Thanksgiving is one of the biggest holiday moments of the year. It brings families together, increases shopping activity, and creates a warm emotional mood that businesses can use to connect with customers.
In the United States alone, shoppers spent $6.6 billion online on Thanksgiving Day in 2023, according to the Los Angeles Times. This shows how much people are willing to spend when the holiday spirit is high, and the right products are in front of them.
For small and growing businesses, Thanksgiving can be a strong opportunity to increase sales, attract new customers, and prepare for the even bigger Black Friday and Cyber Monday rush. With the right marketing ideas, you can make this season profitable without needing a large budget.
Here are five simple and effective Thanksgiving marketing ideas that can help boost your holiday sales.
Read this also: 10 Best Social Media Marketing Strategies for Beauty Brands
5 Easy Thanksgiving Marketing Tips to Grow Your Holiday Revenue
1. Start Planning Early
Holiday discounts work extremely well because people are already in a buying mood. Many customers shop early for gifts, home décor, clothing, or food products during Thanksgiving week. A themed Thanksgiving sale can help you reach them at the perfect time.
Some ideas include:
- Flat discounts like 20% OFF Thanksgiving Favorites
- Bundle offers such as Buy 2, Get 1 Free
- Free shipping for all Thanksgiving orders
- Limited-time discount codes like THANKS20
Research shows that 61% of customers wait for seasonal deals before making a purchase. When your discounts are clear and simple, shoppers feel confident and buy faster.
If you sell products like candles, skincare, home items, fashion, food items, or digital goods, highlight them with a “Thanksgiving Special” tag. This helps customers quickly spot what they want.
2. Create Thanksgiving Gift Bundles
Bundles are one of the easiest ways to increase your average order value. Customers feel they are getting more value, and you get to sell more items at once. This is why bundle deals often perform 35–45% better during holiday seasons.
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to create themed bundles such as:
- Self-care bundles: body lotion + face cream + scented candle
- Home décor kits: fairy lights + table runner + wall piece
- Gift baskets: chocolates + cookies + coffee
- Fashion combos: t-shirt + jacket + scarf
- Kitchen bundles: spice set + apron + chopping board
You can even label them “Thanksgiving Essentials” or “Perfect for Gifting.”
This simple touch makes the product feel special and seasonal.
Bundling not only improves sales but also helps you move slow-moving stock without looking like you are forcing discounts.
3. Use Thanksgiving Stories in Your Social Media Marketing
Social media is one of the strongest tools for holiday marketing, especially for small businesses. Around 90% of shoppers say they discover new brands through social media during the holiday season.
Thanksgiving content feels warm, emotional, and engaging which makes people stop scrolling and pay attention.
Here are some easy content ideas:
- Share a “behind-the-scenes” look at how your team prepares for the holidays.
- Post customer appreciation messages showing gratitude.
- Run a Thanksgiving countdown with daily tips or sneak peeks.
- Create reels showing top-selling holiday products.
- Ask questions like “What are you thankful for this year?” to increase engagement.
- Share user-generated content (UGC) to build trust.
You can also create simple Thanksgiving-themed posts using warm colors, leaves, pumpkins, and festive elements. These get higher engagement because they match the holiday mood.
If you have special products such as handmade crafts, wellness items, home décor, food packs, clothing, stationery, or digital templates, highlight them in short videos.
Videos perform 120% better than static images on average, making them a must-use format.
4. Send Thanksgiving Emails and WhatsApp Messages
Emails and WhatsApp messages are powerful tools because they reach people directly.
Thanksgiving is a warm holiday, which means people appreciate heartfelt messages.
You can send:
- A simple “Thank You for Supporting Us” message
- A pre-Thanksgiving sale announcement
- A gift guide
- A special discount code only for subscribers
- A reminder message on Thanksgiving morning
Email marketing has an average return of $36 for every $1 spent, making it one of the most profitable marketing tools. WhatsApp, on the other hand, has a 98% open rate, which means almost every message gets read.
Use short and friendly messages such as:
- “Happy Thanksgiving! Here’s a small gift from us to you.”
- “Your Thanksgiving special deal is here don’t miss it!”
- “Only for today: extra 10% off your favorite products.”
These small touches help customers feel valued and increase the chances they will shop from you.
5. Launch a Simple Thanksgiving Giveaway
People love free gifts, and giveaways create excitement around your brand. They also help you grow your social media reach before the bigger Black Friday sales.
A Thanksgiving giveaway can be simple and budget-friendly.
You can offer:
- A free product
- A gift basket
- A discount voucher
- A holiday special bundle
To enter, ask people to:
- Like the post
- Follow your page
- Tag 2–3 friends
- Share the post in stories
Giveaways can increase your social media reach by 50–70% in just a few days. More visibility means more potential customers will see your Thanksgiving and Black Friday deals.
This strategy works especially well for businesses selling physical products like beauty items, lifestyle goods, accessories, snacks, clothing, and handmade items but even service-based businesses can run giveaways for vouchers or free sessions.
Conclusion
Thanksgiving is a great time for small businesses to grow their sales, improve customer loyalty, and create warm emotional connections.
With the right marketing ideas, such as themed sales, social media promotions, gift bundles, email campaigns, and giveaways, you can attract more shoppers and stand out during the holiday season.
These simple steps do not require huge budgets, but they can create a big impact when used at the right time.
And if you want expert help with planning and running holiday campaigns, Kings Digital can support your business and make your Thanksgiving marketing more successful than ever.
Read this also: How a PPC Management Company Improves Your Ad Campaigns
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why is Thanksgiving a good time for marketing?
Thanksgiving is a warm and emotional holiday. People shop for gifts, home items, food, and seasonal products. In 2023 alone, online shoppers spent over $6.6 billion on Thanksgiving Day. This makes it a perfect chance for businesses to promote products and increase sales.
What type of products sell well during Thanksgiving?
Seasonal items, home décor, candles, food baskets, clothes, skincare, wellness kits, and gift bundles perform very well. Customers also look for digital products, templates, and accessories for early holiday gifting.
Do I need a big budget for Thanksgiving marketing?
No. Simple ideas work very well. You can use social media posts, WhatsApp messages, emails, and small discounts. These low-cost methods can still bring great results during the holiday season.
How early should I start promoting Thanksgiving offers?
It is best to start promoting 1–2 weeks before Thanksgiving. Studies show that many shoppers begin looking for deals early. When customers see your offer first, they are more likely to buy from you.
What kind of Thanksgiving content performs best on social media?
Warm and relatable content works best. Behind-the-scenes videos, product demos, customer thank-you posts, countdowns, and giveaway announcements get high engagement. Short videos and reels also perform over 100% better than regular posts.
