The Holiday Marketing Campaign Hall of Fame (Infographic) See the fascinating history of holiday marketing campaigns and get inspired to craft your own memorable retail messaging this year.

By Tracey Wallace Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Noam Galai | Getty Images

The holidays signal a change in consumer behavior. Buying increases near parallel with a little R&R and family time. This means more people are watching –– just like Santa does all year –– to see which ads strike their festive chord.

Holiday marketing campaigns run by brands aren't kept on any psychic naughty-or-nice list, but consumer memory might as well be just that. Get your holiday campaign just right, and consumers will begin to associate your brand with the start of the season.

Others have done it –– both brands expected, with large marketing budgets, and those you had previously heard nothing of. Some campaigns repeat, year after year, and become cultural signifiers of the season. Think of the holiday window displays on Madison Avenue, Thanksgiving Day parades ending at the world's largest department store and TV ads that bring a simultaneous tear and smile to faces around the globe.

Related: Want to Make 6 Figures From Your Amazon FBA Business? Here's How.

Yes, brands have resonating power this time of year –- and there's no harm is looking to the past to see which other brands and campaigns have made their way to the holiday retail hall of fame. Here, we look back on 150 years of inspirational ads and campaigns that many consumers say the holidays just wouldn't be the same without.

What can your brand do this year to stand out?

Tracey Wallace

Managing Editor of Bigcommerce

Tracey Wallace is the managing editor at commerce platform Bigcommerce, where she covers topics concerning fast-growing online businesses. In a previous life, she wrote about small business and boutique success at Mashable, ELLE and Time Out New York. Her work has been featured on Bustle, PolicyMic and Refinery29. Wallace writes from Bigcommerce's headquarters in Austin, Texas. 

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