So, we've survived the busiest season of the year!
I hope your sales fulfilled your December dreams. Early news reports say that some retailers did well, others did not quite meet expectations. Here in Canada, polls a couple of weeks ago showed that most shoppers were in a confident mood and planned to spend more than last year.
Whether sales met expectations or not, we are coming up on a time of year that is important for all of us. Once the pace slows down in the new year, we have a chance to reflect. We can evaluate what went well, what we can improve, and make plans for the year ahead.
Share your experience of this holiday season and what you are planning for next year! Leave your comments below.
Next week, I'll be sending out an article on looking back, and looking ahead.
In the meantime, while you have been juggling holiday crowds, I have been working on a recording a new audio program. This program is based on a merchandising seminar I presented a couple of times this fall.
A sneak preview of the program is available now, as a free bonus until early January, with the purchase of Five Merchandising Mistakes Retailers Make.
Here's a synopsis of the new program:
Building Blocks of Merchandising - Audio Seminar
Are you struggling to come up with display ideas? Do you know what elements go into creating dynamic displays?
Merchandise displays are one of the most important tools a retailer has to use to bring customers inside the store. If you are not using this tool effectively, you are losing customers.
Learn the three building blocks of creating effective merchandising in this audio.
http://inspire.bc.ca/merchandising_products.htm
Remember, check it out before early January!
Don't forget to leave your comments below to let me know how the holiday season treated you!
Store Displays That Turn Off Holiday Shoppers
We're well into the holiday season. Shopping fever is in full swing.
Do you have what it takes to keep your customers engaged? Will your store look fresh right into the new year?
Right after Hallowe'en store start decking their walls with lights and ribbon. The latest and greatest merchandise is stocked up. Fabulous displays appear, the best of the year.
Have you ever noticed what happens in some stores close to Christmas?
Stores start to look tired. Shelves become empty. Merchandise gets messy.
It's understandable - there are more customers through the store in December than the rest of the year. It is a challenge to maintain store standards.
The busiest shopping days of the year are between December 18 - 23. The Saturday before Christmas has the highest sales volume of the year.
How much business are you going to lose if your front displays are half empty for just one day? Customers will walk by to the next store instead of stopping at your display.
How many people will be disappointed when you tell them the merchandise in the window is out of stock? How much time will it take them to find something else they like? Will they take the time to look, or walk back out the door?
Tired stores send a negative message to shoppers. Emptying shelves tell customers, "You should have shopped earlier. The best selection is gone."
The stores that will excel in the holiday season, are the ones that can live up to customer expectations all year long.
Keep your store looking fresh and inviting right through the holidays.
1. Have fresh merchandise arrive on the shelves the week before Christmas.
Customers want to give gifts that their friends and relatives will love. Make sure you always have something new and attractive to offer.
Having new merchandise in the week before Christmas and through Boxing Week will maximize your profits. Mark down the merchandise that is nearly sold out. Feature the new full price merchandise out front.
If you don't have the chance to get new merchandise in this year, move displays and merchandise to make it look new. And plan ahead for next year to have new orders arrive mid-December.
2. Keep the front displays current and full.
Make someone responsible to check your storefront every morning and periodically during the day. If you have a window display, make sure the items in the window are still in stock. If not, change it. If you have new merchandise, display it in the window.
Evaluate front merchandising fixtures. Make sure they are full and displayed attractively. Rotate merchandise by moving products from lower traffic areas to the front.
3. Make last minute gift shopping easy. Shoppers want to maximize time, and minimize decision making.
Bundle coordinating products together and price them as a package. Wrap them up with clear wrap and a ribbon. A simpler method is to tie them together with raffia, ribbon, or even string. Then attach a tag.
Merchandise stock right next to where the products are displayed. Shoppers can just grab and go. To the cash register.
4. Schedule extra time to clean up the store. At the end of each day, schedule an extra 1/2 hour to an hour to focus on store presentation. High traffic takes a toll on displays and organization.
After the store is closed, straighten merchandise throughout the store. Fill shelves. Clean up muddy footprints and dust bunnies. Wipe fingerprints off the glass. Make sure you are ready for the next day!
Keep your store ship-shape through the busiest season of the year. You'll keep customers all year long.
Do you have what it takes to keep your customers engaged? Will your store look fresh right into the new year?
Right after Hallowe'en store start decking their walls with lights and ribbon. The latest and greatest merchandise is stocked up. Fabulous displays appear, the best of the year.
Have you ever noticed what happens in some stores close to Christmas?
Stores start to look tired. Shelves become empty. Merchandise gets messy.
It's understandable - there are more customers through the store in December than the rest of the year. It is a challenge to maintain store standards.
The busiest shopping days of the year are between December 18 - 23. The Saturday before Christmas has the highest sales volume of the year.
How much business are you going to lose if your front displays are half empty for just one day? Customers will walk by to the next store instead of stopping at your display.
How many people will be disappointed when you tell them the merchandise in the window is out of stock? How much time will it take them to find something else they like? Will they take the time to look, or walk back out the door?
Tired stores send a negative message to shoppers. Emptying shelves tell customers, "You should have shopped earlier. The best selection is gone."
The stores that will excel in the holiday season, are the ones that can live up to customer expectations all year long.
Keep your store looking fresh and inviting right through the holidays.
1. Have fresh merchandise arrive on the shelves the week before Christmas.
Customers want to give gifts that their friends and relatives will love. Make sure you always have something new and attractive to offer.
Having new merchandise in the week before Christmas and through Boxing Week will maximize your profits. Mark down the merchandise that is nearly sold out. Feature the new full price merchandise out front.
If you don't have the chance to get new merchandise in this year, move displays and merchandise to make it look new. And plan ahead for next year to have new orders arrive mid-December.
2. Keep the front displays current and full.
Make someone responsible to check your storefront every morning and periodically during the day. If you have a window display, make sure the items in the window are still in stock. If not, change it. If you have new merchandise, display it in the window.
Evaluate front merchandising fixtures. Make sure they are full and displayed attractively. Rotate merchandise by moving products from lower traffic areas to the front.
3. Make last minute gift shopping easy. Shoppers want to maximize time, and minimize decision making.
Bundle coordinating products together and price them as a package. Wrap them up with clear wrap and a ribbon. A simpler method is to tie them together with raffia, ribbon, or even string. Then attach a tag.
Merchandise stock right next to where the products are displayed. Shoppers can just grab and go. To the cash register.
4. Schedule extra time to clean up the store. At the end of each day, schedule an extra 1/2 hour to an hour to focus on store presentation. High traffic takes a toll on displays and organization.
After the store is closed, straighten merchandise throughout the store. Fill shelves. Clean up muddy footprints and dust bunnies. Wipe fingerprints off the glass. Make sure you are ready for the next day!
Keep your store ship-shape through the busiest season of the year. You'll keep customers all year long.
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