Christmas is when shoppers actively look for value. In our latest shopper research, 1 in 3 shoppers told us it’s the time of year they’d most like to receive coupons, while 77% are more likely to play a game or enter a prize draw when they know a reward is waiting for them.
Together, those insights point to a clear opportunity for brands: combine rewards with engaging experiences.
It’s Not Just About the Reward
At Christmas, every brand is competing for attention. While promotions still work, shoppers increasingly respond to campaigns that feel interactive and enjoyable.
That’s where gamification comes in.
Whether it’s opening a virtual gift, unlocking a daily reward or taking part in a festive challenge, game mechanics turn a promotion into something shoppers actively want to engage with.
The Power of Play + Reward
The most effective activations combine two things:
- A fun, low-friction experience
- A meaningful reward at the end
When those elements work together, brands can drive stronger engagement, repeat participation and ultimately, trial.
We’ve seen this first-hand. Last Christmas, Müller combined a festive mobile game with rewards and mobile coupons to support the launch of Müller Corner Gingerbread. The campaign generated over 600,000 game sessions, average replay rates of 4.85 times per user, and average dwell times of 1 minute 51 seconds. Watch or read the full Gingerbread case study here.
Three Festive Mechanics Ready to Launch
With savi Smart Rewards, brands can deploy festive-ready experiences including:
Cracking Christmas Countdown
A daily advent-style experience designed to drive repeat engagement.
Pick a Present
An instant-win mechanic where shoppers select a gift and reveal their reward.
Snowball Dash
A fast-paced festive game built to capture attention and encourage participation.
Each mechanic can be activated on-pack, in-app, on social, in-store or across owned channels, with rewards redeemable across 84%+ of UK grocery and full tracking from play through to redemption.
Final Thought
Shoppers are looking for value this Christmas, but they’re also looking for experiences worth engaging with.
The brands that combine rewards with moments of genuine fun won’t just get noticed. They’ll give shoppers a reason to participate.
Find out more about the winning combination of Christmas gamification + savi’s Smart Rewards.
