The holidays are right around the corner and along with season’s greetings and holiday cheer comes a very busy time for your small business. How can you prepare for the holiday rush and maximize seasonal sales? Today, Zumvu shares all the tips you need to make this holiday season your most profitable yet.
What are shoppers up to this holiday season? Buy online, pick-up-in-store offerings are expected to be popular this year, as is curbside pickup. However, while a few buyers don’t plan to shop in-store this season, brick-and-mortar remains the most popular shopping option.
As far as what they’re buying, clothing, gift cards, and toys are predicted to dominate gift lists, with electronics, self-care, and home improvement purchases not far behind. Gift cards will reign supreme with older shoppers while younger buyers spend on self-care items like make-up and skincare.
Supply chain disruptions continue to challenge retailers heading into the holiday season. Get ahead of supply chain crunches by building safety stock ahead of the holiday rush and identify alternative suppliers for key inventory items. If you’ve been thinking about investing in inventory software, now is the time to take the plunge. Inventory management tools help you keep track of lead times and inventory levels and analyze seasonal fluctuations to improve forecasting.
Packaging is a key part of the fulfillment process, especially during the holidays. Seasonal packaging design and a unique unboxing experience set retailers apart from competitors. Stock up on packaging and gift wrapping materials too and opt for eco-friendly materials like recycled paper and cardboard and corrugated bubble wrap whenever possible.
Updating branding materials is a great way to imbue your digital presence with holiday cheer. Rather than pay your graphic designer to rework all your digital assets, create a few simple designs yourself using a customizable logo maker. These tools let you apply your brand colors and fonts to free logo templates for a budget-friendly logo design solution.
After designing your brand’s holiday look, order advertising materials like business cards, banners and posters, and supplies for holiday window displays. Printed materials like floor standups and paper coasters bring your storefront to life without spending a fortune.
Also, it’s a good idea to spend some time on content marketing, which means trying to generate interest in a topic rather than simply advertising a specific service. This is a good way to build an informed customer base from the ground up, and if you need any assistance, Cornerstone Content can be a big help.
Emails are an easy way to let customers know what you’re up to for the holidays, including sharing news about promotions, events, and special discounts for loyal shoppers. A personalized discount code tells your top customers just how much they’re valued and incentivizes holiday purchases.
As you design your storefront and write seasonal copy, keep themes of family and togetherness in mind. Many families weren’t able to be together during the 2020 holiday season. While some are looking forward to celebrating with family this year, others remain unable to gather. Remind shoppers of what makes the holiday special with stories about in-person and long-distance connections, finding joy despite hardship, and being thankful for the special people in our lives.
Along those lines, consider weaving a charitable cause into your holiday marketing. Customers like buying from brands with a purpose. Knowing their purchase goes to a good cause tips the scales in your small business’s favor. Donating a portion of holiday sales to a local nonprofit and organizing a toy drive are two small, but meaningful ways local businesses can make an impact.
Despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, holiday spending is expected to be strong this season. Make sure your small business is ready for the holiday rush with seasonal marketing materials and safety stock to get you through the shopping season. With a great marketing strategy and careful planning behind the scenes, you can make this holiday season your small business’s best yet.
Zumvu has all the tools you need to boost your sales and take your business to the next level. Questions? We’d love to hear from you!
