Cedar and Crimson is a seasonal dropshipping brand specializing in curated Christmas-themed products. Launched in October, the brand aimed to capitalize on early holiday excitement to drive visibility, engagement, and revenue in a short window of time. With no prior audience, we built a presence from the ground up using Instagram as our primary platform.
Through a combination of content strategy, influencer seeding, and trend-driven storytelling, I was able to scale the Instagram account from 0 to over 7,000 followers within 60 days and generate $3,000 in sales before the end of December.
The Objectives
- Build brand visibility quickly on a new Instagram account
- Drive traffic to the dropshipping store using organic and strategic methods
- Convert seasonal interest into real holiday sales
Social media marketing isn’t just posting—it’s building a conversation, a community, and a brand that people choose to engage with daily.
The Strategy
Our content and campaign strategy focused on four key pillars:
Trend-Driven Content Creation:
Leveraged trending Christmas aesthetics, viral audios, and reel formats to maximize organic reach
Product-Led Storytelling:
Featured products in cozy, emotionally resonant holiday settings to increase perceived value
Hashtag Targeting & Community Engagement:
Daily interaction with niche holiday audiences and hashtags to grow visibility
Influencer Seeding & UGC:
Partnered with micro-influencers and encouraged reposts to gain traction
The Execution
I planned and scheduled content daily using Instagram Reels, Stories, and Carousel posts. Each piece was tailored to seasonal excitement (e.g., advent calendars, gift wrapping ideas, tree decor hacks), while call-to-action links in bio and swipe-up stories directed users to the shop.
Key tools used:
- Canva & CapCut for content editing
- Meta Business Suite for post scheduling and analytics
- Linktree for seamless user funneling to the store
The Results
- Gained 7,000+ followers within 2 months purely through organic reach
- Generated over $3,000 in sales through Instagram-driven traffic
- Multiple reels summed up to 50k+ views, establishing virality within the niche
- Built a reusable seasonal brand page that can return yearly
Professional Insights
To maximize seasonal brand launches, businesses should:
- Leverage short-form video (Reels, TikToks) for rapid audience growth
- Plan 60–90 days in advance to capture early-bird shoppers
- Blend value-driven content (e.g., holiday hacks, decor tips) with soft product placement
- Encourage user-generated content and feature community submissions
- Use clear CTAs and frictionless checkout funnels via mobile
The Conclusion
Cedar and Crimson’s first holiday season demonstrates how rapid social media growth can be translated into real sales through strategic, trend-based content creation. With minimal budget and the right creative tools, even new brands can dominate seasonal cycles.
Leave a Reply