Having your plans ready in advance never hurts! Your target market should start thinking about your brand and products well before the festivities arrive. Work on a seasonal marketing campaign early, in September or early October. While many consumers lean towards last-minute shopping, others are early birds. This strategy allows you to capture both the audiences. To entice the early shoppers, send out festive advertisements and seasonal offers ahead of time. The sooner you start, the better the campaign will fare.