eCommerce Marketing Calendar 2026: Expert Advice for eCommerce Businesses

A marketing calendar helps to plan your 

• content marketing calendar, 
• social media campaigns, and 
• holiday campaigns.

This article includes:

eCommerce marketing calendar 2026

Marketing tips for each month

eCommerce marketing lessons from 2025 to 2026

eCommerce marketing calendar 2026

Before you build your own marketing calendars, here’s a snapshot of all the important days.  

We have also listed some promotional ideas so you can weave them into your marketing calendar and build a stronger strategy.

Let’s explore the key dates of the year in detail.

eCommerce Marketing Tips for Days of the Year

2026 Winter Olympics & Paralympics

February 6–22, 2026 (Olympics)

March 6–15, 2026 (Paralympics)

Will be hosted in Cortina d’Ampezzo and Milan in Italy. Yet again, in 2026, these much-awaited events around winter sports will draw attention to outdoor gear, athletic wear as well as lifestyle and wellness products. So if you run an eCommerce store in a niche like sportswear, outdoor equipment and nutrition, it can be a huge leverage for you. 

• Build micro-collections that drive the “mood” of the games. Limited drops and early access events can especially be fruitful. And even if your store doesn’t fit into the games energy directly, invoke the excitement that goes into watching the games at home!

• Take your bundling strategy to the next level. The Winter Olympics allow for that seamlessly, whether you’re creating an athleisure starter kit with thermal joggers, a fleece hoodie and socks or reframing your usual variety pack as a “watch party snack bundle”.

SXSW 2026

March 12-18, 2026

This multi-medium fare of film, music, tech and creativity has fans around the world. And makes for a great context to do product launches around fashion, music, accessories, tech gadgets, streaming devices and content-driven products.

• Limited edition product variants and colorways can be a great conversion booster. But ensure you don’t have them mixed up with usual variants on product pages. The right call-outs will help sell!

• Clear themes to bundles will draw the right customer segments to them. Whether it’s a “collab merch” or “creator designed bundle”, ensure the tags appear wherever product recommendations do.

Eurovision Song Contest 2026

12 & 14 May 2026 (semi-finals)

16 May 2026 (final)

2026 will ring in the 70th edition of this very popular event that has shaped modern Europe in some ways. Because of the larger theme of the event, businesses dealing in music merchandise, fashion, collectibles and even travel are likely to see higher conversion rates. 

• Your cue to create limited edition products that follow Eurivision’s aesthetics closely. For stores with larger catalogs, this is a massive opportunity. Your bundles can be varied, featuring products from across categories. 

• Offer different shipping options. Something like a themed “watch party fast shipping” option will especially be appealing to more high-intent shoppers at this time.

2026 FIFA World Cup

11 June—19 July, 2026

From what is going to be the biggest FIFA World Cup ever (yes, three countries co-hosting it), there’s naturally a lot of excitement. Unlike the usual 32 teams, 2026 will feature 48 teams and with this will come more sustained global attention — which is very good news for the eCommerce business context.

• Opportunities will really blow up for smaller businesses that revolve around memorabilia, merchandise, fan art and customer apparel. If they’re able to create guarantees around returns and shipping, conversions will invariably rise.

• Across niches, “pre game sales” will work as long as personalization and customization are kept on the foreground. Improved customer support for traffic surges will also need consideration.

January 

As the month that kicks off the calendar year, January has a lot of significance with starting ‘new’.

Holiday shoppers spill over to continue their journey to buy products relevant to their ‘resolutions’.     

New Year’s Day 

January 1, 2026

• Welcome the new year with special promotions, limited-time discount codes, and exclusive offers.
• You can never go wrong with themes like New Year's resolutions for product categories or copies. 

Blue Monday

January 15, 2026

• A day recorded to acknowledge the post-festive slump, check in with your customers through a thoughtful email.  
• Offer a special discount to help customers set or reset resolutions. 

Get To Know Your Customers Day 

January 20, 2026

• Float a detailed survey to repeat and loyal customers. Get to know what they like and dislike about your products, website, and customer service. 
• If you have already conducted previous surveys, then show the results and what actions were taken to offer transparent communication. 

International Sweatpants Day 

January 21, 2026

• A day meant to celebrate comfort and sweatpants (of course!), inspire shoppers on how to “laze in style” – and offer curated bundles to help shoppers get in the zone.
• Show how your staff is celebrating Sweatpants Day through an email.

Data Privacy Day

January 28, 2026

• Assure shoppers and customers of your website security regarding shopping and payment information through email or website pop-up (remember to make it non-intrusive). 

Recommended reading: 18 Killer Examples Of eCommerce New Years Marketing

February 

From the month of love to honoring black history, February is filled with exciting events. 

National Black History Month

• Highlight products made by black-owned brands to show support. 
• Visually tell stories about black-owned brands hosted on your website. 
• Contribute to organizations that help black-owned businesses.

World Cancer Day

February 4, 2026

• Feature a ribbon badge across your store to show your support (but don’t try to upsell or cross-sell).
• Pledge a goal that your shoppers can contribute by shopping a particular limited edition product/all products.
• Feature cancer survivors or experts – share tips from their POV like how often a person should get screened.

Super Bowl LIX

February 8, 2026

• Gamify your discounts. Ask followers to vote for their favorite teams on social media. Relegate certain mystery discounts if a certain team wins and offer them for a limited time.

National Pizza Day 

February 9, 2026

• Offer pizza-themed deals and discounts.
• Create a social media contest where customers share their favorite pizza toppings.
• Display a sub-category for a few days to feature pizza-themed products.

Galentine’s Day

February 13, 2026

• Highlight the importance of self-care and self-gifting with clever product bundles that are also budget-friendly.  

Valentine’s Day 

February 14, 2026

• Create and email gift guides to let customers discover new products and categories.
• Maximize convenience with make-your-own product bundles.   

Recommended reading: Valentine’s Day: Low-Budget Marketing Ideas for eCommerce Stores

Mardi Gras

February 17, 2026

• Celebrate the occasion with special BOGO deals for party-goers. 
• Make it a special day with party-themed categories.    

Lunar New Year

Year of the Horse

February 17, 2026

• Limited edition drops with the "fire horse" theme will likely appeal to buyers, but ensure to offer gifting & special packaging options.

March 

Spring is around the corner as March blossoms. From empowering women to the glamor of the Academy Awards, brands can host personalized campaigns.

While the end of the month kicks off March Madness, offering a slam dunk of opportunities for savvy marketers.

World Compliment Day

March 1, 2026

• Show appreciation by complimenting a customer’s taste in products.  
• Foster customer loyalty by dropping a surprise loyalty point upgrade/free gift/discount on a cart item (+ a personalized note).

International Women’s Day

March 8, 2026

• Highlight women-owned brands in your store and tell their stories. 
• Collaborate with influencers to share content on the significance of the day.

Also read:

i. International Women’s Day - 22 Marketing Ideas for your eCommerce store

ii. 15 Stunning Email Examples for International Women's Day (eCommerce)

Daylight Saving (Start)

March 8, 2026

• A great time to launch your spring collection – create solid visuals, and play with time puns like “Spring Forward” to tie in the time and weather aspect.
• Share tips on adjusting to the time change and improving sleep quality.

Oscar Academy Awards

March 15, 2026

• Host a livestream watch party and offer product recommendations/giveaways for correct answers about the Oscars.
• Feature a Red Carpet lookbook on your socials and emails after the awards.

St. Patrick's Day

March 17, 2026

• Engage your audience on social media with fun trivia or contests. 
• Showcase green-colored products or bundles to go with the Irish theme – name the bundles something like “The Green-ish bundle” or “Eye-rish Charms”.

March Madness

March 19, 2026

• Consider basketball-themed promotions or deals.
• Collaborate with influencers relevant to the sporting event to reach new shoppers. 

2026 MLB Season (Start)

March 26, 2026

• Create a landing page that updates weekly (let it feature countdown to opening day, polls and player highlights).
• Bring baseball-themed products back to stock (resend the notifications even if the products are in stock).
• Share highlights from the last season or dive deep into historic home runs to engage your shoppers.
• Ask shoppers to submit their favorite team and win custom team-based discount codes.

April 

In April, shower customers with deals that aim towards relaxation, religious holidays that gather the family together, and music festival enthusiasts.

With this unique combination of celebrations, it’s a great time to connect and engage with your customer base. 

International Customer Loyalty Month 

• Launch a leaderboard showing the most amount of discounts received by your highest-value shoppers.
• Curate a flow across the month to engage shoppers with 2X loyalty points, giveaways, and referral rewards.

April Fool’s Day

April 1, 2026

Good Friday

April 3, 2026

• Leverage the rarity of the occurrence and offer limited edition products only for the window of the eclipse.
• Focus on wellness or family-oriented products – and be respectful and sensitive to the day’s solemn nature.
• Create visually striking social media posts with images of an eclipse and compelling messages about hope, renewal, and faith.

Easter Sunday 

April 5, 2026

• Offer holiday promotions on themed merchandise or special spring bundles. 
• Provide discount codes hidden within virtual Easter eggs on your website.

You'll love reading about: Easter & Spring Email: 20 Inspirational Examples for 2025

Easter Monday

April 16 2026

• Combined with the festive spirit of Easter Monday, create a fun “Easter egg hunt” on social media with surprise discounts that lead to your site. 

You'd also be interested in: 19 Underrated Easter and Spring Marketing Ideas (eCommerce)

World Health Day

April 7, 2026

• Send wellness-focused emails to highlight certain products that cater to healthy living (whole grains, exercise kits, calming fragrances, etc.).
• Announce an exclusive discount for all healthcare professionals (like doctors, nurses, and caregivers)on your website banner and email list – encourage your customers to share the news, as a way of saying thanks to healthcare providers.

National Pet Day

April 11, 2026

• Show photos of your pets in your store’s banner along with a message reminding viewers to pet their pets
• Offer a flash sale on pet-related collections.

Tax Day

April 15, 2026

• Remind shoppers well in advance, before Tax Day arrives – offer curated bundles that can help with their tax filing experience (office supplies, brain fuel like nuts, coffee, green tea, etc.).

World Art Day

April 15, 2026

• Spotlight artists in your team or who are part of your brand. 
• Engage with your customers through social media to share art through the years and how it has changed the look of your products. 

420 Day 

April 20, 2026

• Float a sitewide 42.0% sale with solid pop-colors and trippy visuals (hint: use AI to create weird combinations).
• Launch a gift card in collab with THC/CBD brands and use them for giveaways or clear carts.

Also read: Selling CBD online? 15 strategies to boost conversion rate

Earth Day

April 22, 2026

• Connect with your target audience with environmentally conscious messaging and highlight efforts.  

Do read: Top eCommerce Events in India (Updated for 2025)

May 

As a cultural melting pot, May is the month of diversity and appreciation. Most shoppers are planning for travel and leisure, and brands can cater to those needs.      

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

• Support AAPI-owned brands and their messaging on your store. 
• Celebrate cultural significance with AAPI influencers who can voice their stories. 
• Comarket with a brand led by an AAPI founder.
• Promoting a charity that supports the AAPI community and sharing specific details of their work.

Write a Review Day

May 3, 2026

• Ask loyal customers to ‘write a review’ for a reward.  
• Highlight products that shoppers bought but don’t have any reviews yet to add their experiences.

Star Wars Day

May 4, 2026

• Kick off the biggest day in fandom culture with themed product categories. 
• Include references in your copies and campaigns. “May the Fourth be with you!” 

Mother’s Day

May 12, 2026

• Curate personalized gift guides and bundle offers suitable for all mothers.
• Offer express shipping and extended return policies. 

Also read : 21 Last-Minute Mother's Day Marketing Ideas For eCommerce Stores

International Customer Support Day

May 20, 2026

• Feature customer support social proof to customers (create highlights around average response / resolution time).
• Offer repeat customers an extra mile of customer service — announce 12 straight hours of live assistance.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

May 21, 2026

• Show how your website is accessible to all types of shoppers.
• Encourage customers to use accessibility options on your website. 

Indianapolis 500

May 24, 2026

• Curate themed merchandise, products, or categories. 
• Honor winners to engage your social media followers.  

Memorial Day

May 25, 2026

• Show respect with thoughtful Memorial Day sales or campaigns. 
• Donate a part of the day’s profits to veteran charities.

June

It’s that time of the year in the eCommerce marketing calendar when rainbows reign.

eCommerce brands can align their campaigns to support and encourage a vibrant community.

Summer holidays are starting and families are prepping to spend time with each other.    

Pride Month

• Align marketing campaigns around love and acceptance. 
• Spotlight the LGBTQ+ community and their rights, through stories and special month-long deals. 

World Environment Day

June 5, 2026

• Educate your audience on efforts you have undertaken to reduce your brand’s carbon footprint. 

Juneteenth

June 19, 2026

• As a federal holiday, collaborate with Black-owned brands or influencers. 
• Offer a portion of the day’s proceeds to organizations working for racial equality. 

Father’s Day

June 21, 2026

• Invite your target audience to share anecdotes or stories. 
• Consider bundles tailored for diverse dad personas—the grooming aficionado dad, the chef dad, or the outdoorsy dad.

July

A month of fireworks and barbecues, July is filled with celebrations of Independence Day and Amazon Prime Day.

eCommerce brands can curate patriotic-themed campaigns and urgency-inducing deals.        

Canada Day

July 1, 2026

• Turn your store into the ‘maple leaf’ or red and white theme – and celebrate the Canadian inside.
• If you track IP addresses on sign-up, send a ‘Happy Canada Day’ email to shoppers with IP addresses from Canada.

Also read: Maximize Your Canada Day eCommerce Sales: 15 Winning Marketing Ideas (+25 Email Subject Lines)

International Joke Day

July 1, 2026

• Tickle the funny bone by sharing some jokes through social media or a funny email (don’t try to sell!). 

Independence Day

July 4, 2026

• Offer special promotions with Fourth of July-themed contests on social media. 
• Consider last-minute deals for shoppers hosting barbecue parties.

Amazon Prime Day

July 7-10, 2026

• If you’re on the Amazon platform, offer lightning deals, discounts, or bundles to entice shoppers. 
• If you’re not on Amazon, introduce your own set of “lightning” deals or promotions on this day. 

August 

As the summer comes to an end, August is the time to capture the last moments of warmth.

With back-to-school and Lollapalooza campaigns, eCommerce brands can reach new audiences and weave special promotions.  

Back to School (Start)

August 11, 2026

• As summer vacations end, offer bundles to prep for the back-to-school season. 
• Create back-to-school campaigns and categories to make it easier to find relevant products.

You'll also love reading: Back To School Email Marketing: 24 Amazing Examples From eCommerce Brands

World Humanitarian Day

August 19, 2026

• Line up a few causes that shoppers can pick from when they buy (mention that $X is already included in the price).

International Cat Day

August 8, 2026

• Feature ‘Cat of the Day’ photos from your employees and invite social media followers to share their own. 
• Donate part of the profits from the day to pet shelters to celebrate your feline friends.

International Dog Day

August 26, 2026

• Feature ‘Dog of the Day’ photos from your employees and invite social media followers to share their own. 
• Donate part of the profits from the day to pet shelters to celebrate every human’s best friend.

Men’s Grooming Day

August 21, 2026

• Curate gifting bundles out of men’s grooming products and target women over ads with some clever copywriting.
• Feature ‘grooming tips’ in your emails from your employees and launch videos where women try out men’s grooming products to share their opinion on what products they like – and the kind of looks they like on men (resulting in solid social proof).

Pro Tip 🚀

In context with marketing calendars, August is one of the slower months in the year. So this is the best to tally your standing, look into previous books, and prepare for the busy months ahead.

You might also like: 8-Step eCommerce Promotion Strategy With Examples

September

School is starting, fall is here, and everything is cozy. While some are getting their favorite fall drinks, some are celebrating the merriment of Oktoberfest.

Online stores can settle in with cheerful and warm offers for loyal customers and referral programs.        

Labor Day

September 7, 2026

• Consider highlighting products related to leisure and end-of-summer barbecues. 
• Deploy retargeting campaigns on high-ticket items.

Do check out: Labor Day Marketing: 15 Amazing Ideas and Examples (2025)

Star Trek Day

September 8, 2026

• Capitalize on fan culture with themed product categories and titles. 
• Offer time-sensitive offers on bestselling products to create urgency. 

Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15—October 15, 2026

• Support Hispanic-owned brands and their messaging on your store. 
• Celebrate cultural significance with Hispanic influencers who can voice their stories. 
• Comarket with a brand led by a Hispanic founder.
• Promoting a charity that supports the Hispanic community and sharing specific details of their work.

National Inclusion Week

September 15—21, 2026

• Support, encourage, and celebrate the diversity of your customer base with thoughtful messaging, website features, and offers. 

World Gratitude Day

September 21, 2026

• Say thank you to your customers without trying to sell them anything. 

First Day of Fall

September 23, 2026 

• Launch your winter collection with an early Halloween sale.
• Send out a newsletter showing brand events lined up for the Fall of 2025.

Oktoberfest

September 19—October 15, 2026

• Launch Oktoberfest-themed products (like t-shirts, embossed travel merch like neck pillows, bags, etc.).
• Show popular pairings with beer – consider offering special deals on beer and food pairings along with partyware.
• Share travel tips and route itineraries to engage shoppers (and as always loop in product recommendations from your end).

2026 MLB Season (End)

September 27, 2026

• Skip the discounts and announce narrative-driven bundles and drops while segmenting the whole shop based on winning teams

October 

October marks the unofficial start of the holiday season in the marketing calendar.

eCommerce brands can ramp up their Black Friday preparations, capitalize on early-bird shoppers, and lay the groundwork for one of the year’s biggest shopping events.

Inbox Zero Day

October 6, 2026

• Don’t send any emails!

World Luxury Day

October 8, 2026

• Even if you don't run a luxury store, leverage a VIP-only preview and early access with small-batch items.

World Mental Health Day

October 10, 2026

• Focus on self-care and wellness while promoting relevant products.
• Use empathetic messaging that is respectful yet resonating – like “Take a moment to care for your mind – we hope these will help 😊.”
• Share content that educates your audience about mental health and creates a supportive community. 

Global Cat Day

October 16, 2026

• Gather UGC asking shoppers to feature their cats in reviews, opinion and unboxing videos.

Halloween 

October 31, 2026

• Plan your campaigns at least a month in advance. 
• Prank customers with funny ghostly pop-ups on your website. 
• Add some Halloween-y puns to your product titles or categories. 

Recommended reading: 46 Halloween Marketing Examples in eCommerce (2025)

November 

November is the month when the holiday season officially swings into action, and as many people begin their holiday shopping, others slow down to cherish the festivities.

eCommerce brands have many opportunities to connect with their audiences, offering products and memories that will last a lifetime.

World Vegan Day

November 1, 2026

• If you have vegan products or use vegan materials, spotlight the information through visual cues on the website. 
• Create relevant product categories and share them through email campaigns or social media. 

Daylight Saving Time Ends

November 1, 2026

• Give shoppers an extension on the Halloween sale.
• Tie in the weather and event aspect with puns like “Fall Back” and use visuals of clocks rolling back to show the effect of Daylight Saving Time ending.

Veterans Day

November 11, 2026

• Show appreciation for veterans by offering special deals or discounts on this day. 

World Kindness Day

November 13, 2026

• Show how shoppers have helped you achieve your brand's goals – and how they can continue spreading kindness.
• Ask shoppers to show kindness by sending a gift card or a referral discount friend or a person in need.

World Quality Day

November 14, 2026

• Highlight the quality of your products, and share behind the scenes from product manufacturing to how it’s safely delivered to customers.  

International Men’s Day

November 19, 2026

• Create time-sensitive offers for products for men. 
• Donate part of the day’s profits to charities that support causes for men.
• Tie in "No-Shave November" and "Movember" messaging, and curate products around prostate cancer awareness.

National Deal Week 

Starts November 25, 2026

• The holiday season is getting started, so test different website features to gear up. 
• Run week-long campaigns and sitewide time-sensitive deals. 

Thanksgiving

November 26, 2026

• Craft themed product categories for better product discovery. 
• Target early Christmas shoppers with well-crafted bundles and discounts. 

Black Friday

November 27, 2026

• Offer extended shopping hours, extended returns, and expedited shipping. 
• Create urgency with real-time updates and stock alerts.  

First Day of Advent  

November 29, 2026

• Create a last chance to grab Advent Calendars (in case you do sell one) .
• If you don’t sell calendars, start a countdown to your Christmas Sale on a landing page as well as emails – include a uniquely witty message for each day of Advent – like "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...and a full fridge."
• Nudge shoppers that the Holy Season is upon them, and that ‘now is the time to be jolly, with free doorstep shipping.’

Cyber Monday

November 30, 2026

• Offer early access deals to loyalty program customers.  
• Drop new products with limited stock to generate buzz. 

Do check this out: Cyber Monday eCommerce: 18 *Last-Minute* Hacks to Boost Conversions

December 

As the curtain call of the marketing calendar, December is marked by a flurry of festivities, family gatherings, and a heightened spirit of giving.

It's the peak of the gifting season for eCommerce businesses, with consumer spending reaching annual highs.

Hanukkah

December 5—12, 2026

• Feature Hanukkah themed items as "free gifts" within bundles (create a price threshold & feature candles, small collectibles etc.)

Green Monday 

December 14, 2026

• Close holiday-related sales with special promotions and deals.

National Free Shipping Day 

December 14, 2026

• Target last-minute holiday shoppers by offering sitewide free shipping.
• If you can’t offer free shipping to everyone, create a contest via email where you refund shipping fees.
• As always, you can offer your highest spenders free shipping for their next order with a custom coupon code.

First Day of Winter 

December 21, 2026

• Promote your winter collection with bundled deals and new product ranges.  

Christmas Eve & Christmas

December 24, 2026

• Curate family discounts and gifting deals for last-minute shoppers.   
• Offer express shipping for last-minute orders.

December 25, 2026

• Perfect time to advertise post-Christmas sales. 
• For Hanukkah, offer daily deals for the eight days of the festival.

Boxing Day 

December 26, 2026

• Promote clearance sales to drive sales and holiday revenue. 

New Year’s Eve 

December 31, 2026

• Wrap the year by highlighting your best-selling products. 
• Run last-day-of-the-year promotions. 

eCommerce Marketing Lessons from 2025 to 2026

While marketing calendars help to plan your eCommerce strategies, past data can be used to predict certain trends.   

To plan for 2026, here are some marketing lessons from 2025.   

What worked in 2025: 

1. Empathy 

In the news, 2025 was filled with worldwide coverage of different geopolitical conflicts and crises. 

People found many ways to show their support through donations and inclination towards local brands rather than big brands.

This will continue in 2026, as people look for more ways to contribute to society through everyday actions, like shopping online.   

You can collaborate with organizations and charities to highlight social issues and offer part of your profits with every order.    

⚠ Beware: Research shows that younger shoppers are less willing to pay a premium for sustainability.  

2. Localization

With easy access to platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, businesses are booming. 

Statistics show that more than eight in 10 consumers or 82% of consumers currently use local businesses.

According to satisfied consumers, local businesses offer:

• personalized service,
• fair treatment,
• customer service,
• quality products, and 
• reliable services. 

If you have an online that caters to international consumers, then assign different settings to different countries and regions. 

Use geographical keywords so you come up in local searches. 

Get professionally translated copies for your web pages so shoppers know exactly what they are buying without any assumptions.  

Don't forget to read: International eCommerce Expansion: 15 Commonly-missed Action Items

3. Entertainment trends 

For retail brands worldwide, the entertainment industry with popular platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram has become the forefront of selling and discovering trends. 

Think back to the 50-part reel of ‘who…did I marry’ – Stanley cups going viral – and of course, who can forget the ‘Tuah’?

Taylor Swift’s tour still remained viral – inspiring many stores to create Swiftie products and categories.

In 2025, many movie franchises made a comeback (Captain America: Brave New World, Jurassic World Rebirth). 

Beloved literature will get screen time. (Frankenstein, Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare).

The 2000s are back with punk pop, super chill ADHD music, and mashups (Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Morgan Wallen x Post Malone).

Some highly anticipated musicals (Wicked: Part Two, MJ: The Musical)

Fans will be rejoicing in live-action remakes (How To Train Your Dragon, Snow White). 

Also, some more super grotesque horror films are coming out in 2025 like: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, The Conjuring: Last Rites, Final Destination: Bloodlines.

2025 seems to be a year full of retro-nostalgia entertainment trends to look forward to. 

4. Generative AI 

The breakout star of 2025 continued to be Generative AI (despite the fails).

ChatGPT can now speak and is now on a side domain. It can still write anything from a haiku to HTML codes in seconds. 

But, that's not where it ends – in 2024, eCommerce brands succeeded in leveraging Generative AI to provide not only better creatives but also excellent customer service.

In a McKinsey survey, statistics show

• 40% of respondents say their organizations will increase their investment in AI overall because of advances in gen AI. 
• Respondents said that their organization used Gen AI most commonly (14%) for marketing and sales (such as crafting docs, personalized marketing, and summarizing docs).

While there were many things brands did right, 2024 was also a lesson in what marketing strategies didn’t work. 

Also read: The 6 Most Significant eCommerce Trends (2025)

What didn’t work in 2025:

1. Copy that screams AI

More shoppers became acquainted with how product descriptions and social proof look when they've been written by AI.

So, in 2026, you'd do well by:

• Highlighting verified reviews that also sound human and are detailed (speaks of relatable experience).
• Bringing out clear product comparisons with badges & icons as differentiators.
• Featuring UGC with clear timestamps.

2. Forced relevance 

While eCommerce marketing is always about finding relevance, sometimes it can go the wrong road and alienate customers.  

Here’s how forced relevance can have a negative impact on eCommerce marketing:

• When shoppers are constantly bombarded with ads that are irrelevant to their interests, they may start to feel frustrated and annoyed. This can lead to them avoiding your brand altogether.
• If shoppers start to associate your brand with irrelevant messaging, they may develop a negative perception of your brand. This can make it difficult to attract new customers and retain existing customers.
• When you spend money on forced-relevance ads, you're not always sure if those ads are actually reaching the right people. This can lead to wasted marketing spend.
• It can be difficult to measure the effectiveness of forced-relevance ads. This is because it's not always clear if users are clicking on your ads because they're interested in your product or because they're simply trying to get rid of the ad.

3. Brand loyalty

More shoppers are ready to spend. However, these shoppers are extremely value-driven – even if it means switching brands.

It isn't just greenwashed products or an ad showing cutting-edge visuals – or the price.

It's about the element of surprise (remember the guerilla marketing for the Alien: Romulus movie) – or, the element of community (the meteoric rise of Smashd, previously Mixoloshe). 

The way out?

• Be more readily available with better service – over Instagram DMs as well as SMS.
• Collaborate with brands that complement your product to bring out curated limited edition products.

4. Interrupted user experiences

One of the biggest threats to UX is interrupted user experiences. 

These are experiences where the user is interrupted by something that takes them away from their current task. 

This can be anything from a pop-up ad to a slow-loading page.

Interrupted user experiences can have several negative consequences, including:

• Reduced conversion rates: When users are interrupted, they are more likely to abandon their shopping carts or leave your site altogether. This can lead to a significant decrease in conversion rates.
• Increased bounce rates: The bounce rate is the percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page. Interrupted user experiences can increase bounce rates by making it difficult for users to find what they are looking for.
• Negative customer sentiment: When users have a negative experience, they are more likely to leave negative reviews or comments. This can damage your brand reputation and make it difficult to attract new customers.
• Loss of sales: Interrupted user experiences can lead to lost sales. When users are interrupted, they are more likely to forget what they were looking for or to give up on their purchase altogether.

To avoid interrupted user experiences, it is important to design your site with the shopper in mind. 

Make sure that your site is easy to navigate, that pages load quickly, and that there are no unnecessary distractions. 

You should also audit your site to see how it can be improved.

2X Your Revenue in 2026

98% of visitors who visit an eCommerce site—drop off without buying anything.

Why: user experience issues that cause friction for visitors.

And this is the problem Convertcart solves.

We've helped 500+ eCommerce stores (in the US) improve user experience—and 2X their conversions.

How we can help you:

Our conversion experts can audit your site—identify UX issues, and suggest changes to improve conversions.