Holiday shopping trends 2025: Mexico
The holiday season in Mexico isn’t just about shopping, it’s about tradition, color, and community. From posadas and piñatas to last-minute Buen Fin deals, the festive spirit spills far beyond the stores. This year, shoppers seem ready to celebrate in full swing, balancing cultural pride with digital convenience. Let’s take a closer look at what’s driving Mexico’s 2025 holiday shopping story.
- Favorite holiday shopping events
- Where are people shopping?
- What influences shopping decisions?
- Preferred payment approach
- Best channels for promotions
- Gifts people want to receive
- AI in retail
- Retailer's lens
- Wrapping up
Favorite holiday shopping events
Mexico’s festive calendar is a lively mix of global and homegrown celebrations. Christmas and New Year’s top the list, with nearly 64% of shoppers marking them as their biggest shopping moments. But the excitement doesn’t stop there. Buen Fin (19%), the country’s own mega sale weekend, and Día de los Muertos (13%) also hold strong influence.
These local events blend emotion with economy. Buen Fin turns shopping into a national sport, while Día de los Muertos blends memory, family, and festivity into one heartfelt celebration.
Where are people shopping?
Online marketplaces (30%) lead the way, reflecting the growing comfort with digital buying, especially for deals and limited-time offers.
Still, in-person shopping remains very much alive. Shopping malls (16.5%), department stores (16%), and retail chains (16%) continue to play a big role, not just for the products but for the experience of the decorations, the music, the energy of shared festivity. For many, the holiday spirit still feels more real when you can carry it home in a bag.
What influences shopping decisions?
If there’s one thing Mexican shoppers agree on, it’s this: product quality matters most. With an average rating of 4.33, it ranks as the top factor influencing holiday purchases.
But shoppers also have a practical side. Discounts and promotions follow closely while convenience (fast checkout, easy returns) takes third place. In essence, people want products that last, deals that feel genuine, and processes that don’t waste their time.
Preferred payment approach
Debit cards (31%) are the top choice; simple, direct, and easy to manage. Close behind is cash (28%), proving that physical money still carries weight in everyday transactions.
Credit cards round out the list, with full payments (23%) more common than installments (12%). Together, they show a mix of financial caution and flexibility.
Where people discover deals
If you’ve spent any time scrolling through your feed lately, this next insight won’t surprise you: social media (69%) is where most Mexican shoppers discover their holiday deals. It’s where brands meet consumers halfway, through influencers, hashtags, and festive campaigns.
Online marketplaces (13%) come next, followed by email newsletters and word of mouth (5%), which continue to play a quiet but consistent role in shaping purchase decisions.
Even when we break the data down by generation, the overall pattern stays the same — social media dominates across all age groups. The only notable exception comes from Gen X, where 16% of respondents said they discover deals through search engine ads, a behavior not as common among younger shoppers.
Gifting trends
When it comes to gifts, Mexico leans toward classics that combine style and usefulness. This year’s top three picks are
- Branded clothing
- Footwear
- Electronic appliances
If you’re still hunting for ideas, here’s how preferences vary by generation:
- Gen Z: Footwear, branded clothing, and experience tickets.
- Millennials: Branded clothing, footwear, and skincare or perfumes.
- Baby Boomers: Branded clothing, footwear, and again food hampers.
Across age groups, branded apparel and shoes dominate the list, proving that even in a world full of gadgets, style still feels like the best gift.
AI in retail
53% of Mexican shoppers said they’ve already experienced some form of AI in shopping.
Among those, AI-driven product recommendations (53%) are the most common, followed by voice-assisted shopping (49%) via Alexa or Google Assistant, and chatbots (39%) for quick queries.
The close split suggests that while many shoppers are comfortable with automation, a nearly equal number still prefer human interaction.
Retailer's lens
If you own a retail store, it might help to see how other businesses in Mexico are preparing for the holiday rush.
When asked how they’re dealing with potential stock shortages, most retailers said they’ve already started taking proactive steps. Here are some responses, in their own words
- "Tengo un nuevo proveedor" (I got a new supplier)
- "He tomado precauciones para abordar esta situación. Tengo mercancía y produzco otras cosas." (I've taken precautions to address this situation. I have merchandise and I produce other things.)
- "Anticipándose y comprando por debajo de un margen de ventas basado en los últimos años." (Anticipating and buying under a sales margin based on recent years)
- "Intento conseguir suministros buscando proveedores e investigando el mejor precio de compra." (I try to source supplies by searching for suppliers and researching the best purchase price.)
When it comes to customer data they find most valuable, retailers are leaning on insights that help them understand and engage customers better. The top three data sources they find most valuable are:
Purchase history, which highlights repeat buying behavior.
Social media activity, giving them a pulse on customer interests and engagement.
Browsing behavior and feedback or reviews, which offer a window into how customers make decisions.
Conclusion
Holiday 2025 in Mexico is shaping up to be a perfect blend of tradition and transformation. Shoppers are open to digital, but loyal to the festive rituals that make the season special. They care about quality, value real deals, and still carry a touch of nostalgia, whether it’s in their love for cash payments or the joy of gifting clothes they can feel, not just click.