Holiday prep: your marketing checklist

The holidays aren’t just busy, they’re profitable. Studios that launch campaigns early see up to a 25% increase in buy rate and a 15% lift in average order value (AOV) when their first campaign goes live within 24 hours of galleries opening. With the right setup now, you can capture that same momentum and finish the year strong.

This holiday prep checklist for studio teams walks you through the key steps to stay organized, reduce stress, and make more this season.

Want a quick takeaway you can share with your team? View your downloadable PDF checklist here.

Step 1: Plan your campaign calendar

Our data shows that more than half (64%) of a gallery’s total revenue can come after the first 30 days from launch.

That means planning multiple touchpoints, like your Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and last-minute gift campaigns, keeps sales coming long after your gallery first goes live.

Holiday marketing schedule:

Thanksgiving Promo (Nov. 25–27): 15% off all orders
Black Friday/Cyber Monday (Nov. 28–Dec. 1): 20% off all orders
Small Business Saturday (Nov. 29): 20% off all orders
Cyber Week (Dec. 2- Dec. 8): Free shipping
Last-Minute Gift (Dec. 15–19): Digital download highlight
New Year Promo (Jan. 1–5): $26 off orders $80+

Please note: The Black Friday/Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Week promotions are all listed under the 'Black Friday & Cyber Monday | 2025' campaign in Workflow.

Your campaigns are ready, just bulk attach them to your active jobs in Captura. Go ahead and add the rest through the end of the year. Here’s how.

Quick tip: Start early. The sooner your jobs are connected to campaigns, the more parents you’ll reach before the holidays.

Step 2: Prepare for delivery deadlines

Parents want their orders to arrive before Christmas, so timing matters.

Important dates:

Print delivery deadline: Attach and release campaigns before December 6–8 for Christmas arrival. Check with your lab for their exact order date cut off.
Digital downloads: Promote after December 8 as an easy, instant gift option for last-minute shoppers. Make sure your custom digital downloads are set up, take a look here.

Step 3: Review your storefront and products

The holidays are the perfect time to highlight products families love most.

Feature seasonal prints and gift items like magnets and ornaments
Offer digital downloads as quick, no-shipping gift options
Confirm your pricing and promotions reflect your holiday offers
Make sure your storefront is mobile-friendly for easy browsing and checkout

Your goal is to make it simple for families to find and purchase what they want in time for the holidays.

Step 4: Automate your reminders

Studios using Captura’s automated SMS and email reminders see an average 23–33% revenue uplift from seasonal and promotional campaigns.

These reminders help convert browsers into buyers, even when your team is heads down on production.

Double-check that initial campaigns are live
Schedule reminder triggers such as abandoned cart messages and last-chance emails
Use SMS and email together for higher engagement
Review your audience lists so parents who haven’t ordered yet receive follow-ups

Automation keeps your marketing moving even when your team is focused on production and delivery.

Need to make a last minute edit? No dramas. Easily update subject lines, change body text, edit button text, replace images and more. Click here to learn how.

Step 5: Check your workflow setup

Before holiday orders start rolling in, take a few minutes to confirm your Captura setup.

Make sure jobs, labs, and fulfillment settings are synced
Verify that holiday campaigns are attached to every applicable job
Review notifications and lab preferences to prevent last-minute issues
Monitor real-time sales and participation in Workflow to see what’s working

A quick review now can prevent missed sales later.

Step 6: Keep momentum into the new year

Once the holidays wrap up, use that momentum to start 2026 strong.

Run your New Year promo (Jan. 1–5) to re-engage families who missed earlier offers
Review campaign performance with your Marketing Success team
Identify wins and lessons to carry into spring

Use your New Year promo results to fine-tune your 2026 strategy. Small adjustments, like optimizing send times or adjusting offers, compound results season over season.

Proof that it works

Studios working with Captura Marketing have seen:

80% YoY revenue growth through seasonal campaigns
$140K in additional revenue during the holidays
Up to 33% uplift from adding promotional campaigns

Smart marketing isn’t extra, it’s essential to capturing your studio’s full potential.

Ready to make this your best holiday yet?

Book a meeting with your Marketing Success team or email studiomarketing@captura.io if you need any support at all, or, take a look at common marketing FAQ’s here.

And remember, download this checklist for a quick refresher.

Together, we’ll make sure your studio finishes the year strong and sets up for an even better start in 2026.