 Credit: Style My Soul, www.stylemysoul.com | Emerging Christmas Trends We asked Founders and Marketing Managers for their insights on emerging trends that might affect Christmas celebrations this year. From shopping locally for gifts to creating holiday staycations, here are several predictions from these experts.
Shop Locally For Gifts This year, there’s a noticeable shift toward purposeful gifting. Families are increasingly turning to small, eco-friendly, or socially conscious shops for meaningful presents. In the world of children’s gifts, family members are finding design-driven, imaginative toys from well-curated local stores. As the holidays approach, this trend of shopping locally is expected to expand, with more consumers purchasing from pop-ups and holiday markets. - Avanti Paul, Founder, Presently Embrace Interactive Advent Calendars One trend in progress that seems likely to affect our festive celebrations is the growing popularity of the advent calendar, where one unlocks a different daily experience via technology rather than simply ripping open a chocolate wrapper. These interactive advent calendars could be filled with little surprises: a personalized greeting from a loved one via video message, a virtual reality experience, or a game with surprise elements featuring your next-door neighbor that gets more manic as Christmas draws nearer — the only limit being your imagination. It feeds into growing demands for personalized and experiential gifting, as well as delivering a gift countdown that’s interactive and intensely personal. What if you could share the daily pleasure of seeing what you’d find behind the advent door with family around the world, all the time knowing it was your own unique treat? This clever use of technology creates a tradition that can be both intimate and innovative, which makes the advent calendar part of Christmas itself rather than just an adjunct to it.- Erin Hendricks, President and Owner, Sammy’s Milk Celebrate With Digital Togetherness An emerging trend we’ve identified is the focus on digital togetherness for Christmas celebrations. With many families scattered across different locations, people are using technology — Zoom parties, virtual games, and digital countdown calendars — to celebrate the holidays in more creative, connected ways. It’s not just about exchanging gifts anymore, but also about creating shared experiences online. This trend is especially relevant in the eLearning space, where we’ve seen more demand for holiday-themed online courses and interactive workshops. Families are embracing virtual learning as a fun, festive activity to bring them together during the season. It’s a shift toward more meaningful, experience-driven celebrations, and we see this digital integration becoming a central part of how people engage with Christmas. -Christopher Pappas, Founder, eLearning Industry Inc Optimize For Mobile Shopping One emerging trend I foresee is the rise of mobile shopping. Over 60% of e-commerce transactions now happen on mobile devices, and that number will only grow. Brands that optimize their mobile shopping experience, offer mobile-exclusive deals, and seamlessly integrate mobile payment options will win big this holiday season. My agency has helped several clients improve mobile conversion rates by over 30% simply by improving page load speeds, using larger buttons, and simplifying the checkout process on mobile. Another trend is the popularity of sustainable and eco-friendly gift-giving. Consumers today care deeply about the environmental impact of the products they buy. Brands that promote sustainable, organic, or upcycled products and practices will resonate with this growing segment of conscious consumers. One of our clients saw a 45% increase in revenue after rebranding to focus on eco-friendly, sustainably sourced products and redesigning their packaging and marketing to match. - Chase Chappell, Founder, Sirge Give Experiences Over Things I foresee sustainability becoming an even bigger part of how people celebrate the holidays this year. Our recycled greeting-card sales have jumped by over 40% from last year, showing that customers want earth-friendly options for connecting with loved ones over the holidays. Another trend I see emerging is supporting small businesses. The rise in shopping from small brands reflects buyers’ desire for more personal, meaningful gifts. We’ve found success through partnerships with other local makers to promote buying from independent artists and sharing values of sustainability. Finally, people seem to be placing more importance on experiences over lavish spending. Instead of an extravagant office party, one of our corporate clients opted for a zero-waste cocktail reception where employees could mingle in a casual setting. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with people appreciating the relaxed vibe and chance to connect with coworkers. Focusing the holidays around experiences, community, and sustainability is becoming popular. Buying from and supporting local, independent businesses is a great place to start. - Eric Koenig, Art Director, Twigs Paper Send Gifts Virtually One emerging trend we’ve noticed is the rise of virtual gifting. With the continued integration of digital platforms into everyday life, people are opting for more creative ways to send gifts virtually — whether it’s personalized video messages, e-gift cards, or curated online experiences. This trend is largely driven by the convenience factor, but also by the desire to connect in more meaningful ways, even across distances. We saw this firsthand with one of our e-commerce clients last year. By offering customizable digital products, they saw a significant spike in holiday sales, especially from customers sending gifts internationally. As digital marketers, the lesson is clear: brands that embrace virtual gifting and offer easy-to-navigate platforms for personalization will have an edge this holiday season. - Victor Julio Coupé, Partnerships Manager, Digital Web Solutions Buy Quality Over Quantity There’s a real movement towards buying less but buying better. Shoppers are becoming more intentional, seeking out quality items that have a story or purpose, rather than just checking boxes off a gift list. I believe this will translate into more thoughtful gift-giving this Christmas, where people focus on the meaning behind a gift rather than its price tag or brand. Experiences, handcrafted items, and personalized gifts are likely to gain even more popularity, as people look for ways to connect on a deeper level, especially after a few years of global uncertainty and disconnection. - Reilly James, Marketing Manager & eCommerce Optimization Expert, William Morris Wallpaper Gift Relaxation Experiences There’s a noticeable trend toward gifting experiences over physical items. People want to give something that creates memories — a cozy night in with a warm drink, a DIY wellness kit, or a personalized relaxation package. It’s a response to the fast-paced, often-stressful lifestyle many have faced recently, and it’s changing how brands position products for the holiday season. It’s not just about selling a product anymore; it’s about offering an experience that brings comfort, connection, and a sense of well-being, marking a significant shift from the traditional holiday marketing approach. Loris Petro, Marketing Strategy Lead and Digital Marketing Manager, Kratom Earth Create Holiday Staycations I see a trend for “staycation”-based celebrations that will be popular this Christmas season and can influence holidays as people look to recreate holiday parties at home as we continue to have travel misgivings. In many other areas, as well, we are seeing a movement toward local and home-based festivity. The hospitality industry can position itself nicely toward these home-based holiday experiences. In a practical sense, we could witness a rising trend of “holiday staycation” packages, such as a “winter wonderland” spa experience — a holiday-themed, aromatic way to bring the holiday atmosphere right into a shopper’s neighborhood salon offering. In addition, we could offer home visit kits with holiday-themed aromatherapy sets, Christmas-covered facial masks, and luxurious skincare products to transform the living room into a spa-like oasis. These offerings allow a shopper to look and feel their best while still avoiding the need to travel extensively, serving the local-minded and home-bound gift-giver a holiday tradition of self-indulging and pampering. This approach could create a new norm and a tradition for how people treat themselves and unwind during the holiday season, offering a novel and personalized experience. - Alexander Henschel, Digital Marketing Manager, Boulevard
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