Thanks to our Partners, Shop Boss and AppFueled

December comes faster than most of us expect, and if you’re not planning your shop’s holiday marketing now, you’ll be scrambling when the tinsel hits the floor. In this episode of The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast, Brian Walker and Caroline LeGrand break down how to finish the year strong with festive, community-driven content that actually connects.

From shop Christmas parties and Operation Santa Paws to car giveaways and safety awareness campaigns, Brian and Caroline unpack creative, authentic ways to bring holiday cheer into your marketing. They even dive into clever spins on National Cookie Cutter Week, sharing your shop’s “naughty and nice” list, and the power of using year-end stats to celebrate your team and customers.

Whether you’re highlighting your community involvement, promoting gift cards, or just sharing some lighthearted holiday fun (Hallmark movie talk included), this conversation will give you ideas that help your shop stand out while staying true to who you are.

Listen now to learn how to plan December’s marketing with intention so your social media, promotions, and community efforts close out the year on a high note and set the tone for an even better new year.

Show Notes with Timestamps

• Podcast Introduction (00:00:00) Brief intro to the podcast network and hosts, sponsor mentions.
• Reflecting on a Year of Podcasting (00:00:59) Hosts discuss recording for December, marking a full year of episodes.
• Holiday Community Events & Charity (00:01:43) Ideas for shop charity events: Wishes on Wheels, Toys for Tots, Angel Trees, and customer appreciation.
• Sharing Shop Holiday Activities (00:02:41) Encouraging shops to share Christmas parties, decorations, and holiday closure dates on social media.
• December Observances: Santa Paws & Car Donation Month (00:03:22) Highlighting National Operation Santa Paws Month and National Car Donation Month, including car giveaways.
• Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention (00:04:30) Discussing National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month and partnering with local law enforcement.
• Older Driver Safety Awareness (00:05:14) Promoting Older Driver Safety Awareness Week and sharing personal stories about senior drivers.
• National Cookie Cutter Week (00:07:17) Joking about celebrating National Cookie Cutter Week with holiday cookies, not generic marketing.
• Fun December Days: Apples, Giving, Santa’s List (00:07:47) National Eat a Red Apple Day, National Day of Giving, and Santa List Day ideas for shop engagement.
• Non-Holiday December Observances (00:09:43) Mentioning National Miner's Day, International Civil Aviation Day, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and Blue Collar Day.
• Holiday Sweets & Shop Competitions (00:11:11) Ideas for National Pastry Day, Gingerbread House Day, and National Cupcake Day competitions in the shop.
• Device Appreciation & Buddy the Elf Day (00:11:40) National Device Appreciation Day and answering the phone like Buddy the Elf for fun shop engagement.
• Favorite Christmas Movies Discussion (00:12:36) Hosts discuss favorite Christmas movies and suggest shops ask their teams about theirs.
• December 20th Onward: Ugly Sweaters & Flashlights (00:17:04) National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, Caroling Day, and National Flashlight Day for shop participation.
• Winter Solstice (00:18:20) Explanation of the winter solstice and its significance for winter-themed marketing.
• Festivus and Christmas Eve/Day (00:19:56) Mentioning Festivus (Dec 23),...