Here’s How Retail Stores Can Make the Most of the Upcoming Holiday Sales

Regardless of your niche and products, one thing’s for sure: the upcoming holidays can help you end the year on a profitable note. Last year’s holiday season saw retail sales grow by 4.8% compared to 2021. This year’s projection is a further increase of 4.5%.

Since people are known to start their holiday shopping even before October, it’s important to get your promotional plans ironed out in advance.

But don’t worry. You’re not too late to capitalize on the season. After all, many people shop throughout the season. Some even wait until the last minute.

Here are a few tips to help you make the most of the upcoming holiday sales.

Offer New and Specific Products

This is one of the best ways to draw customers in. Find out what your customers need and what your competition is selling. Then, tailor your products and advertising accordingly.

No matter which industry your store operates in, your products must fulfill an unmet need—something that’s not easily available to all. For example, beauty and cosmetic brands launch exclusive limited-time products. This makes customers want to buy them so they can have lipsticks or blush powders that aren’t available at other stores or can only be bought during certain times.

Spruce up Your Retail Store

Change things up and give your store a new look to intrigue customers. For example, most fashion brands change their window displays seasonally to entice customers. This is one of the best ways to increase in-store traffic.

However, even other stores can spice things up through decorative items, attractive posters, enticing offers, and creative displays. So, make use of your windows and curbside areas to advertise what your store sells. Display special offers and discounts in big, bold letters to get the attention of your customers.

Leverage Social Media

Connecting with customers online is an excellent way to encourage people to visit your store. You can advertise sales, offers, and other deals that are exclusive to your brick-and-mortar business on social media.

Facebook and Instagram are widely used to reach niche audiences through free marketing. So, using social media to promote your store is a no-brainer. 

Making posts, stories, and reels about the products and your store can usher customers through your doors. You can also have special in-store prices for exclusive in-store items.

Consider Email Marketing

If your store doesn’t already send emails, you should change that. Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to retain customers. A study showed that it helps retain up to 80% of past clients.

You can show audiences your store’s offers through email newsletters and announcements. You can also promote limited-period promotions, exclusive links, and personalized messages to make your customers feel valued.

A well-planned email will have a promotional offer, a time period, a call to action (CTA), and an informative section to create a sense of credibility. Avoid emails that are too “salesy” as they often come across as fishy. Learn to strike a balance between visual and written content.

If you’re new to the design side of things or simply want to amp up your email game, using retail email templates can be helpful. PosterMyWall has professionally made and customizable templates for different types of retailers and campaigns so you can easily find something that suits your purposes.

Consider Paid Advertisement

If you haven’t already, it’s time to consider modern-day advertising. No, you don’t have to spend a large sum. You can get traction through targeted online ads.

Start by building a website and social media accounts to kickstart your journey. Pay-per-click ads are a great deal because you only pay when targeted viewers perform certain actions like clicking on your link or viewing your ad for a fixed number of seconds.

Make Sure Your Staff Know About Your Holiday Offers

Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if your customer walks into your store, asks about your holiday offers, and your employees don’t know anything about them? Brief your staff about any special discounts or promotions, including their mechanics. After all, much of the customer experience starts before a sale is made.

A well-informed staff can handle any questions, help you increase your sales, and assist customers who want to avail of your holiday promos.

Conclusion

The end of the year is when several major retail events take place: Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Black Friday. Make sure to cash in on these holidays by planning your promotions early and be ready to execute them.

You can offer new products, decorate your store for the season, use social media and email marketing, and employ paid online ads. Finally, loop your staff in about your strategies so they can support you and help you grow your sales.

With some planning and effort, you can end 2023 on a high note while making your customers happy.

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