According to the National Retail Federation’s holiday forecast, retail sales are predicted to grow between 6 percent and 8 percent in 2022. That’s a growth of around $4.86 trillion. It goes without saying that much of this money will be spent around Christmas.
There is no doubt that Christmas is the busiest time of year in retail stores. You need to make sure your customers have a great experience and also that you are selling enough products for the festive season. To ensure this happens, it’s important to plan ahead with some simple steps.
In this article, we’ll discuss how retail stores in Charlotte can prepare themselves for Christmas and increase their sales.
#1 Online Promotion Campaigns
There are a few things you can do to get the word out about your sale. If you have an email list, send out an email blast that tells people about the sale and any other new products or promotions you might be running. You can also advertise on social media and post on your website’s blog. This will help increase traffic and drive more sales for the Christmas season.
#2 Signage and Posters Around the Store
When you walk into a store, the signage and posters around the store are a great way to get people into your store. You can use this time to promote special sales and other deals that will benefit customers.
If you have something specific that you want to sell, place signs in areas where people are likely to see them when they’re walking by. Make sure these signs include the products you want to sell, as well as their prices. This allows customers who may not have been looking for a specific item before entering your shop to get an idea of what they might be able to find inside.
Find a good store in Charlotte that sells business signs. Let them prepare high-quality signage for you that showcases the products you’re selling or any discount campaign going on. These banners and posters will also help with your brand identity. The more people get to see your brand around while they’re shopping or walking, the more curious they’ll grow. This curiosity of theirs will help you gain some new customers.
#3 Get Influencers on Board
With influencers on board, you can reach a wider audience, promote your products and brand, and reach a younger audience.
There are several ways to get influencers on board:
- Have them as guests at your store or at an event
- Designate a space for them at the store
- Invite them to blog about their experience at the store
Work with Charlotte-based influencers since you’re trying to appeal to a local crowd. It’s best if you can find people who have experience working with retail brands or stores. If not, no problem. They simply need to promote your brand on their social media accounts.
This they can do in many ways. You can send them clothing items that they can wear to different events. They can also do unboxing videos. You can also allow them to get creative and do something on their own with your brand as the center focus.
According to a report titled ‘Influencer Marketing Platform Market by Application and Geography – Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026,’ it’s been found that the influencer marketing market size can grow by $27.39 billion between 2021 and 2026.
That means in the next few years, this market will have more people investing in it for various business purposes. If you’re a retail store owner, you shouldn’t miss out on this opportunity either. Thus, it’s only logical that you try to make the most of it.
#4 Offering Discounts
Offering discounts to loyal customers is one of the most common strategies used by businesses. Discounts can be offered for specific items, such as clearance items, or they may be available only to those with a certain level of loyalty or membership.
If you have a rewards program, this is an excellent opportunity to offer discounts specifically for members of that program. Another option is offering different types of discounts depending on the time of the year.
Promotions during Black Friday weekend are often more aggressive than discounts during other times of the year.
#5 Offering Freebies
Offering freebies is one of the most effective ways to get people in your store. The key is choosing something relevant to your target audience that isn’t too expensive for you. For example, if you sell clothing, offering free scarves or gloves could be a great idea. If you sell kitchen appliances, giving away a cookbook might be an option.
You can even offer them discount coupons for their next purchase if they buy stuff worth over a certain amount. You could even think about starting a loyalty program within Charlotte so that people keep coming back to your store, collecting points, and then redeeming them for discounts in the future.
With all the competition out there today, it is not enough for you to just have a good product. You also need to be able to communicate with your customers effectively.
As reported by the BBC, the current economic situation in the UK could mean that retail stores over there could face a lot of difficulties attracting customers this Christmas.
Of course, the situation is just as bad in other parts of the world, including the United States, mostly because of the ongoing global economic crisis. Thus comes the need for retail stores to plan and market themselves effectively this Christmas if they want to hit high sales numbers.
Take the opportunity to reconnect with your customers during the Christmas sales through these tips. Do it right, and they will reward you with their loyalty as they keep coming back to your store even after Christmas is over.