Author: Kick Writers

Kick Writers are a crew of loyalty lovers and savvy Shopkickers fueled by caffeine and curiosity. From sharing the best ways to rack up kicks to smart shopping hacks, they’ve covered it all — and they’re on a mission to make earning rewards as fun as it is easy.

Understanding the types of consumer buying behavior and ways to influence them

Posted on by Kick Writers

Understanding the types of consumer buying behavior and ways to influence them

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While the basic types of consumer buying behaviors haven’t changed much over the years, the way in which marketers approach consumers has. Digital avenues have expanded the information that consumers have available, as well as their connection to brands. Whether a consumer is prone to impulse buying, or starting a more complicated purchase journey, there’s a digital solution for reaching them and increasing purchase potential. Technology strengthens the bond between brands and consumers as it can be leveraged to cater to any journey on the path to purchase.

CPG brands need to carefully monitor how consumers choose their products to help them stand out among the competition. Approaching these consumers as they’re in the shopping aisle and prepared to make a purchase can be an ideal method. Managing the brand’s online reputation is also critical for differentiating products. With technology, brands can cater to all four types of traditional buying behaviors: impulse, habitual, dissonance reducing, and complex.

The Types of Consumer Buying Behavior and Their Impact on CPG Brands

There is a basic model of human buying behavior established by Henry Assael, professor of marketing for NYU Stern. Assael broke down the consumer buying models according to consumer knowledge of products and the difference between brands. These categories break down as follows:

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Variety-seeking:

Consumers may enjoy reading about and trying new brands and will often make decisions to try new products impulsively. There’s very little time between product discovery and purchase. The consumer isn’t switching brands due to dissatisfaction, but simply because they want to try something new. Variety seeking is a substantial area of opportunity for CPG brands as CPG goods are typically priced lower than others, posing a low risk for consumers.

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Habitual buying:

Consumers stick to brands they know as they see little difference between products. Habitual buying challenges CPG brands when that loyalty is to a competitor, as it can be very difficult to pull the consumer away from the products they trust. The brand must be able to differentiate its products from the competitors to win consumer attention.

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Dissonance reducing:

There may be very little difference between the products available across various brands, but consumers may still choose to do extensive research. This research may stem from dissatisfaction with the product itself. Alternatively, this information gathering may come as a result of increased social awareness about the impacts of manufacturing. In either case, brands must invest in products and overall reputation to connect with these shoppers.

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Complex buying:

Consumers who do extensive research before buying may have little familiarity with the brands and choices available. This buying behavior is typical when making big-ticket purchases, but that does not mean it’s not a concern for CPG brands with lower price points. Complex does not have to mean costly. It can also occur when a consumer has a concern over a product’s impact on their well-being, like in the case of health and beauty products with unfamiliar ingredients.

While not every path to purchase will fit into one of the above models, they do a sufficient job of giving an overall look at the most common methods for purchase. These behaviors have no boundaries, as consumers will follow them whether purchasing online or in the store.  Understanding these models benefits brands as they can create individual plans to cater to these specific purchase behaviors, regardless of where the consumer makes the purchase.

Using Mobile Shopping Apps to Excite Variety-Seeking Consumers

Variety-seeking consumers are promising prospects for CPG brands as they’re open to trying new products. While they may not extensively research before making a purchase, digital marketing still makes an impact. Timely promotions delivered via mobile shopping apps can provide excellent ROI for impulse buying behaviors. Such messages target these consumers based on their location and drive them to interact with products. We see an example of this through Shopkick and how consumers use the shopping app.

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Notifying:

The first step to securing a purchase is brand awareness. With Shopkick, a timely notification lets the consumer know which products in the store offer kicks (aka rewards points) and how many. The alert makes the consumer aware of the brand and encourages them to seek it out.  

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Priming:

When a consumer physically handles a product, it establishes a sense of ownership. Shopkick encourages consumers to pick up products by offering incentives for scanned UPCs. The moment a consumer touches the product, the chance of purchase increases.

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Incentivizing:

Shopkick users receive rewards points when they locate certain products in the store, and even more points when they purchase them. By rewarding purchase path behaviors both in-aisle and through checkout, brands create customer affinity and increase sales potential.

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Gamification:

The entire process works as a digital scavenger hunt with various goals and rewards. Shopkick’s design turns an everyday shopping trip into an enhanced customer experience. This gamification improves the use and retention of the app, which expands the brand’s audience.

Brands often target variety-seeking consumers with discounts and coupons, but rewards points provide the same benefit without the need to cut the product price. As variety-driven consumers make impulse purchases, these apps target them more efficiently than other marketing methods.

Cultivating Habitual Buying Through Data-Driven Personalization

Customer loyalty is entirely relationship-driven. Brands wishing to pull loyal customers from competitors, while also growing their faithful following, should look to personalization to establish these relationships. Profiles created with existing consumer data aid in this process by helping brands deliver personal messages on a mass scale.

Consider a brand trying to cultivate a following for a new ultra-moisturizing lipstick. That brand could use existing social media data to locate a general group of consumers who have an overall interest in makeup. That data can be used to target a specific age range, location, or consumer need. The brand might consider targeting users in hot, arid climates with a message about how this lipstick prevents chapped lips. As the message is designed to solve a problem that is unique to them, the consumer feels a deeper connection to the brand.

Any time a brand uses data, consumer privacy must be a concern. If a consumer feels their personal information is unsafe, there’s a risk of alienating them. However, consumers are receptive to data use for personalization, and consider value the number one driver of trust. As long as their data is used to provide them with a heightened experience, consumers are willing to share it.

The key component of any data-driven campaign is how it improves the customer shopping experience. Brands must consider if the information the consumer will receive is more valuable than the data used. It also helps to have a clear data collection policy which explains how consumer information is used, and provides an opportunity to opt out. Through transparency, brands can use data to cater to consumers without invading their privacy.

Attracting Dissonance-Reducing Buyers With Online Reputation Management

Dissonance-reducing consumers are researchers who are well-informed about products. Differentiative marketing is critical as this buying often occurs in the CPG market, where branded products are similar to those of their competitors. Brands may not be able to rely on their product but instead must focus on their overall reputation to stand out.

Campbell’s creates an excellent example of a brand leveraging their reputation to gain attention in the competitive canned food segment. The brand works hard to cater to consumers’ desires when it comes to social responsibility. They created several features to offer greater transparency to consumers, including their “What’s in My Food” database. They also spearheaded several corporate initiatives by increasing their focus on sustainable sourcing and providing aid to people in impoverished regions. These initiatives helped boost Campbell’s to the top of the USRepTrak 100 list, which ranks companies based on consumer trust perception.
By using their reputation as a differentiator, Campbell’s stands out in a crowded category often filled with lower cost competitors. A consumer may find themselves drawn to Campbell’s products due to the positive brand affinity their social efforts created. Brands can use social channels like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram to help share news regarding the causes in which they invest, and invite consumers to participate as well. This strategy aligns their goals with those of the consumer, which creates a loyal relationship.

How Video Marketing Supports Complex Buying

When consumers make complex buying decisions, they’re often at a disadvantage. They know they need to do significant research but may not be familiar with the product. A typical example of complex buying is car purchasing. Consumers may not understand the differences between several different options and will turn to the digital space to learn more about them. However, CPG brands need to stay on top of this buying behavior as well, because it can impact lower-cost, mass-produced items.

Consider a broad category like whitening toothpaste, which encompasses thousands of diverse products and active ingredients. Some focus solely on whitening, while others combine whitening with other treatments like enamel protection or cavity prevention. Consumers may seek out information not just on efficacy, but on safety.

Catering to complex buyers requires a simplified approach. Explainer videos are ideal as they allow a brand to share information about a product while making those details easy to digest for the consumer. In some cases, they can drive the success of a debut product.

Dollar Shave Club discovered the power of explainer videos in 2016 when they rolled out their introduction. The funny ad garnered enough views to create significant clout for the brand which later led to its acquisition by Unilever. Through a short video clip, the brand created a connection with individuals on a complex purchase path. Dollar Shave Club provided the information that consumers needed in an easy to digest format. It also solved a common concern—the high expense and inconvenience of buying replacement razors. By making the process easy to understand, the brand built consumer trust and reached a broader market. The company went from a simple niche service to an industry disruptor that gained the attention of larger, established CPG brands all through the power of video.
It’s possible to cater to the types of consumer buying behavior by taking advantage of new technology. Mobile marketing can help brands connect with impulse buyers, while video helps guide those making complex buying decisions. Brands can differentiate themselves through reputation, rather than products. Alternatively, they can pull market share from competitors with personalization created through data. All of these methods help brands connect with consumers even when their path to purchase is less predictable than it was in the past.
Shopkick partners connect with consumers in the shopping aisle with our intuitive app that incentivizes product interaction. To leverage it to guide consumers to your products in the store, contact us.
Posted in b2b

Successful brand repositioning examples designed to reach a greater consumer audience

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Successful brand repositioning examples designed to reach a greater consumer audience

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Sometimes, iconic brands get consumers to look at an existing product in a new way. Any time a brand makes a significant paradigm shift, whether they’re introducing a new product or reintroducing an old one, they’re taking a risk. Several successful brand repositioning examples show us how a product can reenter the market and resonate with an audience.

Reputation management is often a challenge for brands. If a brand has established itself as a big business, consumers may write them off as impersonal. A personal connection is what allows smaller challenger brands to take market share from their established competitors. By focusing on connecting with consumers, brands of any size can reposition themselves in the marketplace both online and in the shopping aisle.  

Successful Brand Repositioning Example #1: Campbell’s Bets on Transparency

Consumers want transparency from brands. Specifically, 94% of consumers report they would remain loyal to brands with transparent principles. Keeping all business practices open isn’t easy for large brands, but Campbell’s managed this to do so leveraging the digital space.

Campbell’s “What’s in my Food” database delivers ingredient lists across six of Campbell’s product categories. Consumers can search for any product and get a concise list of its ingredients—as well as an explanation of each ingredient’s use. This explanation helps consumers understand what’s in their food and make informed decisions.
The What’s in My Food” database, along with other initiatives, helped boost Campbell’s to the top of the Reputation Institute’s annual USRepTrak 100 list. This strong reputation is vital among the company’s key demographic of families seeking nutritious, affordable foods. It also targets Millennials who seek healthy meals on the go. To reposition itself as a quality leader in the food industry, all that Campbell’s needed to do was make product information public and accessible.

Successful Brand Repositioning Example #2: Hallmark Trades on Brand Equity

Hallmark serves as an excellent example of brand endurance in a changing market. The brand has been around for more than a century and has seen significant paradigm shifts from its early days as a simple greeting card company, to its current status as a multi-brand conglomerate. In 2014, Hallmark’s movie channel was floundering. They chose to reposition it to reach more consumers by changing the tagline and adding a new focus: mysteries.

Hallmark chose to rebrand the channel, but kept their brand equity by building it into the name. The name changed from the “Hallmark Movie Channel” to “Hallmark Movies & Mysteries” to contemporize the brand and reach new viewers. The title eliminated the dated “channel” while keeping critical brand recognition. It also targeted the massive mystery viewership, allowing them to reach new consumers whether they were watching via mass channel options or through their iPads and smartphones. Two years later, the channel is considered one of the strongest performers in Hallmark’s portfolio.
Hallmark didn’t toss out their brand equity when trying to reach new consumers. Instead, they adjusted it slightly to appeal to old viewers while simultaneously drawing in new ones. Eliminating the restrictive “channel” from the name freshened the image for today’s non-traditional viewers. It was a seamless paradigm shift for which the brand is known.

Successful Brand Repositioning Example #3: CoverGirl Updates Its Tagline

In 2017, CoverGirl faced shifting attitudes in the cosmetics industry. No longer just an everyday product for women, some consumers began using cosmetics as a means of self-expression.  The 60-year-old “Easy, Breezy, Beautiful” tagline didn’t do enough to reach the growing pool of diverse consumers. As such, the brand shifted its focus with a new tagline: “I Am What I Make Up.”

The brand debuted the tagline and its accompanying video on Instagram, a popular platform for cosmetics influencers. They also showed off a new listing of non-traditional spokespeople to include chef Ayesha Curry, 69-year-old model Maye Musk, pro motorcycle racer Shelina Moreda and its first male spokesmodel, YouTuber James Charles. Partnering with these individuals allowed the brand to connect to new audiences and reach consumers that use makeup for different reasons than everyday wear.
This strategy was another case of a brand revitalizing its image without the need to change products or acquire new companies. The new tagline was welcoming to both loyal users, as well as new customers. Social media allowed them to spread the message and familiarize users with these changes, ensuring the new logo, packaging, and product designs wouldn’t confuse consumers when they hit the shelf.

Successful Brand Repositioning Example #4: Clorox Targets Aggressive Growth

Many brands failed to make the transition to digital because they became too comfortable with the status quo. These brands had successful products and loyal users. However, even the simplest of products need reinvigoration to stay relevant. Leaders of the Clorox brand understand and embrace the need to innovate, even with items as basic as household cleaners. It’s recent “2020 Strategy” is a three-pronged approach which combines:

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Co-branded product development:

One way that Clorox expanded its presence was by collaborating on products with other well-known brands. A few examples of these strategies include Clorox with Scentiva and Fresh Step cat litter with Febreze. By combining brands, Clorox created awareness across multiple markets and solidified their overall household product lead.

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Digital advertising initiatives:

Almost half of Clorox’s marketing budget goes to digital initiatives designed to increase online awareness. So far, online sales bring in only 5% of the brand’s revenue, but it’s also the fastest growing segment for sales. The brand’s efforts to expand online marketing have helped it gain a greater e-commerce foothold which will drive sales in years to come.

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Brand equity investment:

Clorox has the benefit of strong brand equity. This equity is critical in household goods, where consumers tend to stay loyal. The brand reported reaching two million new households in 2017. This result indicates that the focus on staying true to the Clorox brand through integrated marketing strategies is paying off.

Even though Clorox is a clear market leader, the brand continues to innovate and target aggressive growth. This dynamic, continuous expansion strategy is one which helped the brand succeed as shopping went digital across product categories.

Successful Brand Repositioning Example #5: Walmart Uses Digital Initiatives in Stores

Brick-and-mortar retailers faced challenging times when the internet turned into the source for all products, even lower cost CPG items. However, Walmart didn’t abandon its brick-and-mortar locations to focus entirely on digital sales. Instead, it tied the digital and physical together through its mobile initiatives. The brand focused on convenience features for consumers such as:

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Store maps:

The retailer offers an option to view location maps to find items at its stores easily. New maps are added regularly, as they have more than 4,600 locations to digitize. Through digital mapping, the brand improves the customer experience while limiting work for associates.

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List building:

Consumers can create an in-store shopping list to better budget their time and their grocery money. They can gain information on product deals and discounts and easily locate in-stock items across various locations.  

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Third-party app partnerships:

Partnering with third-party app developers like Shopkick allows Walmart to reach new audiences who don’t typically use the retailer’s proprietary apps. It also expands the kinds of apps the retailer can offer, as consumers may use several shopping apps while in the store or online.

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Specialty department integration:

Consumers can get details on Walmart Photo Centers, Auto Care Centers, and Pharmacies. They can also review availability for Rug Doctor rentals. This integration serves to cross-market these niche businesses within the store ecosystem.

By using mobile as a way to enhance the in-store customer experience, Walmart has seen consistent growth in same-store sales. While some of this stemmed from the closure of underperforming locations, much of this success comes from the enhanced omnichannel experience.

Successful Brand Repositioning Example #6: Amazon Embraces Shopping Innovations

When compared to other examples, Amazon is a young company. However, that youth doesn’t trump its need to innovate. Amazon, through the development of its smart speaker and Alexa digital assistant, has disrupted the industry by creating a new means of online shopping: voice ordering. The retailer also partnered with the popular social media platform Snapchat to take advantage of image-based search.

The voice ordering market has been slow to take off, but it’s rife with potential. Smart speakers have not fully penetrated US households. As they do, voice ordering is expected to explode in value. The industry could account for up to $40 billion in sales by 2022. Amazon, being the primary purveyor of smart speakers, is set to profit exponentially from this trend.

Image recognition in retail shopping is another area poised for growth. Through visual search tools, consumers can use photos to locate items. Artificial intelligence and machine learning have driven such innovations, but are still in their infancy. Amazon was also ahead of the curve by partnering with Snapchat to offer a way for consumers to search for items with photos in their account.
Amazon stays ahead of the competition by seeking out new ways to do traditional things. Even simple online ordering seems old-school when compared to the ability to order something with just a word, or turn the entire world into a digital shopping aisle. Meanwhile, partnering with Snapchat limits Amazon’s exposure if the trend fails to take off, while the company’s strong lead in smart speakers doubles its benefits for voice ordering.

Successful Brand Repositioning Example #7: Bloomin’ Brands Integrates Rewards

Customer loyalty programs are nothing new in regard to hospitality. However, integrated programs that allow consumers to dine at a variety of locations are. Bloomin’ Brands, the parent company of Bonefish Grill, Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Barn offers consumers a consolidated rewards program.

The company doesn’t just use the loyalty program to drive visits. Instead, their focus on servicing the 4.6 million users of the app is to gain data. Through it, the brand can discover what encourages consumers to visit specific locations. They can also use this information to guide future marketing initiatives and keep members alerted to promotions.

By integrating the program across all its concepts, Bloomin’ Brands reached a wider audience and built significant cross-promotional opportunities. They also eliminated a common barrier to rewards program adoption, in that consumers won’t participate if they don’t think they’ll use it frequently. By offering four options instead of just one, the likelihood of consumer participation and retention increases.
Companies should follow the successful brand positioning examples of industry icons to understand how to expand their reach. By leveraging industry innovations to gain insight into target demographics, brands can pivot their campaigns and increase market share. Digital marketing initiatives can even drive in-store sales with a robust mobile program. Sustainable brand growth is only possible through a strong consumer connection, and mobile marketing programs support these efforts.
Our partners engage with household decision makers in the shopping aisle and online through our innovative app. For more information on adding Shopkick to your marketing mix, contact us.
Posted in b2b

A chat with CEO Adam Sand: 2019 marketing technology predictions

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As 2018 comes to a close, marketers are gearing up for what’s to come in the new year. We sat down with Shopkick CEO Adam Sand to discuss his marketing tech predictions for 2019 – the exciting opportunities that lay ahead, the biggest challenges that marketers will face, and more.

 

Challenges to come:

  • Physical stores transform into consumer destinations: With in-store foot traffic continuing to decrease year-over-year, retailers need to find new ways to drive shoppers through the doors. 2019 will see brick and mortar stores rapidly trying to reinvent themselves as a destination and physical escape for consumers.
  • Going beyond location: While location based advertising has grown tremendously, marketers are still struggling to dig deeper and learn more about their consumers beyond their physical location. In 2019, marketers will search for richer data to reach the right mobile consumer.
  • Consumer privacy laws: The next year may not see major changes in privacy laws, but the reality is surely on the horizon in the years that will follow. In 2019, companies will begin making precautionary changes and determine how they’ll function moving forward.

 

Challenges that will ease up:

  • Personalization: 2019 will see an increase in fun, personalized mobile engagements. Little by little, mobile experiences will become more targeted as data on the individual consumer becomes more and more rich.
  • Serving the right message at the right time: Consumer data including location, shopping history, and purchase history on both an item and store level will allow marketers to more effectively serve shoppers the right message, at the right time.
  • Leveraging video through the consumer journey: The more that marketers know about their consumers, the easier it will become to reach shoppers with video at the right moments along their purchase journey.

 

Exciting opportunities ahead:

  • Computer vision dominates as ultimate search tool: The advancements in visual search and increasingly intelligent smartphone camera technology will enable shoppers to access product-level details and comparison shop while in the aisle.
  • Item-level purchase data will be the Holy Grail: This specific product information will reshape the way companies structure their loyalty programs. 
  • Marketers will take a stand: As consumers increasingly use their wallets to make a political statement, brands and retailers will identify and use their voice to attract more business.

Shopkick offers our partners the opportunity to connect with consumers in the shopping aisle while incentivizing interactions with a fun rewards program. To use our program to boost your results in the new year, contact us.

Posted in b2b

Shop and Save for the Holidays: Blue Weekend is Here!

Posted on by Kick Writers

One of our favorite weekends is back once again, and it’s back just in time for the holidays! It’s Blue Weekend! This celebratory shopping event will unite Shopkickers from around the country together to check off even more of the gifts on your list. Whether you’re shopping for parents, partners, kids, or friends, December 14-16 is the time to shop, save, and earn kicks!

To help you earn the most kicks possible and to make sure you’re well on your way to redeeming your kicks for gift cards before Christmas, we thought we would highlight a few of the best places to shop during Blue Weekend for décor, style, athletic, tech, and kids’ finds. Let’s dive in!

Décor Finds:

Gifting décor is one of the easiest ways to bring joy to parents, friends, and hostesses this holiday season! Consider popping HomeGoods in order to discover some of the most unique pieces at some of the lowest prices. Items like pillows, throws, and mugs always add to the festive cheer, and they definitely have a holiday theme. Just make sure to note, the kicks for HomeGoods are only available in select states!

Yankee Candle also offers plenty of wonderfully scented candles, and you can also personalize them. It’s the ultimate holiday gift!

Both stores are wonderful places to shop for White Elephant or Secret Santa gifts – give something they will love rather than a gag! Just by walking in to select HomeGoods or Yankee Candle, you will earn kicks, and there are more available when you submit your receipt at Yankee Candle!

Style Finds:

We’re certain you have plenty of fashion fans on your holiday gifting list, and TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Ulta Beauty are three of our go-to spots!

TJ Maxx and Marshalls are both filled with name brand pieces at incredible prices, and it’s never a surprise to find a host of designer items in either store (or both!). Is there a better feeling than gifting your family and friends the designers they love? It feels like the ultimate surprise! Expect to earn kicks simply by walking inside either or both stores!

If you have a haircare, skincare, or makeup fan amongst your family and friends, Ulta is the store to visit! Their team of experts will be able to effortlessly guide you toward products to pamper your loved ones, and many of them may be from brands you haven’t thought of yet. Be prepared to find name brand and designer finds, fragrances, and more that will look amazing wrapped under your tree or tucked inside of a stocking. Make sure to link your credit card before you make your purchase in order to earn kicks!

Athletic Finds:

Many of us are starting to experience winter’s coldest temperatures, but that doesn’t mean we all still don’t want to work toward our fitness goals! If your friends or family thrive when they’re able to work-out or if they’re setting new fitness goals for 2019, help to hold them accountable by gifting them everything they will need from some of the top brands.

Shop at Reebok for traditional and on-trend sneakers, socks, and workout gear. Plus, they have specific finds for sports! Shoe Carnival has a plethora of top shoe brands, particularly if you’re shopping for sneakers. Modell’s Sporting Goods has plenty of workout gear and gifts for sports fans (you need to be ready to cheer for your teams post-workout!). Just note, the kicks for Modell’s are only available in select states! The ladies on your list will love Fabletics budget friendly finds because all of their workout gear is on-trend, plus the company was started by Kate Hudson. Does it get any better? In order to maximize your cool down, stop into Jockey for the best loungewear your recipients will love to wear (and, don’t be surprised if you walk away with a few new finds for yourself too!).

All of these brands are offering kicks by walking inside the stores, which totally counts as exercise!

Tech Finds:

The holidays are the time for new tech, and Best Buy is the place to go! Step inside one of their many stores, and think about upgrading your phone. You can also prep for awards season and the Super Bowl by purchasing a new TV, and you should stock up on movies and seasons of favorite shows too. Don’t forget to peruse their selection of cameras, computers, and printers. Make this the best tech year yet! Don’t forget to link your credit card before you make your purchase.

Kids’ Finds:

We don’t know about you, but we always become the most excited to shop for all of the kids on our lists! Carter’s and OshKosh B’gosh are two of the first places we visit every time. They have adorable clothes for babies and toddlers, plus they also have clothing for older kids too. Find pajamas, tops, pants, and shoes in palettes they will love! Both brands are offering kicks to Shopkickers who walk inside, plus you can earn even more when you shop with a linked card.

If you’re searching for a new toy set for a boy or girl, LEGO® should be on your list! Walmart and Target sell many of their building sets, and we speak from experience when we say they provide hours of imaginative, building fun. Kids are able to explore other worlds while they piece together their sets, whether that means escaping to soar with a favorite character or pretending to be an entrepreneur. The options are nearly endless, and the kids on your list will have plenty of indoor fun ahead of them during the holiday season and well beyond!

Where will you be shopping during Blue Weekend? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Make sure to join our social media fun too because you will discover a whole community of passionate Shopkickers just like you.

Gifts for All: Shopkick’s Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on by Kick Writers

December is here, which means gifting season is in full swing! If your calendars are anything like ours, you likely already have a host of holiday parties on the docket. Plus, you’re probably trying to fit in holiday shopping (and plenty of fun!) amidst all of the hustle. If your list is long and your gift ideas are short or you’re simply hoping to bring extra cheer to your recipients this year, we thought we would share our holiday gift guide with you. We’ve even organized our guide into five categories for you: Gifts for Hostesses, Gifts for Ladies, Gifts for Gents, Gifts for Kids, and Gifts for All. Let’s get to it!

Gifts for Hostesses:

You’ve heard it before, and we’re going to remind you again: never arrive empty handed! We think the host of each of your holiday parties deserves a little something extra. Though an extra treat or dish is always appreciated, we enjoy giving something more personalized that feels as though it’s solely meant for your host. Pro Tip: Make sure to shop with Shopkick in order to earn kicks towards gift cards!

Candles always set the scene and provide ambiance at any party (and well after), which is why candles from Yankee Candle are always a go-to! Their scents are delectable, which makes them feel like an even more luxurious gift. What’s more is Yankee Candle also has a great option to create a personalized candle for your hostess! Simply choose your candle and scent, add a photo, and write a note. It’s a gift your hostess has likely never seen before and won’t soon forget.

Décor is another great option for hostesses! TJ Maxx has in season and on trend pieces, and their selection is always budget friendly. Think about adding cozy throws, festive pillows, and other accents to your cart. Of course, holiday wine or beer glasses and your hostess’s favorite cocktail works too! Everyone always appreciates a new holiday mug paired with hot chocolate, tea, or coffee.   

Gifts for Ladies:

If you’re searching for a new find for your grandma, mom, aunt, sister, or best friend, take note! We always happen upon fun finds for ladies that they might not think about on their own.

Brighton is an excellent source of beautiful, high-quality handbags, shoes, and accessories perfect for any of the ladies on your list. They have bags for every purpose too! Ladies with new jobs or soon-to-be graduates will get so much wear out of a new tote with plenty of room for her laptop. Your mom will love her new shoes, and your grandma will think her new jewelry is gorgeous. Plus, your best friend and your sister will covet their new personalized pieces. So many options, and you will earn kicks while you shop using Shopkick!

January is the time when so many kick start new workouts, so make sure she’s ready for her new routine (or to simply continue the one she’s done for years!). Reebok is one of our top places to search for new workout wear, especially sneakers. And, Fabletics has some of the most fun athleisure options (think: patterns, leggings with iPhone pockets, and on-trend styles). She will have her best year yet, and you will earn kicks on the pieces that will get her ready.

If the ladies on your list love great skincare, makeup, and hair products, Ulta is the place to go. They have a great holiday gift guide on their site, which is worth an exploration. Make sure to visit the store in person too because you can earn kicks on your purchase, and their staff of beauty experts can help guide you toward great new products she hasn’t tried yet, including her new favorite scent.

Gifts for Gents:

We hear dads, husbands, boyfriends, grandpas, and brothers are notoriously some of the trickiest to shop for.  We’re here to put that rumor to rest while helping you to earn kicks when you shop with Shopkick.

Best Buy is always one of our first stops when shopping for gents. They have every tech device he could want, including a new phone, a wireless printer (he needs one, trust us!), movies, music, cameras, and TVs. Surprise him with any (or all!) of the aforementioned, and you will receive the award for Gift of the Year.

You also cannot go wrong with Amazon Devices! Make all of his smart home dreams come true with an Echo or Alexa. Gift a tablet perfect for browsing or binging TV shows and movies on the go with Amazon Fire. Help him meet his goal to read more with an Amazon Kindle. The options are nearly endless!

For the ultimate lounge or active wear, think about shopping with Jockey! The quality and comfort are always on point. If the gent on your list would love a new pair of shoes (think: work, fashion, or sport), Shoe Carnival is the place to go!

Gifts for Kids:

Toys are on the wish lists of kids everywhere, which is why we like to gift something a little different!

One of our forever stops when searching for kids’ gifts is Carter’s and OskKosh B’gosh because we can earn kicks while we shop thanks to Shopkick. Their selection of kids’ clothes is always fun and budget friendly, plus the faces of the kids we know light up when they see new tops, pants, dresses, and pajamas featuring their favorite colors, hobbies, and characters. Another idea? Take the kids on your gifting list out for a special shopping trip with you where they can choose their own items!

Another great stop for kids’ gifts? Mouse + Magpie! The brand is an online hub for creative pieces for kids, including towels, blankets, décor, and more that encourage kids to use their imaginations. All of the products are designed by artists, so the quality is incredible. To offer an even better peek, check out their gift guides for boys and their gift guides for girls! Both are brimming with fun ideas.

Gifts for All:

Few things compare to enjoying an experience together! Groupon is the place to go for experience gifts your whole family will enjoy. Stop by the site to see what’s happening in your hometown (think: concerts, plays, restaurants, and attractions), and make a point to visit in advance of trips or while you’re traveling. Don’t be surprised when you save more than you thought possible, and you will be earning kicks when you shop with Shopkick!

What gifts are topping your list for everyone in your life? We’re always searching for new ideas to add.

Make sure to download Shopkick for free, and join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more shopping inspiration!