coding tools like Getsitecontrol.

• Keep it simple: even a cheerful banner or subtle background pattern can create the right atmosphere.

4. Organize gift guides by budget or recipient

Gift guides eliminate decision fatigue, and the best ones help shoppers filter by what matters most: budget and recipient.

Instead of one generic Holiday Gift Guide, create segmented collections such as:

• Gifts for Mom / Dad / Kids / Co-workers
• Gifts under $25 / $50 / $100
• Stocking stuffers

These pages are highly searchable on Google, and they help busy shoppers find the right option fast.

Brooklinen, for instance, organizes its holiday gift guide by category and price range — “Gifts Under $150,” “Holiday Exclusives,” “Bundle Savings” — making the shopping path effortless.

You can also segment gifts directly within your holiday emails. Mejuri does this beautifully, combining categories like “Most Gifted,” “Gifts Under $150,” and “Personalized Gifts” in a single campaign.

How to execute gift guide organization

• Add a “Holiday Gifts” menu item with dropdowns by price and recipient.

• Use descriptive URLs (/gifts-under-50, /gifts-for-her) for SEO.

• Promote via dedicated gift guide emails, homepage banners, and social media.

5. Bundle gift products together

Holiday shoppers juggle endless decisions, from budgets to gift lists. Bundles make buying easier. By curating products into ready-to-gift sets, you remove friction for customers while boosting your average order value.

Grove Collaborative nails this approach with a holiday collection featuring “gift-ready” bundles and sets. Each highlights a clear value cue that is relevant to the brand’s audience — vegan, natural origin, or exclusive seasonal edition.

How to execute gift-ready bundling

• Price bundles 15–20% lower than buying items separately.

• Curate by recipient or theme — e.g., “For the Host” or “Self-Care Set”

• Offer 6–12 options across different price tiers.

While profit margins may be lower on bundles, you're likely to sell more units and increase average order value, making up for the discount through volume.

6. Offer gift personalization options

Personalized gifts solve one of the biggest challenges holiday shoppers face: making their gift feel thoughtful and unique, even when they’re buying something common.

A monogram, engraving, or custom message instantly transforms an ordinary item into something memorable. It also reduces the likelihood of returns, since personalized gifts feel more intentional and special.

Personalization can also justify a higher price point — shoppers are often happy to pay more for customized items that feel one-of-a-kind.

Mark & Graham highlights this beautifully in their holiday email, promoting monogrammed gifts and showcasing their top 10 customizable products.

How to execute gift personalization

• Monograms or engraving: Add initials or names to jewelry, leather goods, glassware, or accessories.

• Custom gift messages: Let customers include handwritten notes or printed cards.

• Gift wrapping options: Offer festive packaging or ribbon upgrades at checkout.

7. Run a holiday giveaway

Giveaways tap into the spirit of the season, and the most effective ones go beyond generosity. Smart brands use giveaways strategically to increase email engagement, grow email lists, boost loyalty signups, or increase visibility on social media.

The key is to tie your giveaway to a measurable goal, not just to “give something away.”

Embella executed this perfectly, offering a chance to win a $750 voucher to the referrer and their friend.

How to execute a holiday giveaway

• Grow your email list: Create referral-style giveaways where both participants win.

• Promote loyalty programs: Offer prizes or bonus points exclusive to members.

• Increase social engagement: Run contests on Instagram with clear entry actions (tag friends, share posts, use your hashtag).

8. Give loyal customers extra holiday rewards

The holidays are the perfect time to thank your most loyal customers, and to give them a reason to shop again before the year ends.

Even a small incentive goes a long way. Ground Central Coffee, for example, offered an extra $50 bonus when customers purchased a $200+ gift card — framing it as a limited-time thank-you for their community members.

How to execute holiday rewards promo

• Double down on loyalty: Offer double points or bonus credit for all December purchases.

• Add festive perks: Include free express shipping, surprise gifts, or early access to sales for members exclusively.

• Make it visible: Promote your rewards program in emails and via website popups (“Holiday rewards are here!”).

💡 Frame your reward as a holiday thank-you, not just another sale. A personal touch, like this one, helps your customers feel valued and encourages them to return after the holidays.

9. Run a ‘12 Days of Christmas’ promo

A '12 Days of Christmas' campaign is one of the most engaging Christmas sale ideas that keeps shoppers coming back day after day. Each day brings a new offer, product, or surprise — creating anticipation and encouraging repeat visits to your store.

This format works because it blends scarcity and excitement. When each deal is available for only 24 hours, shoppers feel the urgency to act before it’s gone. Here is an example of this promo campaign, run by Keihl’s last year.

Your “12 Days” Christmas promo doesn’t have to revolve around discounts. Mix in limited editions, surprise gifts, bonus loyalty points, or BOGO offers to keep customers curious and engaged. And because of its limited-time nature, this is one of those deals you should promote via all marketing channels, including SMS and email.

For example, Harlem Candle sent daily surprise newsletters, each revealing an exclusive offer available for 24 hours only.

How to execute

• Pick your dates: Choose a timeframe and decide if each day will feature a discount, giveaway, or new product reveal.

• Build anticipation: Announce the event in advance and encourage your audience to stay tuned, explaining that each day brings something new.

• Stay consistent: Use a unified visual theme across emails, banners, and social posts.

10. Use countdown timers across all marketing channels

Countdown timers are one of the simplest ways to add urgency to your holiday offers. They remind shoppers there’s a deadline — whether it’s a flash sale, shipping cutoff, or early-bird promotion.

Here is an example of a jewelry brand Oak & Luna using a prominent countdown banner in their “Guaranteed Xmas Delivery Ends Tonight” email to convert last-minute buyers.

You can apply the same tactic to your product pages, shopping cart pages, or homepage, displaying a countdown to your promo offer expiration or final date to get free shipping.

How to execute Christmas promo countdown

• Add a countdown bar to your homepage, cart, or checkout to highlight sale or delivery deadlines.

• Include animated countdown GIFs in your emails — you can make them in seconds using free Countdown Timer Generator.

• Add countdown stickers to Instagram Stories or visuals in your paid ads to boost engagement.

If you’re using one of the popular website platforms, you can add a countdown timer to your site without touching code — using dedicated apps and plugins. For example, there’s the HurryTimer plugin for WordPress, GSC Countdown Timer Bar for Shopify, and the Elfsight Countdown widget for Squarespace.

11. Leverage UGC in your Christmas marketing campaign

User-generated content (UGC) often outperforms polished brand photography because it helps shoppers see themselves using your products. As Sarah Skolnik, Agency Partnerships Manager at Okendo, says, brands should strategically place UGC in multiple places to maximize impact, including homepages, landing pages, and emails.

Authenticity and relatability are especially important during high-intent shopping periods when customers need reassurance before buying gifts.

Let’s see examples.

Sock Candy highlights customer reviews with real photos under the headline “What Customers Are Saying About Our Socks This Month!” The visual proof shows customers wearing their products and sharing their feedback.

The holidays naturally generate more UGC as customers share gift hauls and unboxing videos. Monitor your tags and DMs, and reach out to ask permission to feature the best content across your campaigns.

If you’re ready to go the extra mile, follow the example of Line by K, featuring video clips and screenshots of customers reviewing products on TikTok and Instagram, in a dedicated email campaign.

How to leverage UGC for the holidays

• Collect content proactively: Send post-purchase emails asking customers to share photos or videos in exchange for discount codes or loyalty points.

• Create a branded hashtag: Encourage customers to tag holiday purchases (e.g., #MyBrandGift) and feature the best submissions.

• Highlight gift-related reviews: During the holiday campaign, surface testimonials that mention gifting.

12. Remind your customers of the shipping cutoff

Even the best offers won’t convert if shoppers miss your delivery window, so communicate cut-off dates early, and keep them visible throughout the season. Clear timelines reduce uncertainty, build trust, and prevent last-minute cart abandonment.

Made by Mary nails this with a pop-up banner reminding shoppers of Christmas delivery cutoffs.

To reach email subscribers, the brand follows up with a newsletter that reiterates the same deadlines.

How to execute shipping cutoff announcement

• Publish a single schedule page with clear dates for Standard, Expedited, and International shipping.

• Surface it site-wide: use announcement bars, cart & checkout notes, and pop-up reminders.

• Run a 3-touch email cadence: Announcement (2–3 weeks out) → Reminder (7–5 days out) → Last call (48–24 hrs). Mirror via SMS for subscribers.

💡 Shoppers check out multiple stores before buying, so make sure your deadlines are always visible. A clear shipping reminder bar can reassure buyers and nudge them to complete their purchase before time runs out.

13. Promote last-minute gifts with guaranteed delivery

While some brands push gift cards at the eleventh hour, many shoppers still want physical presents. They just need confidence that gifts will arrive on time.

That’s why a dedicated “Last-Minute Gifts” campaign works so well. Combine urgency messaging with guaranteed delivery dates to reassure procrastinators and capture those final-week sales.

Monica Vinader nails this approach with a simple headline: You’re cutting it fine, but our gifts will still make it on time. The message is reinforced with a clear deadline to place an order.

How to execute last-minute gift promo

• Announce precise cutoff times for Christmas delivery: date, hour, and timezone.

• Curate fast-shipping products and popular price points for the last minute order campaign.

• Offer free or discounted express shipping to remove hesitation.

14. Offer digital gift cards

Even with all your curated bundles and gift guides, some shoppers will still hesitate — unsure what to buy or simply running out of time. For them, a digital gift card is the perfect solution: thoughtful, flexible, and stress-free.

Gift cards also help you capture last-minute revenue that might otherwise be lost. They keep the sale in your store while giving recipients the freedom to choose exactly what they want.

How to execute gift card promo

• Ensure visibility by including gift card options in your holiday newsletters throughout the entire campaign.

• Send a dedicated gift card email, highlighting them as the perfect last-minute gift.

• On your website, add a reminder banner or popup: Use messaging like “Still need a gift?” or “Instant delivery available.”

Position gift cards not as a fallback, but as a smart, thoughtful choice. Messaging like “Give them the joy of choosing” or “Perfect for everyone on your list” makes them feel intentional, not impersonal.

15. Plan a post-Christmas sale

The holiday season doesn’t end on December 25th. After Christmas, three high-intent shopper groups emerge: gift card recipients, clearance hunters, and self-gifters spending holiday cash.

The week between Christmas and New Year’s often brings a surge in online shopping as people have time off work and actively look to spend their gift cards or score deals on items they didn’t receive.

Hello Adorn tapped into this trend by launching a post-Christmas sale on December 26th — offering 30% off best-selling hoops for five days. The campaign was simple, effective, and required no discount code.

How to execute a post-Christmas sale

• Timing: Launch your sale between December 26th and early January.

• Products: Feature overstocked items, winter essentials, and bestsellers.

• Positioning: Promote this sale as a little end-of-year surprise gift for customers.

Make an impact with these Christmas promotion ideas

By now, you should have a few Christmas promotion ideas brewing in your mind to help your ecommerce store make the most of this holiday season.

Remember that you don’t have to run all of these promotions to succeed. Pick the ones that make the most sense for your brand, as well as what your audience is looking for. And if you run a smaller ecommerce brand, choose the promotions that will be easiest for you to implement while giving you more bang for your buck.

Make this holiday season count!