Retain Holiday Shoppers into 2026 and Beyond
Don't let those new relationships go cold after the first purchase. Here's how to turn holiday shoppers into repeat customers who keep coming back in January, February, March, and beyond.
Master the Follow-Up
You just acquired hundreds (or thousands) of new customers. Now what? The 2-2-2 strategy uses three simple touchpoints to turn holiday shoppers into loyal, repeat buyers.
Capitalize on Your BFCM Success
The work doesn't stop after Black Friday. Smart retailers use the momentum from BFCM to build long-term relationships. From organizing customer data to elevating your returns experience, these post-BFCM steps set you up for Q1 success.
Turn Returns Into Revenue
Returns feel like lost sales. But they don't have to be. Intentional clienteling can help you prevent them, convert them to exchanges, and build customer loyalty that lasts well beyond January.
Q4 Momentum = Q1 Growth
Retail Strategy
How to Get First-Time Shoppers to Shop a Second Time
Learn six proven strategies to engage, delight, and convert first-time shoppers into returning customers.
Retail Strategy
How to Keep Customer Engagement High for Years (and Years!)
Discover proven strategies to maintain customer engagement and loyalty for the long term.
Put Your Post-Holiday Strategy on Autopilot with Endear
Endear helps you automate personal follow-ups, track customer engagement, and turn holiday shoppers into year-round customers without burning out your team.
FAQs
When should I start following up with holiday customers?
When should I start following up with holiday customers?
Start immediately. Send a thank-you message 2 days after purchase, check in at 2 weeks to catch any issues, and invite them back at 2 months before they forget about you. The 2-2-2 strategy keeps you top of mind without overwhelming customers.
How do I follow up without being annoying?
How do I follow up without being annoying?
Focus on being helpful, not salesy. Thank them genuinely, offer styling tips or care instructions, and check in about their experience before pushing another purchase. Personal messages from real team members (not generic "noreply" emails) make all the difference.
What if customers don't respond to my follow-ups?
What if customers don't respond to my follow-ups?
That's normal—many won't reply to every message. What matters is staying visible and helpful. Even if they don't respond, your follow-ups keep your brand top of mind. When they're ready to shop again, you'll be the first place they think of.
How do I handle returns without losing the customer?
How do I handle returns without losing the customer?
Catch them early with proactive check-ins at 2 weeks. If something isn't working, help them find what does—offer alternatives, suggest different sizes, or recommend complementary products. A good returns experience builds more loyalty than a perfect first purchase.
What tools do I need to automate follow-ups?
What tools do I need to automate follow-ups?
A retail CRM like Endear can automate the 2-2-2 strategy while keeping messages personal. Messages go out at the right time (2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months) from individual team members' names, so they feel human, not robotic. Your team just monitors replies and keeps conversations going.