Focus on personalization, experiences, and service. Send gift guides curated for individual customers. Offer shopping appointments. Follow up with thank you messages. Create in-store moments worth sharing on social. When customers feel seen and valued, they'll choose you even without the deepest discount.

Use customer data smartly. Segment audiences so you're sending relevant messages to the right people. Create templates your team can customize in seconds, not from scratch. Automate the basics (like thank you messages) so your team can focus on high-touch VIP outreach. The right CRM makes personalization faster, not harder.

Both, and make them work together. Use personalized outreach to drive foot traffic to in-store events. Invite online-only customers to visit your store. Follow up in-store purchases with digital gift guides. The brands that win are the ones who create seamless experiences across every channel.

Start sending personal messages. Not marketing blasts, actual one-to-one texts or emails from your store team to individual customers. Ask what they're shopping for, recommend products based on past purchases, or just check in. It takes 2 minutes and completely changes how customers perceive your brand.

Follow up. Thank them for shopping with you. Check in on their purchase. Invite them back with personalized recommendations for the new year. Use the 2-2-2 strategy: follow up 2 days, 2 weeks, and 2 months after purchase. Holiday shoppers become year-round customers when you treat them like people, not transactions.