Dare I say it, July’s the time to start considering your Christmas marketing campaign
It may be July but, in marketing terms, it really is the time to get thinking about your Christmas campaigns. In the depths of Summer and the last thing you have time or headspace to consider is often what you’re going to do later in the year!
The key takeaways I would like to give are:
If there’s no time now, but an hour or even 10 mins to just have a think or write a list of what you will need to do ahead of the busy festive season.
Use that list to work out what can be done sooner in those quiet moments (rare I know) to save the mad rush nearer the time.
And shout if you need help! Don’t feel overwhelmed by either the amount you need to do or what you should do this season. Either gather the team to share tasks, or brainstorm. If you need extra help, I’m here! So don’t forget you don’t have to go it alone.
Starting to consider your Christmas marketing campaign in July or during the Summer will allow you plenty of time to come up with ideas, create assets, and prepare media plans.
Usually, for Christmas, you will start running marketing campaigns in September, ramping up your marketing efforts in October and November.
Here are some of the benefits of starting your Christmas marketing campaign early:
There will be more time to come up with creative and effective ideas.
Create excitement and anticipation not only with your internal team your customers too!
Planning ahead will allow you to do more, and reach more customers with your message.
However, not all small businesses can afford the time to start planning their Christmas marketing this early. Start in your own time, but the earlier you start, the more time you'll have to make sure your campaign is successful.
So, what’s Christmas 2023 going to look like?
Kanta has shared its outlook ahead of Christmas 2023 - new monthly GB TGI data reveals that in a similar proportion to the years of COVID, adults intend to spend more this year on Christmas presents than last year and indeed a similar proportion intend to spend less. A mixed outlook it seems!
This remaining desire to boost Christmas spending is reinforced by statement we all like to say “I like to splash out at Christmas”, which is at 50% of adults, slightly up on the equivalent this time last year of 46%.
Who’s more likely to spend more on Christmas presents for 2023?
According to Kanta, the younger life stage groups:
The Fledglings (aged 15-34, not married/living as a couple, do not live with son or daughter, live with parents)
Nest Builders (aged 15-34, married/living as a couple, do not live with son/daughter) groups who are expecting to have children soon, have new nieces/nephews, or indeed have friends having children who they may be buying for the first time.
Playschool Parents will have young and new children to buy gifts for.
Does your small business fit into one of these brackets? It’s the year to make the most and maximise those Christmas sales.
It may be July but it’s not too early to start considering what your Christmas strategy and marketing approach may look like. Be sure to head to the top of this blog to see my key takeaways and of course, if you need help it’s there, don’t feel overwhelmed by Christmas planning.