8 Proven Strategies to Increase Store Footfall This Holiday Season

Holiday demand starts online — but the real celebration happens in stores.

Even in a digital-first world, physical stores remain at the heart of the shopping experience. Shoppers browse online, compare products across channels, and then walk into stores when they’re confident about availability, price, and experience.

For retail marketers, the challenge this holiday season isn’t just attracting attention — it’s converting online intent into in-store visits. Here are eight proven retail marketing strategies powered by AI and data to help you increase store footfall and make every digital moment count.

1. Simplify Choices with AI-Powered Personalization

In today’s hyper-cluttered retail landscape, 76% of shoppers say they feel overwhelmed by too many product options. This “decision fatigue” can kill momentum right before purchase.

💡Try this:
Use AI personalization to curate smaller, trend-led collections. Show customers what’s relevant to them — based on browsing behavior, interests, and nearest store availability.

Example:
Feature a “Products you’ve admired recently” or “In your store today” section across your app, email, and website. When shoppers see curated recommendations with local stock visibility, they’re far more likely to visit in person.

2. Predict Who Will Visit

The best retailers don’t wait for shoppers to act — they anticipate it. Use predictive analytics and AI-driven segmentation to identify high-intent customers most likely to visit a store soon.

💡Try this:
Create smart segments like Ready Now, Ready Soon, and Exploring. Send hyper-personalized messages to the “Ready Now” group, showing store availability and limited-time pickup options.

Result:
Your campaigns reach people at peak intent, helping you drive in-store traffic efficiently and increase ROI.

3. Recover Abandoned Carts with Store Pickup Nudges

Cart abandonment peaks during the holiday rush — often due to indecision or friction. Instead of losing these potential buyers, turn digital hesitation into physical action.

💡 Try this:
Trigger automated WhatsApp or email reminders that show real-time store availability of the abandoned items. Add a sweetener like “Pick up today and save 10%.”

Result:
Personalized recovery journeys help reduce cart drop-offs and boost holiday sales by redirecting shoppers from screens to stores.

4. Capture Micro-Moments in Real Time

Shoppers act fast when they see a restock, a price drop, or a trending product. These micro-moments are your biggest opportunities to drive immediate action.

💡 Try this:
Use AI-powered real-time triggers to send alerts when key products are back in stock or trending nearby. Personalize these messages with live local inventory and quick pickup windows.

Result:
Instant, relevant outreach converts fleeting attention into store visits — without over-messaging or discounts.

5. Personalize Gift Recommendations Using AI

Holiday shopping can be stressful — especially for gifting. In fact, 75% of Gen AI users rely on it for gift ideas.

💡Try this:
Use AI recommendation engines or AI shopping agents to send curated gift ideas based on the recipient, budget, and local stock.

Example:
Your customer searches for “Secret Santa gifts under 20$ available at your nearest store.” on your website’s AI shopping agent and gets gift ideas instantly.

These personalized gift recommendations make shopping effortless — and boost both in-store discovery and average order value.

6. Promote “Buy Online, Pick Up In Store” (BOPIS)

BOPIS is now one of the fastest-growing omnichannel retail strategies. It merges online convenience with offline assurance.

💡 Try this:
Launch automated BOPIS campaigns targeting nearby customers. Highlight products available for same-day pickup and promise short hold times like “Ready in 2 Hours.”

Result:
Every pickup not only increases store footfall but also opens an opportunity for add-on sales and repeat visits.

7. Run Localized Holiday Offers and Events

Holiday shoppers crave connection and exclusivity. Local engagement helps you stand out and create real community value.

💡 Try this:
Use geo-personalization to launch store-specific offers or invite loyalty members to festive preview events. Showcase staff picks or “What’s popular in your neighborhood” content.

Result:
Local relevance makes your brand feel human, personal, and worth visiting — not just for products but for experiences.

8. Engage Post-Visit to Build Loyalty

Footfall is just the start — loyalty keeps the cycle going. Personalized post-visit engagement transforms first-time shoppers into brand advocates.

💡Try this:
Send thank-you messages, smart cross-sell suggestions, or exclusive invites for local store events after a purchase.

Result:
Consistent, context-aware communication boosts repeat store visits and strengthens long-term relationships.

Turn Online Intent into In-Store Action with Netcore Cloud

Netcore Cloud helps leading retailers bridge digital engagement and physical store sales with AI-powered personalization, omnichannel automation, and real-time customer journey orchestration.

With Netcore, you can:

• Identify high-intent shoppers and predict visits using Agentic AI — powered by Segment Agent for dynamic segmentation and real-time targeting.
• Deliver 1:1 personalized recommendations and micro-moment triggers through the Shopping Agent that guides every shopper from inspiration to purchase.
• Automate personalized journeys and localized campaigns that drive confident store visits and repeat sales.
• Track every digital-to-store journey — from click to aisle — with unified analytics and measurable impact.