During the holidays, customers aren’t just shopping for products and services. They’re shopping for moments: a home ready for guests, a gift that gets a reaction, an experience worth sharing. Creative that showcases what you offer, from materials to features to process, gives customers the details they need. Pairing those details with aspiration gives them something even more powerful: a picture of the outcome they want for themselves.
Think about a home improvement service. Their ad opens on a family gathered in the finished space, hosting loved ones for the holidays, then follows with the quality materials and installation that made it possible. The details build trust, while the opening frame creates that desire.
Lead with the Want, Support with the Details.
Needs tell customers they should act someday. Wants make them act now, and the holidays add a natural deadline. That doesn’t mean features disappear. They become the supporting proof that backs up the feeling your creative sparks. To make the shift, lead with the result instead of the process, show real people enjoying the outcome, and let the details reinforce the story you’re telling.
Reach Holiday Shoppers Before They Decide
That story needs to reach people early, because holiday decisions are forming earlier than ever. A recent Forrester report found that nearly 74% of US adults online started their holiday shopping before December, so the impressions your brand makes now can shape the choices customers make in the weeks ahead.
The way people research is changing, too. According to EMARKETER, 37.1% of US consumers plan to use AI tools for holiday product research this year, up from 21% (Forrester, 2025). AI can compare options and list what each one offers in seconds, so details alone may not be enough to set your brand apart. What a summary can’t capture is how your brand makes people feel. Aspirational creative builds that connection early, so when shoppers start their holiday search, your brand is the one they already remember.
Bring Interested Shoppers Back
Interest also doesn’t always turn into action right away. With 70.2% of online shopping carts abandoned in 2026 (Statista), many people explore, compare, and step away before deciding. Using your aspirational creative in retargeting reminds them why they were excited in the first place and brings them back before the holiday rush passes them by.
With the biggest shopping days still ahead, now is a great time to give your campaign a holiday refresh. At Awarity, our creative team builds Banner Ads and Connected TV commercials that sell the want. Paired with precise targeting and retargeting, your holiday message reaches the right people early and stays with them until they’re ready to make their seasonal plans a reality. If you’d like to refresh your creative before the holiday rush, please reach out! We’d be happy to help your brand become part of your customers’ holiday moments.
