The holiday shopping season is underway.
Major retailers are rolling out promotions earlier in the fall, extending a shopping season that now stretches well beyond the traditional post-Thanksgiving rush, according to Chain Store Age.
Amazon and Target have announced early October sales events for loyalty members, while Best Buy has already begun offering holiday shopping perks, including experiential in-store shops and tools that let customers find gift ideas and shop products through ChatGPT.
Chain Store Age said other retailers may need to respond quickly to those early promotions rather than risk losing shoppers before the season reaches its traditional peak.
One of the fastest ways to do that is through social media, the publication said. Retailers can use existing accounts to promote holiday offers without requiring a large investment of time or money.
Generative artificial intelligence is also making it easier for retailers to create images and video more quickly and to tailor marketing toward specific regions, demographics and even individual shoppers.
Influencer marketing is another option retailers can use to build awareness. The publication noted that influencers, content creators and celebrities can help brands reach established audiences, particularly younger Gen Z and millennial consumers who increasingly turn to social media for product discovery and shopping inspiration.
Early holiday promotions can also help retailers clear out excess merchandise.
Chain Store Age suggested retailers use fall sales to move overstock, including leftover summer, spring, back-to-school and Halloween merchandise, while preserving space for higher-value holiday inventory later in the season.
It's Christmas 365 