Feeling the pressure this Christmas? When you’re juggling overflowing workloads and limited hands, holiday marketing can easily slip down the priority list. But even without a full team or a fully planned campaign calendar, you can still make a meaningful impact. Discover simple, effective last-minute ideas, from heartfelt thank-you emails to quick festive offers, that help you stay connected with customers when it matters most.
The good news? It’s not too late. Even with days to spare, you can still run campaigns that feel polished, purposeful, and genuinely connect with your audience. The key is to keep it simple, relevant, and focused on value, not volume.
1. Review and Re-energise Your Existing Promotions
Instead of scrambling to create a new last-minute offer, which often needs multiple layers of approval, focus on maximising the promotions already in your trading calendar. The goal isn't to introduce new discounts, but to surface what's already planned in the most effective, customer-centric way.
That could include:
- Highlighting upcoming or existing promos that are already signed off and ready to use.
- Serving different messages to key audience segments, such as reactivating lapsed customers with a gentle nudge or spotlighting gift-friendly products to shoppers who buy seasonally every year.
- Reframing current activity with a festive or goodwill-led angle, making the message feel timely without introducing anything new operationally.
Campaigns that lean into relevance and authentic connection often outperform purely promotional pushes over the holidays. Customers respond to communication that feels thoughtful and personalised, not just sales-driven.
According to industry commentary in the 2024–25 season, brands that treat the holidays as a moment for brand-building and customer appreciation often achieve deeper engagement and lasting loyalty, not just short-term sales.
2. Share a “Best Of” Round-Up
If you’re too pressed for time to create something new, curate instead. A “Year in Review” or “Top Picks of 2025” email is quick to build.
Try one of these quick formats:
- Most-Loved Products/Posts: “Our five most-clicked favourites of the year.”
- Team Picks: “What our team loved most this year, and what we’re planning next.”
- Social Proof: Showcase photos or feedback from your community.
This approach keeps content light and engaging while reminding your audience why they liked you in the first place.
3. Automate a “Post-Christmas” Re-Engagement Sequence
The best last-minute campaign? The one that extends into January, you can stay visible by setting up a short re-engagement journey.
It doesn’t need to be complex:
- Thank-you message (Boxing Day): “We hope your holidays are joyful, here’s a little something to enjoy after the rush.”
- New-Year-Focused email (First week of January): Introduce upcoming launches, share helpful content, or offer an incentive for early-year purchases.
A well-timed follow-up helps you stay proactive and ahead of the curve, keeping the conversation moving when your customers need it most
4. Add a Festive Twist to Existing Content
No time for a full campaign build? Repurpose what you already have.
- Turn a popular blog into a festive checklist.
- Re-theme existing visuals with holiday colours or headlines.
- Reuse last year’s email templates with updated copy.
Sometimes, the fastest route to success is smart re-use, especially if your audience already knows and trusts your content.
5. Optimise Your Subject Lines for the Season
In a crowded inbox, subject lines are make-or-break. Personalised, time-sensitive phrasing boosts open rates, even for late campaigns.
According to HubSpot’s 2025 Email Marketing Benchmark Report, personalised festive subject lines can increase open rates by around 26%.
Try formats like:
- “A little festive thank-you, just for you 🎁”
- “Last-minute gifts, made simple”
- “Our year-end favourites, before they’re gone”
The goal is warmth and relevance, not urgency for urgency’s sake.
6. Keep It Mobile-Friendly and Manageable
During the final shopping days, more than 40% of holiday emails are opened on mobile devices according to Litmus, State of Email Engagement.
- Stick to one clear message and call-to-action.
- Use lightweight visuals and festive colour accents.
- Test links and layouts, especially on mobile.
Even under pressure, usability signals professionalism, and helps your message land.
7. Send a Simple, Heartfelt Thank-You
When time is short, authenticity wins. A warm thank-you email or social post can be more powerful than a rushed promotion.
Keep it short, genuine, and brand-appropriate, something like:
“As the year winds down, we just wanted to say thank you. Your support means the world to us, here’s to a bright year ahead.”
If you have time, personalise it. Mention milestones, highlight achievements, or celebrate your community.
According to the DMA’s 2024 Customer Loyalty Report, brands that express appreciation see up to 20% higher post-holiday engagement. Gratitude never goes out of season.
Final Thoughts
Last-minute doesn’t have to mean last-minute quality.
The best Christmas campaigns are simple, human, and aligned with what customers actually value: ease, appreciation, and authenticity.
So whether you send a heartfelt thank-you, a goodwill offer, or a clever round-up, keep your focus on connection over conversion.
Because when the season ends, what customers remember isn’t the discount, it’s the feeling your brand left behind.
Short on hands this Christmas?
Jarrang’s experts can help you craft campaigns that connect quickly, credibly, and with lasting impact.
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