It is hard to believe the holiday season is upon us already! Many holiday shoppers have already begun hitting the stores, looking for the best deals of the season. To some of you it may seem early, but did you know this year there are only 26 days between Black Friday and Christmas? Any retail business knows this is the busiest time of the year and advertising specials to holiday shoppers starts now. Seattle sign customers can read our tips here for a successful holiday season.
Promote Specials
Start advertising holiday deals right now. The top reasons people are influenced to buy a holiday promotion are free shipping and discounts. Whatever your offering is, advertise it. Banners or sandwich boards are a quick and economical way to promote holiday specials. Use the entry to your retail space to lure customers in, and use your website and social media to engage with customers online. Retail shops extend holiday specials into January so New Year’s and mid-winter offers are becoming more and more popular. And don't be afraid to launch last-minute deals. There are always people searching up until the final moments looking for the perfect gift.
Advertise Effectively
Every good advertisement, whether it’s a print ad in the Sunday paper or a billboard over I-5, will have a very clear call to action. What is it you want your potential customer to do? “Call Now” or “Ask About Our Seasonal Special” are examples of a clear and concise CTA. Here are 5 rules to a winning call to action: short, simple, actionable, explain why, and easy to find. Also, people buy when they are pressured to buy or if they know a deal is ending soon. So using phrases like, “limited time offer” or “ends this Friday”, or anything else that gives a deadline to your holiday promotion will be effective in helping to make a sale this holiday season.
Offer Shoppers Something Different
Retail shops face tough competition. If it’s not the shop next door, it’s the big box store with slashed prices, or the increasing presence of online stores. Never has it been harder for a retailer to be the top destination for holiday shoppers. With so many choices, how can small businesses and local retail shops compete? Beyond amazing store front signage and a rock star marketing plan, retailers need to do whatever they can to provide something different for consumers. An amazing experience, an emotional connection or an appeal to the senses (gingerbread cookies, anyone?) can be the thing that sways shoppers to buy from you, rather than from an online store. Keep in mind that sometimes the best experiences are the simple ones, like remembering a customer’s name or doing something unexpected but genuine. That’s where small businesses can truly excel.
Nothing can capture the emotions of the season like a great holiday store experience peppered with the sounds, smells and energy of the season. If stores can focus on that stuff, it makes the cheap and easy allure of online a bit less enticing. The key is to create positive experiences and emotions.
Be Prepared
From Thanksgiving through New Year’s is the busiest time of the year for many retail shops and restaurants. Make sure you have extra staff to meet high demands and extra people working the front desk and phones. Having enough merchandise or staffing can make the season run smoothly, profitably and will give your customers a great experience.