Skip to main content Skip to footer
Back to Moneris Blog
Turn holiday shoppers into loyal customers with smart payment data
Explore
Back to Moneris Blog
holiday trends

Turn holiday shoppers into loyal customers with smart payment data

By: Moneris Team
February 18, 2026 clock Calculating time...
Turning Holiday Traffic into Year-Round Customers with Smart Analytics hero



Key Takeaways

  1. Use your holiday payment data to see who shopped with you and what their activity suggests.
  2. Spot behaviour patterns that help you bring first-time holiday shoppers back.
  3. Follow up with simple, well-timed messages that give shoppers a clear reason to return.
  4. Focus your outreach on customers most likely to respond again throughout the year.
  5. Turn seasonal traffic into steadier customer relationships by acting on the insights your system already provides.

December gives you an unusually rich snapshot of who shops with you and how, and you can use this data to earn repeat business. With more new faces, larger baskets and a surge of seasonal purchases, your payment data reveals patterns you may not see at any other time of year.

Once you see these patterns, you start spotting simple opportunities for timely and relevant follow-ups. Maybe first-time shoppers bought items they’ll need again soon, local customers visited more than once or gift card sales point to upcoming visits in January and February.

These signals help you understand who may be open to returning and when it makes sense to reach out. With that clarity, you can encourage repeat visits throughout the rest of the year and turn seasonal interest into steadier year-round relationships.

Understand what your holiday data is showing you

The December holiday shopping rush gives you a clearer snapshot of customer activity than almost any other month. More people visit, baskets get bigger and new shoppers often show up for the first time. All of this creates data you can learn from right away.

When you review this activity, you start noticing patterns that don’t appear after the holidays. Certain products attract more first-time buyers, and some customers even return more than once in December. Gift card sales hint at upcoming visits in the new year. Even postal codes help you see who was local.

These details add useful context and help you understand what your surge in traffic truly represents. They show which shoppers explored, which ones engaged more deeply and which purchases may lead to a repeat visit. Small signals like these can guide smarter decisions later.

If you’re using a system that gives you a unified view of sales and customer behaviour, the picture becomes even clearer. You can compare busy periods, see how customers moved across channels and spot habits that might otherwise go unnoticed.

This clarity helps you understand the story behind your holiday sales so you can act with more confidence in the months ahead.

Identify the customer behaviours that matter

Holiday traffic creates a lot of activity, but not all of it tells the same story. Some behaviours point to casual browsing, while others show real interest that could carry into the new year.

A few key patterns offer the clearest clues about who may return, and those are the ones worth keeping an eye on. Here’s what to look out for.

Spot high spenders

People who spend a lot during the holidays often signal a stronger intent than one-time “bargain hunters”. These shoppers tend to buy more of your products and may be choosing items with longer-term value in mind. Even a single large purchase can suggest that your business met a specific need for them.

High-value purchases often reflect more than holiday impulse. They suggest the shopper took time to compare options, explore your products and choose something meaningful to them. That level of intent can signal a deeper connection to what you offer.

Notice multi-visit shoppers

Some customers come back more than once during the holidays, and that pattern stands out. A repeat December visit often means they weren’t just browsing—they had a reason to return, whether for more items or a better look at what you offer.

A customer who stops by twice in December is telling you something with their behaviour. They’ve seen enough value to return during the busiest shopping season of the year, and that repeat interaction shows growing familiarity with your business. Tools that let you uncover helpful sales and behaviour insights make it easier to see when this pattern appears.

Identify buyers of replenishable items

Some holiday shoppers buy products they’ll naturally need again, such as consumables, supplies or items tied to recurring occasions. These purchases give you a hint about what they might come back to buy more of later.

Replenishable purchases come with built-in timing cues. When someone buys something they’ll naturally run out of, it gives you a rough idea of when they may need more. That simple insight helps you understand their buying rhythm without overthinking it.

Track gift card purchasers

Gift card sales often lead to future visits, whether from the original buyer or the recipient. This creates a built-in moment of return, usually within the first few months of the new year.

This kind of purchase often suggests an intention to revisit your store, either personally or through the recipient. They also create a predictable moment of return, since most cards are redeemed early in the new year and often lead to extra purchases.

Recognize local shoppers

Postal codes can help you identify how many customers live nearby. Local shoppers are often more likely to return than out-of-town visitors because they pass your business more regularly.

Local customers are in your business’s area more often, which makes spontaneous return visits more likely. Their proximity creates natural opportunities for repeat business, especially when they’ve already discovered you during the holidays.

Turn Holiday Shoppers into Loyal Year-Round Customers in blog 1

Build simple follow-ups around what people bought and when

Holiday shoppers give you clear signals about what they needed in December and what they may want again later. The goal isn’t to overhaul your marketing—it’s to use those small clues to reconnect at the right moments.

A few simple messages can go a long way toward encouraging return visits. Here are some ideas for following up with your customers.

Send simple thank-you messages with helpful prompts

A short thank-you message after the holidays can leave a positive impression and keep your business fresh in a shopper’s mind. You can make it more useful by adding a gentle prompt tied to what they bought, like pointing out something that pairs well or something they might want again soon.

This kind of message feels thoughtful, not pushy. It gives customers a small nudge at a time when they’re most open to returning.

Time your messages based on what shoppers purchased

Some things people buy give you a rough idea of when they’ll want them again. If someone picked up something they’ll run out of soon, or an item that’s often replaced early in the year, you get a natural clue about when to follow up.

This timing helps your message land when it’s most useful. It also makes your outreach feel relevant instead of random.

Offer small incentives tied to shopper behaviour

A small, well-timed incentive can encourage customers to come back without needing a big promotion. Think about offering early access to something new or a modest reward for a second visit—especially if it fits what they bought the first time.

These small touches feel personal when they match a shopper’s actual behaviour. They also help keep your business top of mind after the holidays end.

Use your tools to make follow-ups easy

When checkout runs smoothly, you capture clearer details about what people bought and when they bought it. Using a modern payment terminal like Moneris Go helps you capture each transaction cleanly, so you have a reliable record of what people bought and when they bought it.

Clean data makes reaching out to previous shoppers simple. It also helps you see your busiest moments, popular items and repeat-purchase patterns without extra work.

Keep your outreach light and helpful

Reconnecting with shoppers doesn’t need to be complicated or constant. A few thoughtful messages can have far more impact than frequent ones that aren’t related to what customers actually bought.

The goal is to stay helpful and present. When your outreach feels light, timely and useful, customers are more likely to respond and come back during quieter months.

Turn payment data into opportunities for repeat visits

Your payment data can show you which follow-ups are working and where small adjustments can make a difference. Instead of checking analytics every day, you only need to watch a few simple signals over the next couple of months. Here are the key things worth keeping an eye on.

  1. Track post-holiday return visits: See how many holiday shoppers come back in the first few months of the year. Look for simple signs like second purchases or familiar names. These early patterns show whether your follow-ups are landing.
  2. Notice small shifts in demand: Watch which products start selling again after December and which ones slow down. These small changes help you understand what customers want as things settle. If returns affect your numbers, it helps to know how to handle post-holiday returns well so you can read your data clearly.
  3. Compare your follow-up responses: Check which messages customers opened or acted on. This tells you what resonated and what didn’t. Use that clarity to keep your outreach relevant.
  4. Adjust timing based on activity: Let your sales rhythm guide when you reach out again. Quieter stretches are great opportunities for a light, helpful message. This keeps your timing grounded in real behaviour.
Treat slow periods as learning time: Use January through March to see what works without pressure. Small tests during these months give you practical insight. The goal is to learn what encourages customers to return.

Turn Holiday Shoppers into Loyal Year-Round Customers in blog 2

Turn holiday customers into lasting relationships with Moneris

The holidays bring a surge of shoppers and strong end-of-year revenue, but that pace fades fast once January arrives. The good news is that the details from those holiday purchases can help you bring people back with simple, well-timed outreach based on what they bought. A clearer view of those patterns makes it easier to keep interest going when business slows.

Moneris helps you act on those signals without adding extra work. Tools within Moneris Go show which items drove interest, when customers returned and where a light message could make a difference.

And if you want to take things a step further, Moneris offers custom gift card solutions that reward repeat visits without adding complexity. With a reliable Canadian partner by your side, steady year-round relationships become much easier to build.

Turn Holiday Shoppers into Loyal Year-Round Customers in blog 3

FAQs

Author Profile

Moneris Team

Author Profile

Moneris is a leading provider of payment processing solutions in Canada. Our blog is your go-to resource for insights into the ever-evolving world of payments. We cover everything from the latest industry trends and technologies to practical advice for businesses of all sizes. Our blog's mission is to spotlight small businesses and provide resources that help them succeed in today's economy. Blog articles are written by members of Moneris' in-house marketing team with support from internal product and industry experts.

Recommended Articles