Every marketer wants to slow down this time of year.

But between end-of-year reports, last-minute sales pushes, and 2026 planning decks, “pause” isn’t really an option. The inbox doesn’t care that it’s the holidays — and neither do retailer timelines.

Still, there’s one year-end task worth making time for: wrapping the year in a way that sells the next one.

Holiday campaigns might feel like the finish line, but for retailers and brand managers, they’re often just the proof points that set next year’s strategy.

Here’s how to make sure your final push this year pays off in 2026:

1. Package your results.
Don’t let your strongest campaigns fade into your feed. Summarize impressions, engagement, and retailer traffic in a clean, visual recap that connects effort to outcome. Show not just what you did, but what it delivered.

2. Lead with retailer relevance.
Frame your wins around what merchants care about — velocity, visibility, and proof of demand. If an influencer campaign or review surge moved product, highlight it like a headline.

3. Turn insights into strategy.
Every campaign holds a clue for what’s next — which content types performed, which creators converted, which platforms actually mattered. Use that data to build your 2026 roadmap.

4. Celebrate your partners.
From influencers to retail buyers, end the year with gratitude. The relationships you nurture now will define your opportunities next year.

Because the best brands don’t just close out the year — they set up the next one.

So before you pour the eggnog, pour over your dashboards.
Your 2026 sell-in story starts with how you wrap up 2025.

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