The holiday season is finally here, a time filled with back-to-back parties, family gatherings, celebrations, and social events. Along with all the festive cheer comes one significant activity: shopping. From gifts and décor to outfits and last-minute essentials, most of us turn to online shopping to get everything done quickly and conveniently.
For Gen Z and modern shoppers alike, YouTube creator marketing plays a huge role in purchase decisions. Before buying a product, we look for trusted recommendations, and YouTube has become the go-to platform for in-depth reviews, honest opinions, and relatable content. What shoppers truly want is creator authenticity and genuine trust, and both brands and YouTube understand this perfectly.
To simplify the holiday gifting journey, several brands teamed up with YouTube creators to connect with shoppers in meaningful, authentic ways. Here’s a look at some standout holiday campaigns that truly captured the festive spirit.
The Power of Creators on YouTube This Holiday Season
YouTube creator marketing has increased purchase intent by 8.8%. Let us take a look at some interesting brand collabs with creators from various backgrounds and genres.
Chewy Brings Holiday Cheer with “Chewy Claus”
Pet destination Chewy launched its heartwarming “Chewy Claus” campaign, bringing together popular pet creators to make the holidays memorable for furry friends. Creators encouraged audiences to send letters sharing their pets’ holiday wishes. For every letter received, Chewy donated five meals to shelter animals in need, blending purpose with festive joy.
Alongside this initiative, Chewy partnered with well-known dog creators like Gone to the Snow Dogs and Doug the Pug to spotlight its fresh dog food line, Get Real, positioning it as the ultimate holiday gift for pets. The campaign balanced emotional storytelling with product discovery, making it both impactful and memorable.
JCPenney Makes Style Affordable with Pierson Wodzynski
JCPenney teamed up with creator Pierson Wodzynski to prove that looking stylish doesn’t require splurging on luxury brands. Through a dedicated YouTube series, Pierson showcased elegant gifting ideas, home décor picks, and complete outfit looks all shopped directly from JCPenney.
What made this campaign stand out was YouTube’s shoppable feature, allowing viewers to purchase items directly from the video. The result? Seamless shopping paired with relatable creator storytelling.
Target and Walmart Turn Gift Wrapping into a Trend
Who knew gift wrapping would become a holiday obsession? Target and Walmart partnered with various creators to share gifting and wrapping ideas, tapping into a surprisingly high-search trend. From aesthetic wrapping styles to budget-friendly supplies, creators helped shoppers elevate their gift presentation while subtly driving product discovery.
Kohl’s Helps Parents Plan Ahead with WhatsUpMoms
Understanding that holiday stress often comes from last-minute shopping, Kohl’s partnered with Elle Walker from WhatsUpMoms. Her videos focused on the benefits of getting gifting done early, showing how planning ahead with Kohl’s can create a calmer, more joyful holiday season, especially for parents.
Mattel’s Hot Wheels Meets Michelle Khare
Mattel brought its iconic Hot Wheels brand to life by collaborating with Emmy-nominated creator Michelle Khare. Building on her childhood love of toys, the campaign imagined Michelle facing off against her younger self in action-packed challenges inspired by the brand’s top holiday products. Paired with creator takeovers, the campaign blended nostalgia, creativity, and entertainment.
Old Navy Inspires Early Holiday Planning
Old Navy partnered with creator Abbie Herbert to encourage shoppers to plan their holiday looks early. The campaign featured present-day Abbie interacting with her future “Holiday Abbie,” who thanked her for planning ahead, a fun, relatable concept that resonated strongly with viewers.
Conclusion
These holiday YouTube creator marketing campaigns highlight one clear truth: YouTube creators are powerful storytellers who drive trust, influence decisions, and simplify shopping journeys. By partnering authentically with creators, brands didn’t just sell products; they built emotional connections, delivered value, and made holiday shopping more enjoyable. As influencer marketing continues to evolve, creator-led campaigns like these set the standard for meaningful brand engagement.