The 2025 holiday shopping season is shaping up to be quieter, more intentional, and deeply rooted in value, sustainability, and convenience. With over half of consumers planning to skip holiday travel, convenience retailers have a golden opportunity to become the go-to destination for local shoppers looking to celebrate without leaving town.
Whether it’s stocking up on festive snacks, grabbing last-minute gifts, or finding eco-friendly options close to home, shoppers want retailers that align with their values and make the season easier. Here’s what’s trending for consumers—and how you can turn these insights into revenue while keeping your operational costs in check.
What shoppers want this year
Consumers are approaching the holidays with a more thoughtful mindset. Their top priorities include:
- Budget-friendly options: Even with fewer travel expenses, shoppers are watching their wallets. They’re seeking value through bundle deals, tiered loyalty rewards, and personalized discounts. Promotions that feel tailored, like app-exclusive offers or “spend-and-save” incentives, can drive repeat visits and boost basket size.
- Convenience-first shopping: Mobile-first experiences are essential. From browsing to payment, shoppers want fast, intuitive, and frictionless interactions. If your online ordering and payment experience isn’t optimized for mobile, now’s the time to invest in modern technology.
- Sustainable choices: Eco-consciousness is front and center. Shoppers are gravitating toward products with biodegradable packaging, locally sourced goods, and brands that demonstrate environmental responsibility. Craft campaigns around how you’re committed to sustainability, and what options are available in your stores. Integrated customer engagement platforms, such as PDI Experience Designer, can help you target communications to customers who are shopping for sustainable choices.
Smarter operations: cut costs, grow revenue
Meeting these evolving consumer expectations doesn’t require raising your overhead expenses. With the right retail strategies, you can actually enhance the customer experience while protecting your margins:
- Integrated systems for efficiency: Streamlining your POS, inventory management, and customer data systems reduces manual labor and improves accuracy. This helps prevent stockouts, enables smarter forecasting, and frees up your staff to focus on customer engagement during peak times.
- Mobile ordering and self-checkout: These tools reduce your staffing needs while improving customer satisfaction. Shoppers appreciate the speed and autonomy of self-service options, especially during busy holiday periods. Additionally, mobile ordering can help you manage in-store traffic and reduce wait times. Check out our integration with Vroom Delivery to see how you can streamline your foodservice operations.
- Data-driven personalization: Leverage your customer data to deliver hyper-relevant promotions in the moment. Integrated customer engagement tools like PDI Experience Designer allow you to use loyalty insights to increase engagement and repeat visits.
Turn your store into a seasonal star
This holiday season is all about intentional shopping, local connections, and tech-enabled convenience. By aligning with consumer values and optimizing your operations, you can turn this quieter travel season into a powerful opportunity for growth.