In the U.S. late November through the end of December, is known as the winter holiday.
Fortunately for consumers, this is that season when retailers offer huge discounts on a range of goods. This year, the National Retailers Federation expects the winter holiday sales to expand up to 4.2% compared to 2018. Looking back over five years, sales during the winter holiday season have maintained a positive trajectory. Retailers should expect 2019 to be robust. Last year, the country was in a tight grip of illiquidity due to government shutdown. Notably, the shutdown sent a wave of cash crunch across the economy, making it difficult for Americans to indulge in the huge offers on goods and services. However, poor sales in 2018 did not affect the five-year sales average badly, which stands at 3.7%.
Clearly, this winter holiday is massive for both the supply and demand side. To maximize sales, retailers need to be at the top of their game. Besides having enough stock to cater for the influx of orders, businesses need their online reputation intact for better engagement with customers. Here are some tips for businesses to prepare for this winter holiday.
Build an Online Presence also known as Online Reputation
While the digital platform is shaking up the world of retail, many businesses are still operating in brick and mortar. One major challenge that such businesses encounter is visibility. During holiday seasons and special shopping events like Black Friday, one can easily lose out to rivals.
Fortunately, there is a way around the issue of visibility. Before a big day like Black Friday, do a major makeover for your website. If you do not have one, get one. Ensure that the website is easy to navigate, loads fast and that users can place orders easily. Next, go over your social media pages to ensure that information is up to date. If you have a blog, get busy with fresh content geared at pointing customers at your store.
Review the Readiness of your Store
Shopping holidays could be overwhelming if the influx of customers is huge. Prior to the holidays, conduct a deep review of your store to ensure readiness to handle the pressure. In particular, check if there is enough staff to handle a large population of buyers. Next, check the status of common amenities like boxes for packaging goods, tapes to fasten the boxes, and so on. Above all, conduct general cleaning exercises of the store. Nobody would want to step into a dirty retail shop.
Decorate!
Holiday seasons are periods of festivities. People are out to indulge their tastes, and they have the money to pay for it. Besides, there is some kind of nostalgia that decorations evoke that tends to pull customers to the store. Interestingly, a National Retailers Federation study noted that about 55% of shoppers enter stores intending to browse decoration and gift ideas. Therefore, a nicely decorated store will more certainly attract more shoppers. Additionally, decorations have a way of working magic in the eyes of shoppers. Good sight is always welcoming.
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