1. December 13, 2018: Ice Cream Day — I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream Day.
2. December 2-10, 2018: Hanukkah — Celebrate the festival of lights with your customers and send messages for each of the eight days.
3. 12 Days of Christmas: With all of the spending going on, find 12 days in the month that you can encourage customers to come in. Send a mix of texts, emails and social blasts to let them know what your offering.
4. December 24, 2018: Christmas Eve (and National Chocolate Day): Santa Claus is coming to town! Put out some cookies and milk for the big guy in your business today.
5. December 25, 2018: Christmas Day — Is your store closed for the holiday? Make sure your customers know special hours.
6. December 31, 2018: New Year’s Eve — It’s been real, 2018. But 2019 will be even better. Kick it off right with an offer your customers can’t refuse.
7. December 20, 2018: Go Caroling Day — Fa la la la la! Encourage your customers (or employees) to spread holiday cheer by singing a few lines of their favorite carol to redeem an offer.
8. December 21, 2018: Winter Solstice, AKA the shortest day of the year — Sunny days are on their way. Spread sunshine in your business with a bright offer for your customers.
9. December 23, 2018: Festivus (for the rest of us) — Put up an aluminum pole or challenge customers to feats of strength in honor of the December Seinfeld holiday.
10. All month long: It’s the holiday season! Regardless of your beliefs, this is a time to come together and spend time with loved ones. Give your customers a place to go to be with their families and escape the cold.

Other ideas

Feelings that drive: When crafting your customer communication and in-store experience, keep in mind the state of mind of your customer base. Holiday emotions can span a pretty wide spectrum, from joy, warmth and goodwill to exhaustion, anxiety and feeling overwhelmed. If you strike the right chord by acknowledging customers’ state of mind, they’ll reward you with frequency and loyalty.

Celebrate diversity: The makeup of a customer base may vary from location to location, but remember to acknowledge differences by looking for ways to celebrate and involve groups that might be different from the bulk of your base. Think about ways to welcome those of a different religion, nationality, age group or household makeup. Many people can feel increasingly isolated during the holiday season and any attention you afford them could go a long way.

The CityGro team wishes you the happiest of holidays and a prosperous new year!