Why July Is the Perfect Time to Start Planning Your Holiday Campaign
- Nikki Nandrasy
- Jun 25
- 5 min read
Ah yes, “Christmas in July.”
We know it’s a bit cheeky to bring up holiday campaigns while you're still in sandals and sipping cold brew, but here’s the deal: if your team wants to deliver something truly memorable (and maybe even a little magical) this holiday season, the planning starts now.
July may feel early, but it’s actually the sweet spot for mission-driven brands to get ahead of production delays, creative bottlenecks, and rushed ideas. Whether you're dreaming up limited-edition merch, a client gift that wows, or a content campaign that speaks to your values, starting early gives you the breathing room to do it well.
Why Start Holiday Campaign Planning in July?
The reality is: thoughtful design takes time. If your holiday idea involves multiple physical components (say, a custom board game or branded keepsake), you’ll want at least 3 to 4 months to move through concepting, design, approvals, production, and shipping without panic-mode logistics.
A typical campaign timeline breaks down:
July to August: Brainstorming and strategy
September: Design development and production coordination
October: Final file handoffs and vendor execution
November: Campaign launch and delivery
That’s assuming everything goes smoothly. Many vendors and printers begin to book up by fall. If your campaign includes physical products, you’re at the mercy of material shortages, manufacturing timelines, and shipping delays.
Your future self (and your team) will thank you for kicking things off now.
The Hidden Cost of Waiting Until the Last Minute
Some of the most stressful projects we’ve seen weren’t lacking in creativity. They were just late to start. Here’s what tends to happen when holiday campaign planning gets pushed to Q4:
Approval chaos: Leadership is out of office, turnaround times slow to a crawl, and feedback gets scattered
Rushed creative compromises: What began as a bold idea gets scaled back or cut altogether due to time constraints
Production fails: Vendors are over capacity, or key materials are no longer available. Suddenly, your beautiful concept becomes a PDF attachment
When you start early, you open up more options both creatively and logistically. You get time to explore what’s possible. And if you’re a brand with a purpose, that time allows you to craft something that aligns with your values and connects meaningfully with your audience.
What Happens When You Plan Ahead
When you give a campaign room to breathe, something shifts. You stop just checking boxes and start building experiences that actually resonate.
You get creative instead of reactive
You make more intentional decisions
You actually enjoy the process
More time almost always equals more quality and more joy.
What Makes a Holiday Campaign Successful
A great holiday campaign doesn't just look good. It resonates. It reinforces your values. And it creates a memorable moment for your audience, whether they're clients, customers, donors, or partners.
Here are a few ingredients that set successful campaigns apart:
1. A Clear Objective
Is the goal to deepen relationships? Drive year-end revenue? Celebrate community impact? When you know the “why,” everything else flows more naturally.
2. Budget That Matches the Ambition
Beautiful, custom work takes time and resources. The earlier you start, the more realistic you can be about what’s possible within your budget, and where to invest for the greatest impact.
3. Strong Brand Alignment
The best holiday campaigns don’t just slap a snowflake on your logo. They feel like an extension of your mission, your vibe, and your personality. They give people another reason to love and trust your brand.
Case Study: The Happy Hideaways Campaign
Last holiday season, we had the privilege of collaborating with Hideaway Pizza on their annual Happy Hideaways campaign. From concept to completion, we brought their beloved mascot, Kahuna, to life inside a whimsical snow globe, complete with pizza toppings as snow.
The campaign spanned multiple brand touchpoints, including special edition pizza boxes, festive drink cups, printed menus, and t-shirts. Every element was crafted to spark joy, evoke nostalgia, and celebrate the magic of the season, all while staying true to the brand’s playful personality.
What made this project so special wasn’t just the creative direction. It was the opportunity to use design as a vehicle for connection, turning everyday customer experiences into delightful, memorable moments. Projects like this show the power of intentional, joyful design, especially during a season meant for warmth, wonder, and shared experiences.
Fresh Holiday Campaign Ideas to Inspire Your 2025 Planning
If you're still not sure what kind of campaign makes sense for your brand this year, here are a few forward-thinking concepts to spark ideas:
Digital Experience Paired with a Printed Keepsake
Imagine a microsite that collects stories from your team or community, followed by a printed booklet sent out as a post-holiday surprise. It's memorable, interactive, and offers a lasting takeaway.
Branded Games
Think custom Monopoly sets or card decks designed with your brand visuals. These kinds of projects bring delight and offer long-term brand presence in a recipient’s home or office.
Year-End Reflection Packages
Instead of a traditional gift, send a thoughtfully designed print or digital piece that recaps your brand’s year: milestones, impact stories, photos, and gratitude. It's a personal, story-rich approach that invites your audience into your journey.
"12 Days of _____" Social Media Series
A fun way to boost end-of-year engagement, especially on Instagram. Try a “12 Days of Giving,” “12 Days of Gratitude,” or even “12 Days of Impact” series that highlights clients, causes, or stories that define your year.
Not Sure Where to Start? Steal These Prompts
So you're ready to start planning your holiday campaign, but not sure where to start? If you’re staring at a blank page, try asking yourself:
What do we want our audience to feel this season?
What can we create that’s so good, they’ll keep it past the holidays?
How can we give back or amplify voices that matter to us?
What story can we tell that no one else can?
How can we turn a brand moment into a shared memory?
How to Plan Based on Your Scope
Not every campaign needs to be big and bold. A thoughtful, well-designed concept, whether it’s a simple digital greeting or a full-blown product collab, can still make a big impact.
Small-scale:
Send a custom holiday card or a digital graphic. Great for brand visibility and connection without major investment. This approach also doesn't require quite as long of a timeline as we've mentioned in this article.
Mid-scale:
A branded mailer or merch item paired with storytelling content. Offers more engagement while keeping logistics manageable.
Large-scale:
Think big: a limited-edition game, a custom kit, an immersive web experience, or a cross-channel campaign with content, print, and gifting all working together.
Holiday Magic Happens When You Plan for It
Nobody wants to be thinking about December while it’s still 90 degrees outside. But the brands that make a real impact at the end of the year? They’re already sketching ideas, gathering inspiration, and setting timelines in motion.
A successful holiday campaign doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be thoughtful. And thoughtfulness takes time.
So, go ahead and put "holiday campaign planning" on your summer to-do list. You don’t need to have it all figured out yet. Even a loose idea or spark is enough to start a conversation. The earlier you get it out of your head and into motion, the better it will be.
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