Last-Minute Holiday Sales: 5 Quick Ways to Drive Purchases Before Year-End

In Creator success, Creators, Holiday Season, Selling Tips by Ella Hutchings December 10, 2024

The holiday shopping season is booming! Are you cashing in? It’s not too late to get your piece of the holiday pie!

As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to give your online merch store a final boost. With shoppers on the hunt for gifts and end-of-year deals, here are five easy strategies to drive purchases and end the year on a high note. Ready? Let’s go. 

1. Create a Sense of Urgency

It’s hard to believe, but there are only THREE WEEKS left until 2025! That’s it! Use this to create urgency. You want to encourage your fans to shop now vs. later. This is where limited time discounts come into play, because they have a deadline. So a simple post like, “Order by [date] to get XX% OFF my merch!” can create the urgency shoppers need to act quickly. 

Pro Tip: FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) comes in all forms. In this case, use the “ticking clock” method to speed up their action. Add a countdown timer to your website or share daily reminders on social media to keep the deadline at the top of their mind.

2. Leverage Video through Stories and Reels

It’s easy to scroll past another “buy my merch” text post. So go for the “pattern interrupt” with creative videos. It’ll be a scroll-stopper to see you having a blast showing off your merch. Use Instagram Stories, TikToks, and Reels to showcase you and your merch in action with engaging content like “Top 3 Reasons This Hoodie Is a Winter Must-Have” or “Me Unboxing My Newest Merch.” 

Pro Tip: Highlight fan photos and testimonials in your content to build hype around your products and create FOMO. 

Reminder: Be both authentic and engaging in your videos. That energy is contagious and leads to more fans and sales. 

3. Offer Exclusive End-of-Year Promo Codes

FOMO works in every category, but one of the best ones is through the use of promo codes. Everyone loves a deal, especially during the holidays. Grab last-minute shoppers by sharing a promo code (like “YEAREND10” for 10% off) to drive traffic to your store. Make these offers for a “limited time only” so fans have to act fast. You can even tease them ahead of time so that fans have to keep an eye on your content for when the deal will launch.

Pro Tip: Add this deal to your bio on your social channels and pin your promo post so fans won’t miss it.

4. Launch & Promote Digital Products

Physical shipping deadlines don’t mean the sales have to stop. Digital products like e-books, art prints, music tracks, recipes and downloadable wallpapers are perfect for those shoppers who waited until the absolute last second to buy gifts. And guess what: 91% of people admit that they have made holiday purchases at the last minute. Lucky for them that these products are instantly delivered—no shipping required! Spring has a wide array of digital products, even for pets! Check out the selection on your dashboard. 

Pro Tip: Create an eye-catching design that can flow across different digital products and bundle them together in your content to entice fans to buy them all!

5. Collaborate and Cross-Promote

The great thing about selling merch is…you can piggy back OTHER people who sell merch! It can be a symbiotic relationship. Since the new year is coming, send off 2024 by teaming up with another creator to double your fan reach and your sales. Some ideas include shouting each other out on social media and recommending each other’s merch, or hosting a giveaway to generate buzz and attract more shoppers. 

Pro Tip: Use your merch as a prize in a holiday-themed contest, encouraging followers to engage and share. 

Make the Most of the Year-End Shopping Season

So, there it is. These quick strategies can help you capture last-minute shoppers and boost your year-end sales. Remember, consistency is key—keep your promotions active and engaging, and don’t forget to thank your fans for their support throughout the year.

Here’s to finishing strong and setting the stage for an even more successful new year! Happy Selling!🎉