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An Orbit hose being sprayed in a garden of yellow flowers
Hands turning on an Orbit sprinkler unit in a green lawn

Off-Season, On Strategy • Turning Seasonality into a Strategic Advantage

  • Client

    Orbit

  • Solutions

    CommercePerformance MediaMediaProgrammatic

Results

  • 30% YoY increase in Q4 sales
  • 4.5x ROAS on new product launch
  • 15% higher conversion rate in Q4
  • Finalist for "Best Use of Retail Media" at the Digiday Awards 2025
  • Winner of "Best in Commerce Media" at the AdExchanger Awards 2025

Challenging seasonal norms.

Orbit Irrigation, a trusted brand in home watering systems, typically sees demand spike in the warmer months, while Q4 has traditionally been slower. Orbit partnered with Monks to build a seasonal Amazon Ads strategy that turned Q4 from a quiet period into a meaningful growth opportunity. Instead of scaling back, we used the off-season to boost brand visibility and lay the groundwork for a high-stakes product launch.

A strategy built for seasonality and sustained growth.

To set the foundation, we optimized 50+ product detail pages, refreshed Orbit’s Amazon Brand Store, acquired early customer reviews and ensured inventory was positioned to meet demand. From there, we used insights from Amazon Marketing Cloud to rebuild Sponsored Ads and DSP campaigns around real shopper behavior. To increase visibility, we expanded keyword coverage and used variation testing to group similar SKUs under a single parent listing. This helped capture more long-tail search traffic, while high-intent retargeting kept Orbit top of mind during key holiday moments.

In partnership with

  • Orbit
Client Words Q4 has always been a quieter time for our business, but working with Monks helped us turn that off-season into a strategic advantage. Their team brought fresh ideas, clear strategy, and thoughtful planning. We stayed focused, moved quickly, and made confident decisions—all while building on what already works.
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Jose Preza Torres

Account Manager

Off-season strategy. On-season results.

Orbit’s new approach set a higher bar for seasonal planning. Q4 sales increased 30% compared to the previous year, with a 391% revenue surge in their top product category and a 15% lift in conversion rates. New-to-brand purchases remained above 70%, while Amazon DSP emerged as a top driver of performance. That momentum continued into January, where the new product launch achieved a 4.5x return on ad spend, proving that strategic groundwork during slower months can lead to strong results when demand returns.

Setting the stage for year-round performance.

Monks’ vigilant approach ensured that as consumer demand returned, Orbit was not just ready to respond but positioned to accelerate—maintaining share of voice, protecting search rank, and investing in audience engagement when others paused. By rethinking seasonal investment and leaning into full-funnel planning, Orbit not only saw a stronger-than-ever off-season but also created momentum for an even more successful on-season.

Want to talk retail media? Get in touch.

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See more examples of excellence in commerce.

Why Discounts Hurt Your Brand on Amazon (And What to Do Instead)

Why Discounts Hurt Your Brand on Amazon (And What to Do Instead)

Commerce Commerce, Industry events, Retail media, Seasonal marketing, eCommerce Platforms 3 min read
Profile picture for user Aaron Snow

Written by
Aaron Snow
Sr. Director of Sales

discounts-amazon

Amazon sales events such as Prime Day and Black Friday/Cyber Monday drive massive traffic and sales. But for brands, participating in every sales event can come at a cost. While deep discounts might deliver short-term revenue boosts, they also condition shoppers to wait for deals, ultimately damaging brand perception and long-term profitability. So, how can brands win Amazon sales events without falling into the discount trap? Let’s break it down. 

Discounting hurts your brand long-term.

As tempting as sales spikes are, aggressive discounting has hidden costs: 

  • It erodes margins. Short-term revenue gains are offset by lower profit margins. 
  • It trains consumers to wait. Shoppers begin expecting frequent discounts, hurting your ability to sell at full price.
  • It damages brand value. Consumers associate your products with price cuts instead of quality, undermining your brand’s premium positioning. 

Once shoppers become accustomed to discounts, shifting their mindset becomes increasingly difficult. Recent industry insights highlight that frequent discounts can significantly reduce consumers’ willingness to pay full price, leaving brands vulnerable to sustained margin pressures. Amazon thrives on a cycle of continuous promotions, encouraging consumers to hold out for lower prices and brands to participate in sales events to stay visible. But this turns pricing into a race to the bottom. When a brand tells me, “Sales are up, but our margins are suffering,” one of the things I ask is: Are you controlling your discounting strategy, or is Amazon controlling it for you? 

Here are smarter ways to win Amazon sales events.

To protect profitability while still benefiting from Amazon’s major sales events, brands need strategic alternatives to pure discounts: 

1. Bundle for value. Instead of slashing prices, create bundles to enhance perceived value. This naturally increases your Average Order Value (AOV) and maintains healthier margins.

Example: A skincare brand combined popular full-priced products with trial sizes in bundles for Prime Day, preserving margins and driving higher sales volumes.

2. Leverage Subscribe & Save and repeat purchases. Use sales events as a springboard for customer retention. Promoting Subscribe & Save discounts can drive long-term customer loyalty rather than one-time transactions. 

Example: A pet food brand promoted a 10% Subscribe & Save offer during Prime Day, securing ongoing monthly purchases and consistent long-term revenue.

3. Emphasize brand building and premium positioning. Sometimes the most effective strategy is not discounting at all. Instead, invest in branding, storytelling, enhanced product pages and high-quality creative content to justify premium pricing.

Example: A luxury kitchenware brand eliminated discounts entirely, focusing instead on premium branding, optimized listings and strategic ad placements to maintain full-price sales throughout Amazon’s sales events. 

4. But if you must, be selective with discounts. Not every product needs a price cut. Discount strategically, focusing on slow-moving inventory, new product launches or lower-priced items that attract new shoppers without sacrificing premium product margins. 

Example: A home goods brand offered discounts on select introductory items during Prime Day to attract new shoppers while preserving full prices on premium core products. 

Take control of your Amazon strategy.

Amazon’s promotional strategy doesn't have to dictate yours. If you control how and when you discount, you can win sales events without losing pricing power. But if you let Amazon dictate your pricing cycle, you risk becoming just another brand in the discount bin. At Monks, we prioritize your long-term success, guiding strategic decisions rather than short-term sales spikes. Our expert strategists are here to help your brand achieve sustainable, profitable growth on Amazon. Reach out today to start winning smarter. 

Strengthen your Amazon strategy during sales events without racing to the bottom. Learn how to use discounts, smart bundling, retention tactics, and premium positioning to protect profitability. Why Discounts Hurt Your Brand on Amazon (And What to Do Instead) Strengthen your Amazon strategy during sales events without racing to the bottom. Learn how to use discounts, smart bundling, retention tactics, and premium positioning to protect profitability. amazon prime amazon seller central vendor central online shopping ecommerce amazon ads amazon advertising eCommerce Platforms Commerce Seasonal marketing Retail media Industry events

Shopify

Drive growth with a customer-first commerce strategy on Shopify.

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We’re more than just a Shopify partner—Shopify is knitted into the fabric of our history. We're experienced commerce operators who understand how to drive business outcomes. From custom store design to conversion-optimized marketing, we offer end-to-end expertise to drive substantial growth and craft a seamless user experience that’s true to your brand.

Solutions

Our end-to-end Shopify partner services

  • Custom Shopify Store Design

    Your storefront should be uniquely yours. Work with our team of Shopify experts to create a store designed just for your brand.

  • Theme Customization

    One size doesn’t always fit all. If you’re building your Shopify store on a theme, partner with our team to customize that theme to fit your unique commerce needs.

  • Commerce SEO and Marketing

    We make sure your brand gets seen—whether that’s working with our SEO experts to optimize your search strategy or unlocking a next level marketing strategy.

  • Shopify Migration Services

    Need to move your storefront to Shopify? Our team are migration experts who will make migration a breeze.

  • Payment Gateway Integration

    With expertise across all major payment gateways and providers, our team can seamlessly integrate the payment method of your choice.

  • Ongoing Support and Maintenance

    Our work doesn’t end at launch. Partner with our team for ongoing support and maintenance and gain peace of mind knowing that our experts are here for your store when you need them.

  • Shopify App Development

    Have an app that you want to develop for the Shopify app store, but don’t know where to start? Our team can optimize for the Shopify app marketplace.

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Case Study

ComplexLandWe translated the experience of ComplexCon into a shoppable, digital-first journey enjoyed by the most discerning trendsetters in culture.

See Full Case Study
Monk Thoughts We empower clients to unlock Shopify's full potential—from headless infrastructure to IRL retail to robust analytics. Through our partnership, we are elevating the customer experience with frictionless interactions and tailored solutions that drive growth for our clients.

How can we help you innovate? Let’s talk.

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Please fill out the following quick questions so our team can get in touch with you.

Dive Deeper

Prosper & Shoptalk 2025: What You Missed and Why It Matters

Prosper & Shoptalk 2025: What You Missed and Why It Matters

Commerce Commerce, Industry events, Retail media, Seasonal marketing, eCommerce Platforms 4 min read
Profile picture for user mediamonks

Written by
Monks

Collage of Shoptalk and Prosper

Prosper Show and Shoptalk have earned their spots as the go-to events for retail media leaders and ecommerce operators alike. This year, both events focused on clarity, transformation, and the rising expectations of modern commerce. If you were heads-down managing Q1 campaigns or just couldn’t make the trip, we’ve got you covered. Our team attended both events and distilled the key takeaways ecommerce brands need to know now to stay ahead. Whether you sell on Amazon, Walmart, or DTC, these insights are designed to spark action.

These are our key takeaways from Prosper Show 2025.

  • Marketplace mastery was front and center. Prosper doubled down on how brands can win on marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart. Sessions focused on profitability through automation, scaling with Amazon DSP and Google Ads, fulfillment efficiency, and more.

Put it to work: Treat your product detail pages (PDPs) like your top-performing ad campaigns. Underperforming content is often the root of conversion loss. Start with A/B testing imagery and copy, and revisit your inventory planning to reduce stockouts and storage fees.

  • Retail media got tactical. With sessions diving into various ad formats, targeting options, and how to measure effectiveness within platforms like Amazon Advertising, retail media was a central focus at Prosper.

Put it to work: Stop viewing retail media as a cost center. Winning brands treat it as a revenue engine. Not using Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) yet? That’s step one. AMC unlocks signals like lifetime value, multi-touch attribution, and repeat purchase patterns.

  • Partnerships matter. The show floor was packed with tech partners, software providers, and ecommerce consultants. Each of them offers tools to help brands move faster.

Put it to work: Pressure-test your current tech stack. Are your partners helping you grow, or just maintaining the status quo? Now’s the time to evaluate and fill strategic gaps. 

Brush up on top insights from Shoptalk 2025.

  • Customer-centricity isn’t optional. Shoptalk was clear: everything must start with the customer. Sessions like “Embracing Welcoming Retail Experiences” and “Maximizing Shopper Value” reinforced that personalization, hospitality, and relevance are table stakes.

Put it to work: Every touchpoint either builds trust or breaks it. Map out your current customer journey and identify where friction or inconsistency exists. Whether it’s mobile UX or post-purchase communication, small improvements can drive big returns.

  • The rise of “The New Market.” Retail media grew up fast, and Shoptalk carved out an entire “show-within-a-show” for it. Think: connected TV, in-store ad tech, and the convergence of content and commerce.

Put it to work: If you’re not testing new ad formats, you’re falling behind. Explore influencer-led commerce, livestreaming, and video ads that blend shopping with entertainment.

  • Tech, innovation, and the retail road ahead. From generative AI to loyalty tech, Shoptalk showcased practical ways brands are applying emerging tools. The “Tech Solution Spotlights” were especially insightful for seeing what’s working now, not five years from now.

Put it to work: Skip the shiny objects. Invest in tools that directly improve your workflows (e.g., AI-powered content generation, dynamic promotions, or behavioral loyalty engines).

  • Future-proofing retail strategy. Shoptalk’s "Visions of the Future" track asked tough questions about what retail will look like in five to ten years. It’s clear that brands investing now in customer data, innovation, and agile operations will have the edge.

Put it to work: Think of this as your invitation to do a strategic audit. Where do you want to be in five years? Are your current tools and partners helping you get there?

  • Storytelling still wins. From brand voice to creator partnerships, Shoptalk underscored the importance of resonance in crowded markets. Sessions on brand narrative and talent-led growth made it clear that people connect with stories, not specs.

Put it to work: Revisit your brand messaging. Does it still resonate? Is it consistent across marketplaces, social, and DTC? If not, your customer experience is fragmented.

  • Unified commerce is the new normal. Digital and physical retail are no longer separate tracks. Sessions like “Store Operations that Blend Engagement and Efficiency” emphasized that shoppers expect one seamless journey.

Put it to work: Your customers don’t care about your internal silos. They just want a seamless experience. Audit your current ops and tech stack to make sure your front-end matches the back-end.

  • Data-driven decisions drive growth. Across the board, brands shared how they’re using analytics to better understand their shoppers and drive business decisions. The key here is actionable insights, not just dashboards.

Put it to work: Set clear KPIs for every campaign and channel. Then make sure your team has the right tools (and time) to actually analyze and act on that data. 

TL;DR: Let us simplify ecommerce complexity.

We attend these events so you don’t have to—because staying on top of ecommerce trends shouldn’t take you away from running your business. Our job is to make sense of what’s next and help your team turn insights into action. 

Prosper’s biggest lesson this year: Marketplace success is operational first, media second. If you want to scale, sharpen the basics and build your growth stack from there. Specifically:

  • Treat PDPs and inventory as growth levers, not maintenance tasks. 
  • Retail media needs strategic oversight and cross-functional alignment. 
  • The right partnerships can accelerate your growth trajectory.

Shoptalks’ biggest message: Future-proofing starts now. Customer experience, retail media expansion, and smart adoption of tech are no longer differentiators but expectations. Focus on the following:

  • Customer experience is your competitive edge. Start every strategy there. 
  • Retail media is evolving fast. Diversify your placements and lean into new formats. 
  • Practical innovation beats flashy tech. Invest in tools that solve real pain points. 
  • Think long-term. Your future strategy starts today. 

Whether your focus is retail media, marketplace growth, brand storytelling, or unified commerce, we’re here to help you take the next step. Ready to turn these insights into revenue? Let’s talk about what this means for your brand.

Get key takeaways from Prosper Show and Shoptalk for retail media and e-commerce leaders to stay ahead in modern commerce. Prosper & Shoptalk 2025: What You Missed and Why It Matters Learn about what went down at Prosper Show and Shoptalk 2025. amazon prime amazon seller central vendor central online shopping ecommerce amazon ads amazon advertising eCommerce Platforms Commerce Seasonal marketing Retail media Industry events
`

Live Event

Meet the Monks at Prosper and Shoptalk 2025

March 25-27, 2025
Las Vegas, NV

Connect with us at Prosper and Shoptalk in Las Vegas.

Prosper & Shoptalk

Connect with Monks in Las Vegas

As AdExchanger’s Best Commerce Agency and AdWeek’s inaugural AI Agency of the Year, we help eCommerce and retail brands like you optimize your customer acquisition—from discovering opportunities in social commerce and streaming TV to maximizing revenue on marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, and Target Roundel. Our end-to-end services range from AI-powered advertising and omnichannel media planning to vendor account management and strategic consulting.

Want to dive deeper? Fill out the form below to secure an in-person meeting with one of our eCommerce experts.

Event Details

Where you can find us

    • Prosper Show

      March 25-27, 2025

      The Las Vegas Convention Center

      Booth # 459

    • Join us at our workshop at Prosper Show

      Date: March 25, 2025

      Time: 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM

      Location: W226-227

      Join the first-ever Amazon Ads Workshop and Big Prosper PPC Quiz! How well do you know the world of Amazon Ads? It's time to put that knowledge to the test. A workshop-style session for sellers and brands of all sizes, content will come to you in the form of a quiz. You'll have tasks to complete - like evaluating mathematical models for bid optimization, dayparting, and other important parameters, building audiences, and more. But, you'll have help! Each group will have an expert coach from the advertising titans of the industry. Laura Pattison, our VP, Retail Media, is one of the expert coaches at this workshop. We look forward to seeing you there!

    • Shoptalk Spring

      March 25-27, 2025

      Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

Our onsite experts

Ready to transform your commerce strategy?

Connect with a Monks global commerce expert for: 

  • Personalized Consultation: Discover tailored strategies to elevate your business
  • Unlock Growth: Learn to differentiate yourself in crowded marketplaces and accelerate your growth

Book a meeting

Award-wining commerce experise

What to Know from Amazon unBoxed 2024: AI, Data and Creative Innovations

What to Know from Amazon unBoxed 2024: AI, Data and Creative Innovations

Commerce Commerce, Industry events, Retail media, Seasonal marketing, eCommerce Platforms 4 min read
Profile picture for user mediamonks

Written by
Monks

monks-at-amazon-unboxed-2024

Amazon unBoxed 2024, held from October 14-16, offered a glimpse into the future of advertising. Packed with keynotes, success stories and hands-on activations, this year's event highlighted Amazon’s commitment to scalable, high-impact solutions for brands of all sizes. From full-funnel measurement and reaching previously untapped audiences to AI-powered creative production, these updates are designed to help advertisers stay competitive, efficient and effective. As a gold sponsor, our team was on the ground in Austin, TX, diving into the key Amazon Ads updates that will impact brands moving forward. Here’s a recap of the highlights that stood out to us. 

Three updates to Amazon’s real-time measurement and analytics suite.

Gone are the days of waiting until the end of a campaign to understand what worked. Amazon’s advancements in measurement and analytics allow advertisers to adjust their strategies in real-time, maximizing ROI and optimizing performance on the fly.

1. Multi-Touch Attribution (beta). Tracks how multiple ad touchpoints influence conversions, including behavioral experiments, offering real-time insights so that mid-campaign adjustments can be made for better results. 

2. Conversion Path Reporting (beta). Identifies the key customer journeys and reveals how ads work together to drive conversions over a 30-day window, helping brands craft more targeted and effective campaigns. 

3. Long-Term Sales (beta). Allows brands to measure the impact of upper-funnel ads over 12 months, offering insights into how early impressions influence long-term sales growth. Also, this beta will help advertisers estimate yearly campaign impact on a brands sales across ad types.  

Three creative solutions to make content creation more accessible.

A major theme of this year’s event was the rise of AI in making creativity more accessible, powerful, and scalable for brands of all sizes. 

1. AI Creative Studio (beta). A centralized platform that brings together AI tools to help create and iterate thousands of ads effortlessly. Everyone, from beginners to seasoned professionals, can now access AI-generated images and videos, produce top-tier content and store it all in one place. 

2. Video Generator (beta). A free, AI-powered tool that simplifies video production, making ad-ready content more accessible to brands with limited time or resources. Video marketing is now faster, easier and more approachable for everyone. 

3. Audio Generator. This allows advertisers using Amazon DSP to create high-quality, interactive audio ads in minutes. Voice commands like, “Alexa, add to cart” make these ads dynamic and engaging, helping capture new customers and drive conversions.

Three innovative ad solutions to expand reach and drive results.

Amazon continues to expand possibilities for advertisers with new ad formats that enable brands to reach a wider, more targetable audience across premium channels, all without breaking the bank.

1. Sponsored TV. This self-service solution makes streaming TV ads accessible to brands of all sizes, with no minimum spend required. Now within reach for everyone, these ads deliver a 58% higher conversion rate compared to traditional TV ads when paired with Sponsored Ads (Amazon). 

2. Audience Bidding Controls. Combine Amazon Marketing Cloud data with your Sponsored Ads campaigns to unlock new potential. Leverage AMC insights to craft targeted audiences and adjust bids for Sponsored Products and Sponsored Brands, boosting visibility, measurability and driving more sales.

3. Prime Video Interactive Ad Solutions (beta). These interactive ads on Prime Video allow viewers to engage directly with brands, add items to their cart, or learn more about products without disrupting the viewing experience. According to Amazon, these ads can double brand favorability and increase purchases by 36%. 

unboxed-stage-2
group-pic-unboxed-2024

Six updates to Amazon DSP and AMC for more efficient campaigns. 

Amazon’s updates to its Demand-Side Platform (DSP) and Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) reflect a focus on efficiency, control and making advanced tools accessible to all advertisers. 

1. Amazon DSP Ad Relevance. Target audiences without relying on ad IDs by leveraging Amazon’s proprietary signals and AWS-powered AI. This update helps future-proof campaigns as privacy regulations evolve. 

2. Amazon DSP Performance+. AI-driven campaigns designed to maximize ROI for specific conversion goals. Automation reduces manual effort, delivering better results with less hassle. 

3. Amazon Marketing Cloud for Sponsored Ads. Brands working with an Amazon Partner and running Sponsored Ads can now access AMC insights without needing DSP. Using AMC Audiences, brands can better target customers throughout their shopping journey, tailoring ad bids to specific segments for higher conversion rates. 

4. AMC Solutions. A suite of tools designed to generate insights from Amazon Marketing Cloud data and take swift action on those insights. It’s user-friendly, requiring no SQL knowledge or advanced analytics skills.

5. Ads Data Manager (beta). A tool to streamline first-party data management across Amazon Ads products. Brands can control their data, enabling more effective, privacy-safe ad strategies. 

6. AMC Audience with Publisher Data (beta). Leverage publishers’ first-party data to target audiences across platforms like iOS and Firefox, which are traditionally harder to reach. No ad IDs required, just smarter targeting. 

Amazon’s innovations are bridging the gap between creativity and efficiency for advertisers.

Amazon’s suite of new tools–whether it’s AI-powered creative studios, interactive video, or advanced measurement–delivers a blend of efficiency, accessibility, and creative freedom for advertisers. This means a greater control over campaigns, with the flexibility to experiment, measure, and refine campaigns.

From streamlining ad creation to offering real-time insights, these updates open doors for advertisers and brands of all sizes to test, learn, and engage their audiences more effectively. With more advanced creative options and data-driven insights, advertisers can fine-tune their campaigns to achieve both short-term gains and long-term growth. 

Wrapping up Amazon unBoxed 2024 and what’s next for Amazon ads. 

In sum, Amazon unBoxed 2024 brought a wealth of new innovations that will shape how brands reach and resonate with their audiences. As we move into 2025, it’s clear that those who embrace AI-driven, interactive, and data-rich tools will have a significant advantage in building meaningful connections and driving real results. 

A new era of Amazon Ads is here, and it’s more accessible, flexible and powerful than before. Our team is ready to guide brands through these updates and ensure they get the most out of Amazon’s latest innovations. From exploring AI-powered creativity to optimizing campaigns with real-time analytics, let’s connect and start driving success today.

unboxed-2024
unboxed-booths
Recap the key updates from Amazon unBoxed 2024, including new AI tools and solutions for full-funnel advertising and measurement. What to Know from Amazon unBoxed 2024: AI, Data, and Creative Innovations Learn about key innovations from Amazon unBoxed 2024, including AI-powered creativity, real-time analytics, and new ad formats for brands of all sizes. amazon prime prime day amazon seller central vendor central online shopping ecommerce amazon ads amazon advertising eCommerce Platforms Commerce Seasonal marketing Retail media Industry events

Amazon T-12: 4 Ad Strategies for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Success

Amazon T-12: 4 Ad Strategies for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Success

Commerce Commerce, Retail media, Seasonal marketing, eCommerce Platforms 4 min read
Profile picture for user Xuanmai Vo

Written by
Xuanmai Vo
Content Marketing Manager

black-friday

In recent years, Amazon has extended its key holiday shopping period, known as “Cyber 5.” Originally coined “Turkey 5” (T-5), this period focused on the five key shopping days from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday. Last year, Amazon expanded this window to T-11, offering brands and sellers 11 days to capture shoppers’ attention. Now, in 2024, it’s been pushed further to T-12, running from November 21 through December 2. This longer timeline gives brands more opportunities to optimize campaigns, connect with eager shoppers, and drive additional revenue in Q4. To help you stand out in this competitive period, we’ve teamed up with Xmars to create a comprehensive guide filled with insights to help you make the most of Black Friday and Cyber Monday on Amazon. 

Why holiday advertising matters.

In 2023, consumers spent over $1.17 trillion globally, with Cyber Week alone accounting for 25% of that total (Salesforce). This highlights just how much shoppers rely on these key days. And with mobile shopping responsible for over half of all online sales and driving 80% of ecommerce growth (Adobe), having the right plan in place can make the difference between average results and record-breaking success. 

Below, our commerce experts outlined four key insights and actionable tips to help your brand stand out throughout the entire T-12 period. 

Maximize visibility and engagement during Amazon’s peak shopping events. 

Visibility is everything during peak shopping periods like T-12. Decorating your Sponsored Ads and Brand Store with festive, holiday-themed banners and images creates visual cohesiveness that aligns your brand with the season while attracting the right shoppers. Additionally, using placement modifiers ensures your ads appear in premium spots during peak times, allowing you to balance driving sales volume with maintaining profitability. It’s important to monitor performance in real time and adjust your strategy accordingly. 

For Sponsored Brands ads, consider refreshing your video content and switching to action-driven, holiday-specific messaging. Simple CTAs like “Shop Our Best Sellers for the Holiday Season” or “Shop Select Styles This Holiday Season” can make a significant difference and drive higher engagement during this period. 

Insights provided by Lillie Flagel, Advertising Manager. 

Start advertising early and maintain momentum for Amazon’s T-12 period. 

Timing is key during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and starting your campaigns early while maintaining momentum throughout the T-12 period yields stronger results. A front-heavy approach for Sponsored Ads works best since traffic builds throughout November. Allocating a larger portion of your budget early on ensures your ads are visible as shoppers start researching deals ahead of the big event. 

As Cyber 5 approaches, fine-tune your DSP audiences and increase bids on must-win keywords. Focus on optimizing CPCs based on recent performance, but be careful not to overbid. During the event, keep a close eye on your campaigns to make sure your budget lasts through peak shopping hours, but don’t be afraid to invest heavily in these key moments. After Cyber 5, continue retargeting shoppers who didn’t convert during the event and gradually reduce bids as conversions naturally taper off. 

Insights provided by Johnathon Braga, Senior Advertising Manager. 

Tailor messaging and promotions for different shoppers. 

Not all holiday shoppers are the same. Some are premium buyers seeking high-end products, while others are more budget-conscious. Tailoring your messaging to meet the specific needs of each type of shopper, going beyond simple demographics, is vital for success. 

When remarketing, it’s important to differentiate your approach based on whether the customer is familiar with your brand. For existing shoppers, focus on building loyalty, while potential shoppers can be reached through lookalike audiences to expand your reach. Using behavior data allows you to deliver relevant promotions, such as highlighting a new collection that might interest your audience. With Amazon’s lookalike audience feature and AMC data, you can refine your targeting further, finding audience overlaps and optimizing campaigns for better engagement and ROI. Additionally, life events such as new parents seeking convenience or recent movers upgrading their living spaces can play a significant role in purchasing decisions. Aligning your messaging with these life moments allows for more meaningful engagement and conversions during the T-12 period. 

Insights provided by Tara Lynne Ferguson, Director of Commerce Advertising.

Leverage the power of custom audience creation and insights for Amazon brands. 

Custom audiences are one of the most valuable tools for reaching the right shoppers, but the true value lies in understanding your audience’s behavior, not just what products you’re pushing. Knowing where your audience is in the funnel and how they react at different stages helps you target specific behaviors more effectively. For instance, AMC purchase analysis can help determine how long it typically takes for your audience to convert, allowing you to set the right look-back windows for retargeting, especially for cart abandonment or product searches. 

Don’t rely on assumptions. Testing different look-back windows, such as three, five, or seven days, helps identify what works best for your audience. Additionally, keeping an eye on frequency caps and viewability rates is important. While retargeting helps maintain momentum, over-targeting can alienate your shoppers. Leveraging AMC data allows you to lower CPM and maximize returns by focusing on actual behaviors rather than assumptions. 

Insights provided by Wyatt Burley, Senior Advertising Manager.

Don’t leave your holiday season performance up to chance. 

With so much at stake during the T-12 period, having a holistic advertising strategy will help you make the most of the opportunities available. By focusing on custom audiences, optimizing bids, and tailoring your messaging, your brand can better connect more effectively with shoppers and boost performance. For more insights and detailed strategies to navigate Black Friday and Cyber Monday on Amazon, check out the full guide here.

Ready to make the most of Amazon’s T-12 period? 

Our team partners with some of the world’s most innovative brands to fine-tune their Amazon advertising strategy. Through data-driven insights, technology and a team of retail media specialists, we help increase visibility, engage the right audiences, and drive meaningful conversions throughout the holiday season. Whether you’re looking to optimize ad placements or refine audience targeting, we’re here to help you succeed during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond. Let’s talk about how we can support your holiday sales goals.

Optimize your ad campaigns and download our guide for additional tips to boost sales during the T-12 period, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Amazon T-12: 4 Ad Strategies for Black Friday and Cyber Monday Success Optimize your ad campaigns and download our guide for additional tips to boost sales during the T-12 period, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday. amazon prime Black Friday amazon seller central vendor central online shopping ecommerce amazon ads amazon advertising Holiday campaigns eCommerce Platforms Commerce Seasonal marketing Retail media

Turning Prime Day Momentum into Holiday Season Success

Turning Prime Day Momentum into Holiday Season Success

Commerce Commerce, Retail media, Seasonal marketing, eCommerce Platforms 6 min read
Profile picture for user Nate Hogle

Written by
Nate Hogle
VP, Commerce Business Management

black-friday

Prime Day is often referred to as the Super Bowl of retail media and though it’s now behind us, its impact is far from over. For brands on Amazon, the insights and momentum gained during Prime Day provide a critical foundation for planning the upcoming holiday season, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other major shopping events. With high stakes and intense competition, brands and advertisers must base their decisions on well-grounded data.

To help you navigate these opportunities, Monks teamed up with Pacvue to provide an in-depth analysis of Prime Day performance. By breaking down key metrics and trends, our goal is to provide insights that can refine your strategies and enhance your advertising campaigns as we head into the busiest shopping season of the year. 

During Prime Day 2024, our partner Pacvue collected data and insights into its advertisers' behavior and performance, including ad spend, cost-per-click, ROAS, conversion rates, and more, from thousands of Amazon advertisers in the United States, spanning every major category and brand size. Here's what we've learned from it. 

The predictable yet strategic nature of Prime Day. 

This year’s Prime Day played out much as expected, with predictable trends like higher CPCs, consistent shopping behavior, and a focus on mobile and personalization. While this predictability might seem mundane, it can be advantageous for prepared brands. Even in a predictable event, brands need to be strategic to stand out. 

FOMO drives last-minute purchases. While Day 1 sales were initially higher, Day 2 experienced a late surge in last-minute purchases driven by FOMO. This late-day surge is typical for Prime Day and presents an opportunity for strategic advertising. It’s beneficial for brands to reserve some ad budget for the final hours of any shopping event to capture these last-minute consumers.

Market leaders face growing challenges. Market leaders are finding it harder to retain and grow market share as the “Amazon formula” becomes widely understood. Lesser-known brands are entering the market with high-quality content, making it essential for big-name brands to not only rely on their legacy but also invest in premium content to stay competitive.

“As consumers become more price-sensitive, a recognizable brand name is no longer enough. Consumers are opting for copycat products that are 15% cheaper. Big-name brands must pair their legacy with high-quality content to retain their hold as the market leader," adds Matthew Boardman, Director of Content. 

Riding the halo effect into the holidays. 

Prime Day’s “halo effect” ensures that increased visibility and sales don’t end with the event. Categories like electronics (61% sales boost) and small kitchen appliances (76% surge) are likely to maintain their strong performance into the holiday season. But this impact isn’t limited to traditional holiday items—back-to-school spending spiked by 216%, demonstrating how early promotions can sustain interest and drive continued engagement in specific categories.

“Even if you’re not selling traditional back-to-school items, this season is a golden opportunity. Parents are in shopping mode, and there’s a halo effect across categories like household goods and apparel,” says Holly Johnson, Senior Advertising Manager. 

Rising Amazon DSP ad spend reflects shifting strategies. 

During Prime Day, Amazon DSP ad spend saw a 39% YoY increase, underscoring its growing role in product discovery and customer acquisition. However, despite a 135.4% spike in DSP ad spend leading up to Prime Day—aimed at capturing more new-to-brand (NTB) sales—key metrics like eCPM (effective cost per mile) and ATCR (add-to-cart rate) declined. This suggests that while DSP ads are attracting more attention, their cost-effectiveness and conversion efficiency are diminishing, pointing to a need for more refined targeting and optimized ad placements. 

"Expect more brands to incorporate lead-out deals for PD2 and T11,” advises Wyatt Burley, Senior Advertising Manager. “Combining AMC and DSP data from a promo period can be highly profitable for retargeting consumers who almost purchased. These consumers represent low-hanging fruit that only DSP/AMC users can effectively target.”

Amazon DSP is particularly valuable during seasonal events like back-to-school due to its ability to target in-market and lifestyle audiences. Brands should enhance their DSP creatives with lifestyle imagery and refreshed messaging to better engage consumers. Retargeting campaigns after Prime Day allow brands to reach a pool of already engaged consumers who are likely to be in the market for back-to-school shopping. 

Cross-selling is another effective strategy during these periods. For example, brands selling related products can use Amazon DSP to retarget consumers who recently purchased one item but not the other. This approach not only drives incremental sales but also strengthens brand loyalty. 

“By using DSP to retarget consumers with complementary products, like pencil boxes for those who bought pencils, brands can effectively increase basket size and reinforce customer relationships,” notes Mckay Elliott, Advertising Manager. 

Conversion rates reveal opportunities for strategic improvement. 

While Prime Day delivered strong sales, conversion rates revealed some challenges that brands need to address. For instance, the automotive category saw a 35.4% increase in conversions, likely driven by stable CPCs, but the Toys & Games category struggled with declining ROAS. As the holiday shopping season heats up, optimizing for conversion will be key to turning clicks into sales. Brands must focus on enhancing their ad creatives, sharpening targeting strategies, and improving the overall user experience on Amazon product pages.

“CPCs will rise across multiple categories during sales events, whether your brand is participating or not. Your costs will increase even if you’re not actively reaping the benefits so strategic refinement is vital,” says Tara Lynne Ferguson, Director of Commerce Advertising. 

Consumer behavior trends that are shaping the future.

Prime Day 2024 highlighted several trends in consumer behavior that brands should consider as they plan for the holiday season: 

Mobile shopping is on the rise. With 49.2% of Prime Day purchases made on mobile devices, brands must optimize their online presence for mobile users. This includes creating a seamless shopping experience across brand stores, creative assets, websites, and landing pages—efforts that can significantly boost conversions. 

"Brands that prioritized mobile optimization and had a well-planned SEO strategy saw the best results. Those that diversified their deals across their catalog rather than focusing on a few specific items were better positioned to navigate the volatility of deal placements and timing," says Johnathon Braga, Senior Advertising Manager

Personalization drives engagement. Today’s consumers expect personalized shopping experiences tailored to their preferences. Brands that offer customized deals and engaging content, such as lifestyle images and Sponsored Brand Videos, can better connect with consumers and showcase their products more effectively. 

“Leveraging AMC data to understand purchasing behavior allows brands to provide customized deals and recommendations that enhance the shopping experience and significantly boost conversion rates,” says Alyssa Schafer, ​​Retail Media Account Manager at Pacvue.

The growing impact of social media and influencers. Both continue to play a significant role in shaping consumer decisions. Brands can collaborate with influencers, host Amazon Live sessions, and create engaging campaigns to reach wider audiences. Promoting these efforts on Amazon brand stores and landing pages can further amplify their impact. 

“Consumers are getting savvier about what they truly ‘need’ and what’s a genuine ‘deal.’ With wallets not growing at the same rate as the economy, brands need to prepare for a more selective shopper this holiday season,” notes Catherine Sherwood, Associate Director of Commerce Account Management.

Prime Day as a springboard for holiday success.

Prime Day offers critical insights for refining strategies as we approach subsequent sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM). The data helps brands identify what worked and what didn’t, enabling brands to refine their promotional strategies for seasonal holidays and shopping periods.

"While BFCM is a longer event, the insights from Prime Day guide how brands should adjust their lead-in and lead-out strategies. Onsite ad targeting and strategies can be repurposed to maximize the impact during these shopping events," says Alyssa Schafer, ​​Retail Media Account Manager at Pacvue.

As the holiday season approaches, brands must analyze which products performed well during Prime Day, fine-tune ad targeting, and ensure product listings are optimized for search. For instance, categories like Toys & Games, which saw a 191.4% YoY increase in ad spend during Prime Day, are likely to continue driving significant revenue during the holidays. Brands should consider doubling down on promotions in these high-performing categories and leveraging advanced analytics to sharpen their strategies. 

The lasting gift of Prime Day. 

Prime Day 2024 may have been predictable, but this predictability highlights the need for strategic preparation. The data and trends from Prime Day are a lasting gift that provides valuable insights as we approach the busiest shopping season of the year. The halo effect, combined with a deep understanding of consumer behavior and spending patterns, equips brands to turn their Prime Day success into sustained growth through the end of the year and beyond. 

Building on Prime Day’s success for Q4. 

Ready for more? Contact us for tailored advice to keep the momentum going. 

Leverage Prime Day 2024 insights for holiday success. Explore strategies to turn momentum into sustained growth through Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond. Turning Prime Day Momentum into Holiday Season Success Leverage Prime Day 2024 insights for holiday success. Explore strategies to turn momentum into sustained growth through Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and beyond. amazon prime prime day amazon seller central vendor central online shopping ecommerce amazon ads amazon advertising Holiday campaigns back to school eCommerce Platforms Commerce Seasonal marketing Retail media

From Prime Day to Holidays: Using the Halo Effect to Keep the Momentum Going on Amazon

From Prime Day to Holidays: Using the Halo Effect to Keep the Momentum Going on Amazon

Commerce Commerce, Retail media, Seasonal marketing, eCommerce Platforms 4 min read
Profile picture for user Xuanmai Vo

Written by
Xuanmai Vo
Content Marketing Manager

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Prime Day’s benefits don’t have to end when the event ends. Our experts agree: the work doesn’t stop once Prime Day is over. To truly capitalize on Prime Day’s success, you must plan your post-Prime Day strategies in advance, leveraging the halo effect for incremental growth on Amazon. Strategize to extend your sales momentum into busy seasons like back-to-school, the Turkey 5 (Black Friday and Cyber Monday) and the holidays. Each promotional period requires tailored approaches based on your brand’s goals and product seasonality. While the mechanics of preparation—like advertising and content readiness—remain consistent, the specifics might vary depending on the product launch and targeted keywords. Ultimately, it’s about aligning promotional strategies with the overarching goals for each sales event. Here’s how you can plan for post-Prime Day conversions. 

Prime Day might end after two days, but your sales momentum should continue. 

Adjust your bids and budgets back to their pre-Prime Day settings to avoid diminishing returns as ROAS drops due to deal fatigue. Wyatt Burley, our senior advertising manager highlights, “Maintaining the same strategy post-Prime Day will waste money, lower conversion rates, reduce efficiency and negatively impact your SERP relevancy and organic ranking, leading to long-term business consequences.” 

With that out of the way, let’s focus on what you should do after Prime Day ends. By understanding what worked and what didn’t, you can refine your strategies for future events. 

Monitor and analyze performance. Conduct a thorough analysis to identify areas for improvement by examining key metrics such as sales, conversion rates, customer acquisition and traffic sources. Dive deeper into long-tail metrics, including the number of new-to-brand customers acquired, glance view lifts, and assess the duration of these effects. This data will help your team understand the broader impact of your Prime Day efforts.

Align with your goals. Ensure that your post-Prime Day analysis aligns with the goals you set before the event. Whether it was increasing visibility, boosting sales or acquiring new customers, make sure you evaluate each lever that contributed to these goals.

Analyze competitor strategies. Plan to analyze what your competitors did during Prime Day and how they performed. Megan Boyko, our Account Director, suggests, “Take note of what the competition did because that may be telling for what they’re going to do for future promotional periods.” This information can help you refine your strategies and anticipate market trends.

Maintain advertising momentum. Don’t stop your advertising efforts once Prime Day ends. Instead, adjust your strategy to capitalize on the increased traffic and interest. Johnathon Braga, a Senior Advertising Manager, notes, “There’s a six-week window where you should retarget all the non-converters and cross-sell to those who didn’t purchase.” This extended advertising push can help maintain visibility and drive additional sales.

Leverage customer feedback. Reviews, ratings and social media comments can offer valuable insights into how your products were received. Use this feedback to address negative comments and to highlight positive reviews in your marketing efforts. This information is valuable for making necessary adjustments to your products or listings.

Leverage the halo effect to enhance your back-to-school sales and extend Prime Day momentum into the holiday season. 

Prime Day is part of a larger promotional calendar. Leverage the insights gained to prepare for upcoming events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other peak shopping periods. The same principles apply across all sales events. Brands need to examine not just the bottom-line sales but also glance views, conversion rates and both organic and paid traffic. Analyzing performance product-by-product is required to understand what drove the lift and identify any underperformers. Comparing this data with platform category performance reports helps forecast and refine strategies. This detailed analysis ensures that brands can effectively make informed decisions and optimize future promotions. 

The halo effect refers to the continued increase in brand awareness and sales following a major event like Prime Day. Increased visibility and heightened consumer interest create lasting brand impressions. Shoppers who engaged with your brand during Prime Day are more likely to return for back-to-school supplies and holiday gifts, driven by their previous positive experiences. The data collected during Prime Day, such as top-performing products and shopper preferences, can inform more targeted and effective promotional strategies for these upcoming events. Here’s how to leverage it: 

  • Analyze the data for targeted campaigns. Determine which products performed best, which customer segments were most engaged and which promotional tactics drove the highest conversions. This information can guide your back-to-school and holiday campaigns. For instance, if certain school supplies or holiday gifts experienced a surge in sales, prioritize these items in your upcoming promotions. Tailor your messaging to address the preferences and behaviors observed during Prime Day. 

  • Extend promotions and prepare for retargeting. With a whole new audience now familiar with your brand, aim to get them to make their second or third purchase within a few weeks after the event. Implement retargeting campaigns that remind shoppers of their Prime Day engagement and offer incentives to return. The goal is to keep your brand top-of-mind and encourage repeat purchases. 

  • Focus on content optimization. Now that you have fresh data, analyze shopper feedback and reviews to identify areas for improvement. Update your product listings with enhanced images, videos and detailed descriptions that address common questions or concerns. Ensuring your content is polished and informative will improve the shopping experience and boost conversions during the busy back-to-school and holiday seasons. 

  • Capitalize on seasonality and timing. Begin planning your back-to-school campaigns immediately after Prime Day. Highlight essentials like stationery, electronics, apparel or dorm room essentials to cater to students and parents. As you transition into the holiday season, emphasize gift ideas, festive decorations and exclusive holiday bundles. Align your promotions with key shopping dates and trends to maximize impact.

Wrap up Prime Day by sustaining momentum and driving incremental growth. 

If the past years have told us anything, it’s that Prime Day’s benefits can extend far beyond the two-day event. By planning these post-Prime Day strategies in advance, you can sustain momentum, drive continuous growth and turn one-time shoppers into loyal customers. These steps also allow you to analyze your Prime Day performance and make data-driven decisions for future campaigns. 

Ready to maximize your post-Prime Day success? 

Contact us for tailored advice and detailed tips to keep the momentum going. 

Extend Prime Day success with the Halo Effect. Discover strategies for back-to-school and holiday sales to maintain momentum year-round. From Prime Day to Holidays: Using the Halo Effect to Keep the Momentum Going on Amazon Extend Prime Day success with the Halo Effect. Discover strategies for back-to-school and holiday sales to maintain momentum year-round. amazon prime prime day amazon seller central vendor central online shopping ecommerce amazon ads amazon advertising eCommerce Platforms Commerce Seasonal marketing Retail media

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