Christmas might be three months away, but in PR and marketing land, the sleigh bells are already jingling. While most of us are trying to decide whether it’s socially acceptable to order a pumpkin spice latte in September, our Trainee Bea Widdup looks at why the media world is already wrapping presents, getting the Christmas decorations down from the loft, and playing “All I Want for Christmas” on repeat.
I know, I know…. Nobody wants to hear the C-word when we are mourning the packing away of our summer wardrobe. But here’s the thing; businesses often underestimate just how long it takes to create a festive campaign that twinkles.
By the time November rolls around, the best PR slots are gone, advertising costs are higher than Mariah’s high notes, and you’ll be left desperately hunting for a decent elf costume on Amazon Prime.
The smart move? Start now. Your future self, and business, will thank you.
Let’s talk about the Ghost of Christmas Past, otherwise known as missed deadlines.
National press gift guides close as early as August and September. Yep, while you were enjoying your beach holiday, glossy magazine editors were already curating their “Top 10 Stocking Fillers.”
Take our client The Olive Boffin, for example. We’re already pitching their delicious olive oils as the perfect stocking filler. Why? Because if we waited until November, the only slot left would be “last-minute gift ideas for your neighbour’s dog.”
Local press and regional magazines aren’t much more forgiving. Their copy deadlines hit in October/November, and once they’ve gone, so has your chance to throw a dazzling Christmas campaign.
Think of it this way: planning early is the difference between being in The Times Christmas Gift Guide and… your mums Facebook status (sorry, mum).
Social media during December is like Oxford Street on Christmas Eve: loud, chaotic, and packed full of brands shouting for your attention.
If you want to cut through the noise, you need a festive strategy mapped out before the chaos hits.
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Christmas markets… they’re all golden opportunities, but only if you’ve planned the content in advance.
Waiting until December to think about Instagram Reels is like waiting until Christmas Eve to start shopping – stressful, expensive, and slightly panic-inducing.
Speaking of expensive, ad spend skyrockets higher than Santa’s sleigh in December.
Planning early means you can secure more affordable campaigns and give your creative assets (photography, video, graphics) the lead time they need. Think of it this way, nothing says “bah humbug” like posting a blurry shot of your Christmas product because you ran out of time for a proper shoot.
Here’s a stat to jingle your bells: between 40–50% of people buy gifts before December.
That’s right. While you’re still arguing about whether to put up the tree in November, half of your customers have already completed all their shopping.
And in the post-cost-of-living crisis world, people are even more budget-conscious. They’re spreading out their spend, hunting for deals, and making decisions early. That means if you wait too long, your customers’ stockings may already be filled with someone else’s products.
The trick? Start early, build anticipation, and drip-feed festive magic through teasers, behind-the-scenes peeks, and special offers.
Think of it as your advent calendar of marketing – one window at a time, starting now.
At Satsuma, we’ve seen first-hand how early planning makes campaigns really sparkle. Take East Suffolk Council’s Shop Local Christmas campaign: by getting ahead of the curve, we boosted footfall for local businesses and secured glowing coverage.
Or The Olive Boffin, who are already being pitched to Christmas gift guides as we speak. By the time December hits, their products will be the go-to foodie gift – not an afterthought. Planning early doesn’t just save stress, it multiplies impact.
So, are you ready to jingle all the way into Christmas 2025? Don’t wait until November when Santa’s already booked, and the reindeers have left the stable. Start now, and make sure your brand shines brighter than the star on top of the tree.
Get in touch with Satsuma today – let’s map out your campaign, secure those PR slots, and make this Christmas your most magical yet.
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