2019 Holiday Freebies Retail Promotions Diy Patterns And Printable Resources

The holiday season of 2019 offered numerous free opportunities for consumers across various categories. From DIY craft patterns and printable resources to retail promotions and educational materials, many brands and retailers provided complimentary items and services during the Christmas period. This article explores the different types of Christmas freebies available in 2019, highlighting opportunities for craft enthusiasts, bargain hunters, and families alike.

DIY Craft Patterns and Tutorials

The 2019 holiday season featured numerous free DIY craft patterns and tutorials for those interested in handmade gifts and decorations. Several platforms offered complimentary patterns that consumers could use to create personalized Christmas items.

One notable collection was the "12 Days of Christmas Freebies" series, which provided a different free pattern each day leading up to Christmas. These patterns included practical and decorative items suitable for various skill levels. Among the featured patterns were:

  • A felt breakfast set pattern with accompanying tutorial
  • A Bianca blanket wrap pattern with tutorial
  • Scarf and bow patterns
  • Additional holiday-themed craft items

The patterns were designed to be accessible to crafters of different abilities, allowing for the creation of handmade gifts and decorations without requiring professional skills or expensive materials.

Another comprehensive collection of holiday craft patterns was featured on 5outof4.com's 2019 Gift Guide, which highlighted 10 freebie patterns specifically for the holidays. These patterns offered a range of options for gift-givers and decorators:

  1. DIY Christmas Stocking: A fast, easy pattern that produces professionally finished stockings suitable for gifts or personal use. The pattern was noted for its simplicity and attractive results.

  2. DIY Knot Wristlet: A satisfying project with versatile applications, from children's purses to date night accessories. The pattern was accompanied by a free video tutorial to guide crafters through the process.

  3. DIY No Sew Scarf: Designed for crafters without sewing machines, this pattern allowed for the creation of scarves using simple techniques. The pattern was particularly family-friendly, suitable for crafters aged 3-13 when working with adult supervision.

  4. DIY Advent Calendar: Although potentially time-consuming, this pattern was valued for its festive appeal and the personal touch it added to holiday celebrations. A free video tutorial was also available to assist with this project.

In addition to these patterns, the gift guide also featured free cut files that could be used with various crafting equipment. These digital resources expanded the options for crafters with different tools and preferences, from those with basic cutting machines to more advanced systems.

The availability of these free patterns provided an opportunity for consumers to create personalized, meaningful holiday items without the expense of purchasing pre-made gifts or decorations. By offering both patterns and tutorials, the creators made these projects accessible even to those with limited crafting experience.

Printable Christmas Resources

Printable resources represented another category of complimentary holiday offerings in 2019. These digital downloads allowed consumers to quickly obtain useful Christmas-themed materials without cost.

One popular printable resource was the Christmas gift tags available from Chapulines Collection. The blog post from December 24, 2019, offered these gift tags as a last-minute solution for gift-givers who still needed tags for their presents. The resource included:

  • Individual gift tag images that could be downloaded separately
  • Letter-sized images that could be printed on standard paper
  • Snowman-themed designs to add a festive touch to wrapped gifts

These printable gift tags provided a convenient option for consumers who needed a quick, attractive solution for their gift-wrapping needs. The availability of both individual tags and letter-sized formats gave users flexibility in how they utilized the resource.

Another category of printable Christmas resources was educational materials designed for classroom or homeschool use. Teachers and parents could access free Christmas-themed activities to engage children during the holiday season. These resources typically included:

  • Color It, Read It, Write It worksheets for vocabulary building and handwriting practice
  • Christmas word searches to help children learn and practice holiday-related vocabulary
  • Christmas flip books with handwriting practice exercises
  • Color-by-sight-word sheets combining art education with literacy development

Such printable resources were particularly valuable for educators and parents seeking to maintain children's academic engagement during the holiday break. The activities were designed to work in various settings, including whole classrooms, small groups, learning centers, homework assignments, or as bell ringers.

The availability of these printable resources demonstrated how digital platforms could provide practical, no-cost solutions for holiday needs, from gift-wrapping accessories to educational materials.

Retail Christmas Day Freebies

Several retailers and food service establishments offered complimentary items and services on Christmas Day 2019, providing options for consumers celebrating the holiday. These promotions ranged from beverages to meals, offering practical benefits for those out and about on December 25th.

Apple App Store joined the Christmas freebies trend by offering daily surprises from December 24 to 29, 2019. According to the notice from Apple, consumers could discover a new treat each day by checking the App Store. This digital freebie provided entertainment and utility options for users of Apple devices during the holiday period.

Food and beverage retailers also participated in Christmas Day promotions:

  • Cumberland Farms offered complimentary beverages at participating stores starting at 8 a.m. on December 25. Consumers could choose from any-size hot or iced Farmhouse Blend coffee in various flavors. Non-coffee drinkers had options including free cappuccino, tea, or hot chocolate, with festive Peppermint Hot Chocolate specifically highlighted. Additionally, free flavor shots were available, including new Spice Cookie flavor.

  • IHOP provided a family-friendly promotion with free kids' meals from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Christmas Day. This offering gave families an affordable dining option during the holiday.

  • Sheetz extended free coffee to its customers across 600 stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. The promotion was available 24 hours on Christmas Day, from 12 a.m. to 12 a.m.

These retail promotions demonstrated how businesses used complimentary offerings to attract customers during a typically slow retail day. By providing practical items like beverages and meals, these retailers created value for consumers while potentially building goodwill and brand loyalty.

The geographic restrictions noted for some promotions, particularly Sheetz's offer limited to specific states, highlighted how retailers might tailor their freebies based on market presence and operational considerations.

Black Friday Promotional Offers

The 2019 holiday shopping season featured numerous Black Friday promotional offers, with several retailers using freebies and incentives to attract customers. As noted in the Fortune article, retailers faced challenges with fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas that year, prompting them to intensify their promotional efforts.

Belk implemented a significant gift card promotion for Black Friday shoppers. The retailer committed to giving away at least 200 gift cards per store, with 100 gift cards distributed specifically on Black Friday. The gift card values ranged from $5 to $500, with Belk allocating $1 million total for this promotion. This strategy aimed to incentivize store visits and potentially increase overall sales as customers used the gift cards.

Half Price Books combined free merchandise with gift cards in its Black Friday promotion. The first 100 shoppers at each location received a complimentary tote bag and a $5 gift card. Additionally, one of these tote bags contained a $100 gift card, creating an element of excitement and encouraging early arrivals.

JC Penney offered tiered coupon incentives to early shoppers. Those among the first in line for the retailer's early Black Friday sales (beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday) could receive coupons valued at $10, $100, or $500. These coupons were valid for use anytime during the subsequent weekend, providing flexibility for shoppers.

Macy's was noted to have a different approach to incentives, though the specific details were not fully detailed in the source material. The retailer likely implemented its own unique promotional strategy to attract Black Friday shoppers.

These Black Friday promotions reflected various retail tactics to drive foot traffic and increase sales during the critical holiday shopping period. By offering gift cards, merchandise, and valuable coupons, retailers created multiple incentives for consumers to choose their stores over competitors.

The combination of free items with potential additional value (like the $100 gift card in a tote bag) demonstrated how retailers could create excitement around their promotions while still maintaining profitability through increased overall sales.

Educational Christmas Activities

Educational resources formed another category of Christmas freebies in 2019, particularly valuable for teachers, parents, and homeschooling families. These resources combined holiday themes with educational content, providing engaging activities for children during the Christmas season.

One notable resource was a Christmas activities packet available on Teachers Pay Teachers. This comprehensive offering included multiple components designed to support various educational objectives:

  • Three "Color It, Read It, Write It" worksheets focused on Christmas vocabulary building and handwriting practice. These worksheets combined visual, reading, and writing elements to create a multi-sensory learning experience.

  • A Christmas word search designed to help children practice identifying and learning holiday-related vocabulary. Word searches offer cognitive benefits including pattern recognition and vocabulary reinforcement.

  • A Christmas flip book with handwriting practice exercises. This interactive resource allowed children to create a personalized keepsake while developing their writing skills.

  • A color-by-sight-word sheet that integrated art education with literacy development. This approach made learning sight words more engaging through the appeal of coloring activities.

The packet was designed for flexible implementation, suitable for whole classroom instruction, small group activities, learning centers, homework assignments, or as bell ringers. This versatility made it valuable for educators with different teaching styles and classroom configurations.

Special education teachers particularly valued this resource, as evidenced by a testimonial from an educator who used it with nonverbal and emerging readers. The teacher noted that the resource was easy to use and that the visuals provided saved time on creating additional modifications. Such feedback highlighted how well-designed free resources could meet the needs of diverse learners.

Educational Christmas freebies like this provided significant value to families and educators by offering ready-made activities that aligned with educational standards while incorporating festive themes. These resources helped maintain children's academic engagement during the holiday period when regular school schedules might be disrupted.

The availability of such materials through platforms like Teachers Pay Teachers demonstrated how digital marketplaces could facilitate the distribution of high-quality educational resources to a wide audience.

Conclusion

The 2019 Christmas season offered a diverse array of freebies across multiple categories, providing value for different consumer needs and interests. DIY craft enthusiasts could access numerous patterns and tutorials for handmade gifts and decorations, while those seeking quick solutions benefited from printable resources like gift tags and educational materials.

Retail promotions on Christmas Day provided practical benefits through complimentary beverages and meals, with offerings ranging from coffee and hot chocolate to free kids' meals at family restaurants. These promotions demonstrated how businesses used freebies to attract customers during a typically slow retail period.

Black Friday promotions featured significant incentives including gift cards, merchandise, and valuable coupons, reflecting retailers' strategies to drive foot traffic and increase sales during the critical holiday shopping season.

Educational resources combined holiday themes with learning objectives, providing engaging activities for children while supporting academic development. These materials were particularly valuable for educators and parents seeking to maintain educational engagement during the holiday break.

Together, these Christmas freebies illustrated how various businesses and creators used complimentary offerings to provide value to consumers during the holiday season. Whether through practical resources, entertainment options, or educational materials, these freebies enhanced the Christmas experience for many individuals and families.

Sources

  1. Pinterest: 12 Days of Christmas Freebies 2019 Round-Up
  2. Chapulines Collection: Christmas Gift Tags Freebie
  3. 5outof4: 2019 Gift Guide - 10 Freebie Patterns for the Holidays
  4. Saving Toward a Better Life: Christmas Day Freebies - Free Stuff on Christmas
  5. Fortune: Black Friday 2019 Free Stuff - Walmart, Macy's, JC Penney
  6. Teachers Pay Teachers: Christmas Activities Freebie