31 Oct Hot Holiday Marketing Trends This Season: How Brands Are Winning the Holidays
Every holiday season brings a flurry of festive campaigns, but this year, the competition for consumer attention is hotter than ever. With shifting shopping behaviors, AI-powered creativity, and a demand for authenticity, brands are reimagining how they connect with audiences during the busiest marketing months of the year.
At Red Door Advertising, we’re seeing five major trends shaping the 2025 holiday marketing landscape. Whether you’re a small business or a global brand, understanding these emerging strategies can help you build stronger emotional connections, boost sales, and create campaigns that truly shine.
1. Emotional Storytelling Is Back … and Stronger Than Ever
While deals and discounts still matter, this holiday season is all about emotional resonance. Consumers are gravitating toward brands that tell heartfelt stories reflecting connection, gratitude, and belonging.
This shift is especially evident in video and social content. Brands are using cinematic storytelling, complete with short-form reels, nostalgic music, and relatable characters, all to tap into universal holiday emotions. The most effective campaigns blend sentiment with subtle product placement, leaving audiences inspired rather than “sold to.”
For example, instead of showing a sweater on sale, a brand might tell a mini-story of a teen giving that sweater to a grandparent, reinforcing themes of giving, love, and family. These micro-narratives don’t just sell products; they sell feelings.
Top takeaway: Focus on authentic human moments in your campaigns. Emotion drives engagement, and engagement drives conversions.
2. Shoppable Social Media Is Redefining the Customer Journey
The lines between social media and e-commerce continue to blur, and this holiday season, shoppable content is taking center stage. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest have made it easier than ever for users to buy directly from posts, reels, and even live streams.
This trend isn’t just for big brands as small businesses are finding success through micro-influencers who showcase products in organic, lifestyle-driven ways. “See it, love it, buy it” has become the new consumer mantra.
What’s driving the change? The convenience of one-click purchasing combined with the trust built through social proof. TikTok’s “Shop Now” integration and Instagram’s product tagging are reducing friction and shortening the path from discovery to checkout.
Top takeaway: Make sure your holiday campaigns are optimized for mobile and shoppable media. A frictionless path to purchase is the ultimate gift to your customers.
3. AI and Personalization Are Making Every Gift Feel Custom
Artificial intelligence is transforming holiday marketing by helping brands deliver personalized experiences at scale. AI tools can now analyze customer data to recommend products, craft individualized email content, and even generate customized ad copy and visuals in seconds.
This year, we’re seeing an increase in brands using AI to create “predictive personalization” that anticipates what customers will want before they even start shopping. Think of curated gift guides, personalized landing pages, and dynamic ads that change based on user behavior.
Additionally, generative AI is revolutionizing creative production. Instead of static banner ads, marketers are producing AI-generated visuals that adapt in real time to trends, weather, or location.
Top takeaway: Don’t fear AI—embrace it. Combine technology with human creativity to craft campaigns that feel both smart and soulful.
4. Values-Driven Marketing Is on Every Wish List
Today’s consumers, especially Gen Z and Millennial, are voting with their wallets. They’re more likely to buy from brands that align with their values. This holiday season, campaigns highlighting sustainability, diversity, and community giving are resonating deeply.
Whether it’s eco-friendly packaging, supporting local artisans, or donating a percentage of profits to charity, authenticity matters. The key word is actionable, and customers can spot performative marketing a mile away.
Brands like Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s continue to lead in purpose-driven storytelling, but smaller brands are catching up by showing real impact such as showcasing the artisans who make their products or inviting customers to join in a charitable cause.
Top takeaway: Weave your brand’s mission into your holiday narrative. People aren’t just buying products; they’re buying into your values.
5. Omnichannel Experiences Are Making Marketing Magical
The best holiday campaigns this year are seamless across every platform from email and social to in-store and online experiences. Omnichannel marketing ensures your brand looks, sounds, and feels consistent, no matter where customers encounter it.
For example, a shopper might see a holiday-themed Instagram ad, receive a personalized email with a matching design, and then find that same aesthetic and message reflected in-store signage or packaging. This creates a cohesive journey that builds trust and recognition.
Brands are also experimenting with immersive experiences like augmented reality (AR) filters, virtual pop-up stores, or QR codes that unlock exclusive holiday content. These interactive elements transform passive consumers into active participants in your brand story.
Top takeaway: Map your customer journey across every touchpoint. A unified brand message is the secret to standing out amid the holiday chaos.
The Bonus Trend: Nostalgia Meets New Tech
This season, nostalgia is getting a high-tech twist. Retro visuals and sentimental messaging are colliding with cutting-edge digital tools. Marketers are using vintage design cues in social graphics, pairing them with dynamic animation or interactive storytelling to bridge generations.
Why? Because nostalgia sells. It triggers emotion, comfort, and connection which are three things people crave during the holidays. By combining nostalgic storytelling with modern technology like AR filters or AI-enhanced videos, brands are creating memorable campaigns that feel both familiar and fresh.
Top takeaway: Use nostalgia to spark emotion but give it a modern spin. Emotion opens hearts but innovation opens wallets.
Final Takeaway: The Season of Connection and Creativity
This holiday season, the biggest winners won’t be the brands with the loudest sales pitch, they’ll be the ones that connect, personalize, and inspire. Marketing today is no longer about shouting the message; it’s about sparking conversations and creating meaningful moments.
As consumers continue to crave authenticity, convenience, and connection, marketers must blend data-driven insights with human emotion. Whether through AI-powered personalization, purpose-driven storytelling, or immersive social experiences, the magic of the holidays lies in bringing people together.
So, light up your creative strategy, unwrap new ideas, and let your brand shine brightly this season. After all, in the world of holiday marketing, connection is the ultimate gift.
For more information on how to help your business succeed with holiday marketing campaigns, contact us at randi@reddooradvertising.com or brendan@reddooradvertising.com or visit https://reddooradvertising.com/.