A Digital Experience Agency

Successful Seasonal Campaigns

The holidays are around the corner, and with them comes one of the most crowded campaign seasons of the year. So, we wanted to review successful holiday campaigns and highlight the strategies that helped them stand out amongst the noise of the holiday campaigns. Whether your team is planning a Halloween promotion or ramping up for Black Friday, this blog will help your team create a holiday campaign that impacts and converts.

Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke at Christmas”

No one will be surprised to see Coca-Cola on our successful holiday campaigns list. They have had a long-lasting association with the holiday season, which was only cemented more when their personalized “Share a Coke” campaign launched. People took little time to embrace this festive and fun gift-giving idea. The holiday packaging only added to the craze of finding your loved one’s name on a bottle as a viral gifting moment that many shared across social media—only adding to the overall campaign’s success.

REI’s “#OptOutside” (Black Friday)

A company rarely takes a stance during the busy holiday shopping season to remind its customers of their values, but that is precisely what REI did in its 2015 “#OptOutside” campaign. REI encouraged its customers to skip the Black Friday Frenzy and instead spend the day outside. This move proved the naysayers wrong and helped solidify their loyal outdoor loving community.

Stove Top’s “Thanksgiving Pants”

One of the more humorous holiday campaigns was Stove Top Stuffing’s “Thanksgiving Dinner Pants,” they launched this limited-edition product in 2017. In the spirit of Thanksgiving feasts, these pants were meant to leave room for the inevitable overindulgence that quickly happens at Thanksgiving dinner with an elastic waistband. It’s easy to see how this fun and playful campaign helped launch it into a viral status hitting a chord with everyone during the holiday season.

Starbucks’ “Red Cup Campaign”

Our list would only be complete by mentioning one of the most looked-forward-to holiday campaigns, Starbucks’ Red Cup. Except for a few seasonal drinks, the product doesn’t change. However, the experience of buying Starbucks around the Holidays does, and it is something their customers look forward to each year. From its beginnings, this campaign has boosted social media engagement and encouraged loyalty from their customers, who anxiously anticipate the reveal of the new red cups each season.

Hershey’s “Treat Spooky” Campaign

Hershey’s knows the holidays wouldn’t be complete without a candy bowl, especially Halloween, and its customers have grown accustomed to its “Treat Spooky” campaigns. This annual campaign features limited-edition glow-in-the-dark wrappers, limited-time flavors, Halloween-themed at-home recipes, and various sweepstakes and is recognizable by all.

The holidays are indeed a time for brands to make lasting impressions with creative campaigns, and the ones we’ve reviewed prove that taking risks, staying true to brand values, and connecting with customers on an emotional or even humorous level are winning strategies. With thoughtful planning and a touch of creativity, your brand can stand out amidst the festive noise and create memorable, successful campaigns this holiday season.