This year’s holiday celebrations won’t look the same as last year and retailers are adapting by introducing new ways to connect with families from home with virtual experiences like Nordstrom’s Virtual Santa Chats. Starting at the end of November, reservations will open up so that private, virtual 15-minute video calls can be booked with Santa. 100% of the proceeds from the $20 ticket go towards supporting Operation Warm, which is devoted to providing new winter coats to kids in need.
Some of the other Festive Experiences that are being offered by Nordstrom for the season include Letters to Santa (or emails to Santa,) as well as Make Merry at Home printable activity sheets and Holiday Breakfasts with COVID-19 safety precautions in place.
Image Credit: Nordstrom
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Virtual Santa Experiences
- Virtual experiences with Santa are becoming popular amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, creating opportunities for retailers to foster a unique way of engaging their audience.
- Charitable Virtual Experiences
- Retailers are introducing a charitable aspect to their virtual experiences, providing an opportunity for customers to have an enjoyable experience while also supporting a good cause.
- Contactless Holiday Experiences
- Implemented amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, retailers are introducing contactless holiday experiences to create safe, family-friendly options for celebrating holidays.
Where This Applies
- Retail
- The retail industry is quickly adapting and innovating how they can create meaningful experiences for customers to foster engagement and drive revenue.
- Non-profit
- Non-profit organizations are partnering with retailers to create charitable campaigns to support their cause while providing a unique experience for customers.
- Technology
- With the rise of virtual experiences, technology companies have the opportunity to create new software and platforms to better facilitate these experiences for both customers and retailers.
