The holiday season is officially here, shopping carts are full, campaigns are everywhere, and brands are in their biggest hustle of the year. But while everyone is focused on squeezing the most out of December, the savviest companies are doing something else at the same time.
They’re already planning for 2026.
December is the perfect moment to reflect, regroup, and build a smarter strategy for the year ahead. And one thing has become very clear:
2026 cannot be built on guesswork. It has to be built on data, clarity, and cultural understanding.
Let’s break it down.
Don’t Let “Gut Feelings” Guide Your 2026 Strategy
Here’s the thing, every leader has instincts. Instinct is great when you’re deciding what to order for lunch, but not so great when your decisions affect next year’s revenue.
Strategic decisions often get influenced by whatever is loudest or most recent: a handful of customer complaints, a trendy article, a new idea someone heard in a meeting. But research shows that the strongest strategies come from identifying the actual drivers of customer value, not the assumed ones (Mittal, 2025).
So as you think about 2026, here’s a simple way to keep things grounded:
- Define the goal (growth, loyalty, retention, etc.)
- List the factors that you think influence that goal
- Measure what actually does
- Build your strategy around the inputs that are proven, not the ones that are convenient
This takes effort, but it pays off. Companies that do this outperform those that rely on what feels right (Mittal, 2025).
2026 is too important to build on guesswork.
Make the Latino Market a Core Part of Your 2026 Plan
Now, let’s talk about one of the biggest opportunities for next year, one that many companies still overlook: The U.S. Latino economy.
According to the U.S. Latino GDP Report, the Latino economy reached a stunning
$4.1 trillion in 2023, making it the fifth-largest economy in the world, bigger than France and the UK (Latino GDP Report, 2025).
It is not just a niche or a secondary demographic; it represents a powerful global economic force.
Why Latino audiences should be central to your 2026 strategy:
- They’re one of the fastest-growing groups in the U.S. workforce
- They’re young, connected, and incredibly brand loyal
- They drive major growth in retail, food, entertainment, and financial services
And yet many brands only show up for Latino audiences during Hispanic Heritage Month.
That can’t be the plan for 2026.
Integrating Latino audiences into your strategy means weaving cultural insight into:
- Your storytelling
- Your media strategy
- Your product development
- Your community presence
- Your customer experience
This is a long-term growth strategy, not a seasonal one.
Want 2026 to Be a Breakout Year? Start Now.
The holiday season can feel overwhelming, but it also gives us perspective. We’re reminded that at the core of everything, every purchase, every ad, every brand decision are: People. Culture. Connection.
So as you map out next year:
- Lean on data, not assumptions
- Understand who’s actually driving economic momentum
- Build strategies that reflect real identities, not stereotypes
- Make Latino audiences a priority, not an afterthought
And if you’re wondering how to bring all of this together?
That’s where we come in.
At Vaquero, we live between data and culture. We combine analytics, behavioral insight, and deep cultural understanding to help brands grow, especially when it comes to Latino and Hispanic audiences.
2026 is coming fast.
Let’s build something powerful.