The countdown is on!

The holiday season is upon us, and with the hustle and bustle of the season it’s easy to forget to take the steps necessary to make your store stand out from the rest.

To help drive traffic to your store and encourage repeat visits, pick a promotional theme. Consider holding a “Twelve Days ‘Til Christmas” sale. Select a different deal to offer your customers each day as you countdown through the holiday season! Make sure your stock levels are higher than average; you don’t want to run out of an item and miss an opportunity!

Engage your customers and spread joy through good deeds. Hold a toy or canned food drive, or donate a percentage of your sales to charity. The holiday season is the perfect time to give back to your community and reconnect with your customer base.

Decorate your shop with lighted branches, tinsel trees, and of course holiday box signs. Pick a theme; gold and champagne, red and white, or Country Christmas! Create whimsical displays using fake snow, felt mice, and snowflake lights. Don’t forget to fill your store with the smells of the season. Bake gingerbread cookies, serve hot chocolate, and give candy canes or stickers to your customer’s children.

Don’t forget to stock your cash wrap area with plenty of grab and go stocking stuffers. Notepads, pencils, and ornaments: anything small and perfectly priced for that last minute add-on item.

The holiday season is a great time to create and strengthen relationships with your customers. Take this time to spruce up your website, create new displays, send holiday cards, extend your hours, and most importantly spread cheer. After all, ‘Tis the Season!