Holiday retail planning puts enormous attention on getting customers to buy. Promotions, gift guides and delivery promises all work toward that goal. But the experience customers have as they complete a purchase deserves just as much consideration.

By checkout, a customer may have found the perfect gift, secured a long-awaited deal or crossed the last item off a shopping list. There is joy in that moment: the anticipation of giving, the satisfaction of finding something special or the relief of getting it done. Retailers have an opportunity to build on that feeling with relevant experiences that offer value beyond the purchase itself.

The stakes are substantial. Deloitte forecasts U.S. holiday ecommerce sales of $316.1 billion to $318.9 billion for November 2026 through January 2027, representing growth of 7.5% to 8.4%. That volume raises an important question: how can retailers create additional value at checkout while elevating what makes the moment satisfying?

An offer does not have to relate directly to the product being purchased to be useful. A customer buying a holiday gift might welcome an offer for a streaming service, a dining experience or a travel benefit. Another might value an invitation to join the retailer’s rewards program and receive benefits on future purchases.

The connection is to the customer’s needs and interests, rather than simply the contents of the cart. An offer from another category can earn its place when its value is clear and its timing is appropriate.

For retailers, this creates an opportunity to introduce customers to other brands, generate incremental revenue and strengthen their own customer relationships.

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