When Should You Start Your Christmas Marketing?

November is just a few days away and Christmas isn't far, so when do you think is the best time to start your Christmas marketing campaign? 

Is September Too Early?

Research conducted by us last year showed from a sample of 500, nearly 40% of people start buying their Christmas gifts as early as September. A large number of this even stated they purchase their gifts before this date! So, what do you think? Is September too early to start thinking about Christmas? 

If you work within retail, then September is about the right time, as shops start putting out all their Christmas stock. The same applies to marketers. A Christmas campaign takes a lot of thought and effort meaning that it needs to be considered in advance by marketing departments. For example, if you are planning on sending out Christmas gifts to your clients, then you will need to ensure you have the gifts well in advance of December. 

Our research also showed that just under 45% of respondents purchase their Christmas gifts in October or November time, with just 15% waiting until December to buy their items. There could be a number of reasons for this. Perhaps people have to save up money on a monthly basis to be able to afford Christmas which means they have to start their shopping a bit later. Alternatively, people may start their shopping early to spread out the cost of Christmas. Of course, there is always the possibility that people are either too excited or fed up of Christmas which shows why they shop early or later.

What To Consider When Planning Your Marketing Campaign

If you are working within a marketing department, then there are far fewer factors to consider. You need to consider the type of marketing campaign you will be undertaking for Christmas, and the gifts you will be sending to your clients or suppliers. This will help to determine how early, or how late, you can start your shopping. 

If you are planning on investing in promotional items, then you will want to start your marketing campaign earlier as you need to allow time for the products to be delivered to your office before you can distribute them yourself. Likewise, if you are planning an event, then you will want to start the planning stage earlier. 

So, are you a late Christmas shopper or do you buy your items well in advance? If you are considering using Christmas promotional items in your marketing campaign then we'd recommend you start your Christmas shopping sooner rather than later! Check out our special corporate Christmas gift idea section to find your perfect gift.

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