How to Organize Your Campaigns and Promotions from October to December

The busiest season of the year for print sellers is here. From October through December, your store has the chance to capture the biggest sales opportunities: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas. Success depends on preparation. By organizing your campaigns now, you can not only maximize sales in November and December but also strengthen customer relationships for the new year.

Here’s a month-by-month plan to help you make the most of the season.

October: Prep & Strategy

Think of October as your planning month. The work you put in now will determine how smoothly November and December run.

• Review last year’s results: Check what worked well in 2024 and what fell flat. Which products drove sales? Which campaigns had the best engagement? This will help you prioritize where to focus.

• Select your hero products: Bundles, seasonal items, and proven bestsellers deserve the spotlight. If you sell photo products, think calendars, holiday cards, ornaments, and giftable items.

• Check your store experience: Is checkout quick and reliable? Does your personalization tool preview products clearly? Make sure your site is mobile-friendly and that order deadlines are visible.

• Set clear goals: Do you want to increase average order value, attract repeat buyers, or grow your email list? Defining your priorities now helps you choose the right promotions later.

November: Build Momentum Before Black Friday

Black Friday and Cyber Monday get most of the attention, but the weeks leading up are just as important. This is when you prime your audience.

• Warm up your customers: Send teasers about upcoming promotions. Share inspiration posts (e.g., “Top 5 photo gifts for 2025”) to spark ideas early.

• Reward your subscribers: Offer “VIP early access” to email or SMS lists. This not only drives engagement but encourages sign-ups.

• Test your workflows: Run through the shopping journey as if you were a customer: upload images, customize products, checkout. Spot issues now, not during the rush.

• Highlight gifting categories: Use banners or landing pages to showcase products by theme: “For grandparents,” “For teachers,” “For pet lovers.” This helps customers navigate quickly.

Black Friday + Cyber Monday: Your Main Event

This is the week to pull out all the stops.

• Tiered promotions: Encourage larger baskets with discounts that grow with the order size, or offer free shipping thresholds.

• Make personalization the star: Remind shoppers that your products aren’t just items—they’re unique gifts they can create themselves.

• Simplify checkout: Every extra step costs conversions. If possible, enable one-page checkout and multiple payment options.

• Keep urgency front and center: Use timers, banners, and clear messages like “Ends midnight Monday” to push decisions.

December: Holiday Focus & Last-Minute Shoppers

Once Black Friday and Cyber Monday wrap up, the focus shifts to Christmas—and urgency grows.

• Be clear about deadlines: Publish your shipping cut-off dates everywhere: product pages, banners, emails. Customers will appreciate the transparency.

• Promote quick-turnaround products: Highlight items that can be customized and shipped quickly, like mugs, photo prints, or cards.

• Push “still time to order” messages: Countdowns and reminders are powerful here. Customers are actively looking for reassurance.

• Don’t forget gift cards: When deadlines have passed, gift cards become the hero product. They’re instant, easy, and still personal.

Wrap Up & Learnings

Once the holidays are over, don’t close the book just yet.

• Track performance: Which promotions worked? Which channels brought the best ROI?

• Review operations: Did fulfillment keep up? Were there any bottlenecks?

• Plan ahead: Use what you’ve learned to refine your approach for 2026.

Final Thoughts

The end-of-year rush doesn’t have to feel chaotic. With a clear plan starting in October, you’ll not only capture the sales peaks of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas—you’ll also set your store up for stronger customer relationships going into the new year.