holiday trends

Turn holiday shoppers into loyal year-round customers

By: Moneris Team

December 16, 2025

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Holiday shoppers bring energy, excitement and a welcome boost in revenue—but many of them stop there and visit only once. Retailers feel this shift the moment January arrives, and the sudden drop in traffic can make the season’s momentum feel short-lived. The good news is that you can turn those one-time visits into the start of lasting customer relationships with a few simple tools.

Gift cards and loyalty rewards make it easier for shoppers to return sooner and stay connected with your business. These tools also work quietly in the background, helping you build steady, repeat traffic without adding extra work for your staff. When everything runs through your payment system, it becomes easier to keep customers engaged long after the festive season ends.

Use gift cards to attract new shoppers

Gift cards help bring new customers through your doors after the December busy period, especially when recipients visit to explore your shop for the first time. According to research from the 2024 festive season, about two in five Canadians give gift cards during the holidays, making them one of the season’s most popular gift choices.

They also redeem effortlessly at checkout when your team uses reliable POS terminals that keep the process quick and consistent. This creates an easy experience that supports your staff and leaves a strong first impression.

A gift card can also spark the beginning of a longer relationship. It gives regular customers an easy way to introduce your store to someone new, and it offers first-time visitors a low-pressure reason to return. When their first experience feels easy, they're more likely to come back on their own.

Turn seasonal customers into loyal repeat customers with rewards

Seasonal shoppers already like what you offer, but they often need a small nudge to come back after their first visit. Simple rewards give them a clear reason to return and work best when the program is easy to join and use. Here are a few ways to turn those visits into lasting loyalty.

Offer a welcome bonus on sign-up: Give new members a small incentive when they join during the holidays. Create an easy reason for them to return without feeling pressured.
Reward milestones that matter to your customers: Tie rewards to the natural way people already shop in your store. Encourage them to visit again by making each purchase feel like progress toward something useful.
Run rewards through your payment system: Keep everything connected by handling enrollments, balances and redemptions straight from your retail POS system. Reduce extra steps so your staff can stay focused on service.

Highlight rewards at the right moment: Mention rewards when customers are most engaged, such as at checkout or when they redeem a gift card. Reinforce the value they’re earning so they’re more likely to come back soon.

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

Combine gift cards and loyalty rewards to improve retention

Gift cards naturally introduce new customers to your store, and loyalty rewards offer ongoing value that encourages them to come back. When both tools work together, the journey from discovery to loyalty feels natural and consistent.

Customers discover your products with a gift card, then see ongoing value through rewards that build over time. This is especially true when you use a retail gift card program that works with your existing POS.

This approach also supports a frictionless experience for shoppers who prefer digital options. Offering physical and eGift cards gives people more ways to engage with your business, and it makes holiday gifting even easier for your customers. When their first interaction feels effortless, they’re far more likely to come back throughout the year.

Simplify gift cards and loyalty tools with integrated payments

Managing gift cards and loyalty rewards feels easier when everything runs through the same payment system. Your staff can activate cards, redeem balances and apply rewards without switching devices or slowing down the line. Shoppers get a faster checkout, and you get a setup that works quietly in the background.

Integrated tools also reduce the small errors and manual steps that add stress during the holiday rush. You get a single place to track activity, manage updates and see what’s working. It’s a simple experience that supports both your team and your customers.

Reduce extra steps at checkout

Integrated payments let your team handle gift cards and loyalty rewards without switching devices or opening separate systems. Everything happens during the regular checkout flow, which helps staff stay confident during busy periods. Customers also appreciate a quick process that doesn’t interrupt their visit.

By removing those small extra steps, you reduce the chances of errors or delays. This helps the line move consistently, even when you’re dealing with holiday traffic. A simple checkout experience makes it easier for shoppers to return.

Manage gift cards and rewards in one place

Running both gift cards and loyalty tools through the same system gives you a single view of customer activity. You can track balances, issue rewards and update settings without jumping between platforms. It’s a practical approach that helps you stay organized.

Having one system also makes it easier to train new staff. They can learn everything at once, and they’re less likely to make mistakes during busy shifts. This consistency keeps things predictable for your team.

Keep your team focused on customers

When your tools work together, your staff can spend less time managing systems and more time helping shoppers. And with the option to accept payments directly on an iPhone, staff can ring up purchases on the floor when things get busy. That flexibility helps catch impulse buys and keeps lines moving without forcing customers to wait at a fixed terminal.

Freeing up staff time also supports better service throughout the season. Your team can focus on stocking, merchandising and conversation instead of troubleshooting terminals or dealing with long lines. That extra space helps create a more welcoming environment year-round.

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

Keep customers coming back with a trusted partner like Moneris

Turning holiday traffic into lasting customer relationships becomes much easier when your tools all work together. Moneris helps you manage gift cards, loyalty rewards and checkout in one place—so every visit feels consistent and convenient. With the right partner, you can focus on serving customers while your systems handle the rest.

A unified setup also makes it easier to adapt as your business grows. You can offer more ways for people to shop, redeem rewards and stay connected with your store throughout the year. When everything works in the background, you’re free to focus on building the relationships that keep customers coming back.

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FAQs

Gift cards introduce your business to people who may not have visited before. The giver shops in December, and the recipient often returns in the slower months when you need traffic most.

They also make your store easier to recommend. A simple gift card becomes a reason for new shoppers to step inside and discover what you offer.
Seasonal shoppers come back when there’s a clear benefit waiting for them. A small reward, a welcome bonus or a simple points system can make the return trip feel worthwhile.

The key is to make rewards easy to understand and use at checkout. When customers see value right away, they’re more likely to visit again after the holidays end.
Gift cards bring new shoppers in, and loyalty rewards give them a reason to return. Together, they create a path from first visit to repeat business without adding complexity to your workflow.

This combination also makes every interaction more meaningful. A customer who redeems a gift card and joins a rewards program is already closer to becoming a regular.
The simplest approach is to run both tools through your payment system. When everything is handled at checkout, your staff can activate cards, redeem balances and apply rewards without juggling extra devices.

This also keeps your records clean and consistent. Automatic tracking removes the manual steps that slow you down during busy holiday periods.
Look for a system that handles gift cards and loyalty rewards within the same interface. This keeps checkout efficient, fast and reliable for both staff and customers.
Integration also gives you a single source of truth. You gain clearer visibility into customer activity, and you can manage everything without switching platforms or updating spreadsheets.

Key Takeaways

Use gift cards to attract new shoppers during and after the holidays.
Encourage seasonal customers to return with simple, meaningful rewards.
Combine gift cards and loyalty tools to build stronger customer retention.
Streamline both programs with integrated payment systems that save time and reduce errors.
Enhance your checkout experience so customers redeem gift cards and engage with rewards more often.

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Moneris Team

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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.