The Best Thanksgiving Campaigns We’ve Ever Seen

Thanksgiving is one of the most important business holidays for retailers. According to the Robin Report, retail spending rose by nearly 30% in 2021 during Thanksgiving, Cyber Monday, and Black Friday — fueled by Americans’ desire to celebrate the holiday with their families and a healthy dose of stellar Thanksgiving campaign ideas. That’s why, as the 2022 holiday season approaches, it’s time to review some of the best Thanksgiving marketing campaigns to help you prepare for the season.

Thanksgiving Campaign #1: Coca-Cola

Why we liked it:
What does Coca-Cola have to do with Thanksgiving? More than someone might think, thanks to the company’s ingenious Happy Thanksgiving social media posts on Pinterest, which ingeniously turn the company’s product line into one of the best Thanksgiving campaigns we’ve seen. Ever thought you’d see a Coke bottle dressed up as a turkey?

• Incredibly creative — the company found a way to keep itself relevant during a time of year most wouldn’t think of it.
• Coca-Cola’s wonderful design sense is sure to make its Pinterest feed the envy of all who see it.
• Its posts are a great example of how to use social media to connect with customers in a fun and engaging way, even during the peak of the holiday season when other brands take a break from posting.

Channel: Social media, specifically Pinterest.

Thanksgiving Campaign #2: REI

Why we liked it:
Apparel brand REI created a compelling video of a young woman preparing holiday-themed meals in the great outdoors, wearing its clothing. The video shows the brand’s products in action while also providing a healthy dose of humor and personality, making it worthy of being listed among the best Thanksgiving campaigns.

• The company found a way to showcase its clothes without being too self-promotional.
• The video features a woman who is both outdoorsy and stylish, but still relatable to the target demographic.
• It’s a good way to incorporate seasonal elements without going too far.

Channel: Social media (Instagram)

Thanksgiving Campaign #3: Samsung

Why we liked it:
Samsung’s “Unwrap the Feels” video perfectly encapsulates the joy of receiving a gift during the holidays. The brand released the video to commemorate its first VR headset, which is designed to bring families together.

• The ad succeeds in being one of the best Thanksgiving campaigns not only by evoking a familial setting but also by capturing the sentimental feeling of being together during the holidays.
• The ad is surprisingly emotional and heartwarming, which makes it a great reminder to customers that they’re not alone in their holiday cheer.

Channel: YouTube

Thanksgiving Campaign #4: Whole Foods

Why we liked it:
Whole Foods partnered with Chloe Coscarelli, best known as the champion of Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars,” on Instagram to create a charming, ethical, and vegan-friendly unboxing reel. It’s full of such holiday favorites as vegan turkey, casserole, stuffing, and, of course, pie.

• Working with an influencer can be a great way to reach new audiences without spending a ton of money on traditional advertising methods.
• Niche branding tightens the focus on a specific audience. In this case, it’s vegans.
• It becomes one of the best Thanksgiving campaigns by effectively connecting to social issues at the top of the mind of consumers, like animal welfare and sustainability.

Channel: Instagram

Read more of the best Thanksgiving campaigns here.