How to Engage Customers Over Christmas with Experience Based Gifting
How to Engage Customers Over Christmas: Gifting Memories, Not Just Products
Christmas is one of the busiest and most competitive times of year for businesses across the UK. Customers are flooded with promotions, seasonal discounts and limited time offers, making it harder than ever for brands to cut through the noise. At the same time it is the perfect moment to build deeper relationships. The festive season carries emotional weight for many people, tied to family traditions, moments of generosity and the idea of giving something truly meaningful.
For businesses this creates a unique opportunity to do more than sell. It is a chance to deepen customer engagement, strengthen brand loyalty, and ultimately increase sales by positioning your brand as one that understands and values its customers on a personal level. While discounts may attract short term attention, they rarely create long lasting bonds. Experience based gifting, in contrast, is designed to stay in a customer’s memory, associating your brand with moments of joy, relaxation or adventure that extend far beyond the festive period.
Choosing to give experiences instead of transactional offers shows that your company is willing to invest in relationships, not just purchases. It transforms a seasonal promotion into a thoughtful act that reflects the spirit of Christmas: connection, generosity and celebration, while also differentiating your brand in a crowded marketplace.
Why Experiences Matter
Unlike traditional gifts, experiences are remembered well beyond the festive season. A recent UK survey revealed that 53% of Britons prefer to be gifted an experience over a material item, because “experiences will last a lifetime”
Traditional presents such as mugs or a box of chocolates can feel too generic and are quickly forgotten once used. An experience, however, creates a lasting memory that is shared, talked about and linked back to your brand long after Christmas has ended.
This shift aligns perfectly with your offering. Many businesses have historically relied on price cuts and heavy discounting to capture attention during the Christmas period. While this may drive short term sales, it often erodes margins and does little to create lasting loyalty. By contrast, experience based gifting allows you to deliver something memorable, personal and truly shareable. Instead of being remembered for a percentage off, your brand is remembered for enabling a unique moment that customers can enjoy and talk about long after the festive season.
Ideas That Inspire
From Red Letter Days corporate portfolio, here are ways to delight different customer segments:
• Luxury pampering – spa days, countryside retreats
• Cultural and culinary– Michelin star dining, vineyard tours, theatre and dinner packages
• Adventure – hot air balloon flights, supercar drives, zip lining
• Iconic experiences in the UK – afternoon tea at The Shard, helicopter tours
These gifts are not only appreciated, they spark posts, conversations and lasting visibility for your brand.
Making Campaigns Successful
1. Segment your audience – target loyal or high value customers with tailored experiences.
2. Personalise the gift – include branded packaging or thoughtful e vouchers for a special touch.
3. Streamline logistics – use providers offering bulk fulfilment and campaign support.
4. Encourage sharing – add a campaign hashtag or prompt to inspire social sharing.
5. Track impact – measure repeat purchases, engagement and feedback to refine future campaigns.
Experience based gifting is more than a festive nod. It is a proven strategy to enhance customer engagement, nurture brand loyalty, and drive long term sales growth. By offering memorable experiences rather than material items, your brand can stand out and create connections that last well into the new year.