How to make your brand unmissable this gifting season

Peak shopping season is almost here. Festive shelves are filling, competition is fierce and digital noise is louder than ever. Relevance has never mattered more, yet 66% of consumers say they see ads that feel irrelevant every day, creating content fatigue for shoppers and challenges for brands hoping to cut through.¹

To build sales and shopper loyalty, brands need to move beyond the last-minute push and focus on early planning, personalisation and meaningful moments. This blog is packed with insights to help you reach gifters when it matters, stand out and turn early inspiration into peak-season sales.

The gifting journey starts earlier than you think

On Pinterest, someone searches for a gift every three seconds between October and December.² If you’re not present in these moments, your brand risks being overlooked as wishlists take shape.

More than half of monthly users on Pinterest are likely to create festive wishlists they revisit later, setting the stage for thoughtful, considered gifting.³ Self-gifting wishlists build momentum from October and peak in November, followed by a surge in “gift ideas for others” in December.⁴

Personalisation and curation are everything

Today’s shoppers want inspiration that feels personal and timely. On Pinterest, 58% of monthly users say they like personalised product recommendations during the festive season—27% more likely than non-users.⁵

Popular searches like “gift baskets for him”, “creative gifts” and “teen Christmas wishlist” all show that people are looking for inspiration tailored to their relationships and interests.⁶ When brands respond with festive boards thoughtfully curated from their catalogue—hand‑picked Pins organised by recipient, interest and price point—they deliver ideas that feel personal and earn a place on shoppers’ wishlists.

Saves signal intent

On Pinterest, inspiration is the first step toward results. A simple save isn’t just a sign of interest—it’s intent. In fact, 62% of monthly Pinterest users are more likely to purchase an item they’ve saved, showing that early inspiration can lead to festive sales.⁷ These shoppers are thoughtful planners and generous gifters, and spend more during the festive season.⁸ That’s your cue to design for saves and early discovery.

Stand out this season: Your festive checklist

People come to Pinterest open-minded and ready to discover something new—90% of UK searches are unbranded.⁹ This means that most users haven’t made up their mind yet, giving you a unique chance to step in early, spark inspiration and turn curiosity into sales. With 65% open to new brands for gifting, this is your moment.¹⁰

Here’s how you can make your brand unmissable this season:

• Lead with creativity and curation: Use Collections ads to put tailored gift ideas front and centre.

• Earn trust with trends: Gifting Trend Badges help shoppers feel confident in new finds. Plus, they have been shown to help boost conversion rates by 2.4x¹¹ and 2 in 3 Pinners even trust them more than standard Pins.¹²

• Be first: Sponsor Editorial surfaces to connect at the very start of their festive planning. Reach out to your Pinterest team to learn more.

• Extend your impact: Use the Pinterest Trends tool and AI-powered personalisation from Pinterest Performance+ to keep ideas relevant all season.

• Maximise return: Going full-funnel (Premiere Spotlight and Pinterest Performance+) has been shown to help generate a 63% lift in YoY ROAS versus bottom-funnel alone.¹³

• Secure your space: Lock in placements before competition peaks. Early action means your brand can be discovered first, while shoppers are still open to new ideas.

Ready to turn inspiration into action? Get our 2025 festive season marketing guide for more insights, strategies and creative ideas.