Are you making business plans for the upcoming holiday season?
With more than half of U.S. consumers planning to buy fewer gifts this year than in 2021, it’s more important than ever to do some early planning in an effort to boost profits as we reach year-end.
It’s never too soon to start outlining your holiday strategy. Look at what worked last year and what didn’t. Did things pop up for which you were unprepared? Did you experience any shipping issues? Would you benefit from revamping your hours of operation?
As you start thinking about how to increase sales over the holiday season, look at ways to help your business succeed. Keep reading to learn five practical tips for preparing your business for the holiday season.
1. Prep Your Website
If your website needs some upgrades, now is the time to get that done. As more and more consumers shop online, it’s important that you give your customers a seamless buying experience.
Your website should be able to handle your current customer load as well as new customers that might come to your site while doing their Christmas or Hanukah shopping. Work out the bugs so you don’t turn customers off, and consequently, away from your site.
2. Marketing and Holiday Promotions
Use the data you have from last year to plan your marketing and promotions for this year.
What did customers respond well to last year? What kinds of things do your loyal customers like? What are the current trends?
Use the marketing channels that give you the best return on your investment: Facebook ads, texting campaigns, direct mail postcards, and email campaigns.
3. Up Your Inventory
Try to get extra inventory by placing orders early or manufacturing the extra inventory you’ll need for the season. Check your vendors ordering deadlines and mark them on your calendar.
4. Pre-Order Supplies
Look at last year’s sales to determine the basic supplies you’ll need for shipping, packaging, and gift wrapping. You’ll also need to order holiday gift cards and things like paper towels and toilet paper for the added traffic in your store and restrooms.
5. Hire and Train Seasonal Workers
If you need extra help around the holidays, it’s important to have enough time for proper training. You want your seasonal help to be well-trained so that your customer service is not compromised.
Having well-trained additional help lessens your risk of accidents and theft.
Is Your Business Ready for the Holiday Season?
Now that you have some tips under your belt for preparing your business for the holiday season, you’ll be all set for the peak season. Remember to update your website with pertinent holiday information like holiday hours, return policy, shipping, and special holiday pricing. Most importantly, don’t let all of your business planning get in the way of your enjoyment of the season.
If you’re looking for marketing ideas, check out CommCore Marketing. We offer business marketing services like drip campaigns, website management, blog writing, and much more. Contact us today by visiting our website.
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