Holiday shopping trends: Advent calendar timing and Tonies lottery system

Consumers preparing for the holiday season are facing strategic decisions regarding the purchase of Advent calendars. Data from the portal MonsterDealz, analyzing offers from 2017 to 2026, suggests that the best opportunities for discounts often appear during the second half of October and early November. While many wait for Black Friday in late November, there is a risk that popular or limited-edition calendars may already be sold out by then.

In the toy sector, the manufacturer Tonies is implementing a new lottery system to manage high demand for its Christmas figures. Following previous issues with long wait times and automated bots securing stock for resale, the company will allow interested customers to register for a chance to receive a specific purchase time window. Registration for this process is open from October 2 to October 9, 2026.