Retailers can connect December purchases with rewards redeemable in January to encourage customers to return after the holiday season, Elite Rewards argues in its “13th Month” guidance. Published on December 18, 2025, the article explains how to design a campaign around the transition from holiday spending to new-year priorities.

The mechanism is a bounce-back incentive: a qualifying holiday purchase earns a benefit that becomes useful in the following month. Elite Rewards gives examples such as spending $100 in December to receive $20 off in January, or earning points during the holidays for later redemption. These are illustrations of possible campaign mechanics.

The guidance focuses on the change in shopping priorities after December. Elite Rewards suggests that January campaigns can reflect interests such as wellness, household organisation, financial planning and personal development. The company also describes this period as an opportunity to clear seasonal inventory through targeted promotions or bundles.

Reward selection should match the reason for the return visit, the company says. Its examples include gift cards and digital rewards, fitness or wellness items, bundles of practical products, and experiences or travel credit. The proposed mix allows retailers to connect a previous purchase with something relevant to the customer’s new-year plans.

Elite Rewards presents the approach as a combination of recognition and a future reason to shop. It argues that customers should feel acknowledged for their holiday purchases, while the later incentive gives them a specific opportunity to engage again.

The company recommends measuring redemption rates, repeat-purchase behaviour and changes in engagement against earlier periods. Those measures can help retailers understand whether post-holiday promotions are encouraging return visits and contributing to longer customer relationships.