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Ecommerce Insights for DTC Brands & Shopify Merchants
As 2025 wraps up, we're breaking down the biggest trends from the holiday season, sharing strategies to maximize post-holiday engagement, and laying out your Q1 2026 game plan. Let's dive in.
📈 Year-End Performance & Holiday Sales Trends
U.S. online holiday spending reached new heights, marking the first quarter-trillion dollar holiday season. Global online sales even surpassed $1 trillion by mid-December.
$253.4B
U.S. Holiday Spending
(Nov–Dec 2025)
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$44B+
Cyber 5 Spending
(New Record)
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53%
Mobile Revenue
(First Time Over 50%)
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$10B+
BNPL Purchases
(+9-11% YoY)
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💡 KEY INSIGHT
Shoppers are savvier than ever. Time spent on retail sites jumped ~35% as consumers did more research before buying. Generative AI influenced 18–22% of online sales during the holidays.
🤝 Navigating Post-Holiday Customer Engagement
The days right after the holidays are crucial for retaining customers and managing returns. Here's how to turn one-time holiday buyers into loyal fans:
📦 Streamline Returns & Exchanges
Return volumes jump 25–45% the week after Dec 25. Make returns easy, free, and fast. A smooth return experience builds loyalty and trust.
Read: 2025 Return Trends →
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💬 Proactive Customer Support
Quick, empathetic support converts gift recipients (and frustrated gifters) into long-term customers. Use touchpoints to educate and upsell.
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⭐ Loyalty Programs & Thank-You Campaigns
Invite new customers into your VIP programs. Award welcome points immediately. Loyalty initiatives nudge holiday shoppers toward that critical second purchase.
Read: Post-Holiday Engagement Guide →
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⏰ Critical Window
30-45 Days
The first 30–45 days after a customer's initial purchase are make-or-break. Customers who buy again in this window tend to stick around.
🚀 Launching Q1 Strong: Your Action Plan
Q1 2026 is your springboard for the year. Here's how DTC brands and Shopify merchants can start strong:
📊
Inventory Cleanup & Forecasting
Review holiday data, plan January clearance, and use sell-through rates to inform Q1 purchases.
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🔧
Tech Stack Audit
Map all your tools, identify what's outdated, and prioritize upgrades. Consolidate redundant systems.
Read: Tech Stack Audit Guide →
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🎯
Activate Segmented Audiences
Segment holiday shoppers: Gift Buyers, Deal Hunters, Browsers, New Loyalists — each needs a different approach.
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⚙️
Operational Tune-Up
Optimize fulfillment, improve mobile checkout flow, and update FAQs based on holiday issues.
Read: Q1 2026 Prep Guide →
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🔮 2026 Trends & Strategic Priorities
To thrive in 2026, orient toward sustainable, tech-enabled growth. Here are the big trends:
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Retention Over Acquisition
Customer acquisition costs are up nearly 40%. The economics of 2026 favor retention — robust loyalty programs, subscriptions, and personalized retention campaigns.
"Retention is the only sustainable revenue engine"
Read: 2026 Ecommerce Benchmarks →
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AI Goes Mainstream
ChatGPT can now recommend and complete purchases directly in-chat. Shopify's new "Agentic Storefronts" lets products surface in AI conversations with checkout without leaving the chat.
80% of ecommerce businesses already use some form of AI
Read: 2026 Ecommerce Trends →
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Omnichannel & Experiential Commerce
DTC brands are testing physical touchpoints — pop-ups, showcase events, boutique partnerships. Community-building creates belonging beyond transactions.
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Personalization & Segmentation 2.0
Even smaller brands can now deliver Amazon-level personalization. Use AI for micro-segmentation and dynamic content. Focus on first-party data collection.
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🗓️ Mark Your Calendar: Early January Events
Key industry events and platform updates to kick off 2026:
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CES 2026
📍 Las Vegas • AI, IoT, AR/VR trends that shape shopping behavior
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NRF 2026 — Retail's Big Show
📍 NYC • Theme: "The Next Now"
⭐ Keynote: Ryan Reynolds on building Aviation Gin & Mint Mobile
Learn More About NRF →
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🛠️ Free Tool
Find Your Perfect eCommerce Platform
Planning a tech stack audit or platform migration in 2026? Compare Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and more based on your specific needs.
Try the Platform Calculator →
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📚 Featured Reads
Dive deeper with these guides from our archive:
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Here's to Making 2026 Your Best Year Yet! 🎉
The brands that come out strong in Q1 are those that planned ahead in Q4 and hit the ground running.
Explore More Insights →
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