For many retailers – this year perhaps more than ever – the Christmas period is an important opportunity to boost sales and increase revenue. The high street is soon to be full of shoppers buying gifts and looking for the best of the season’s deals. So how can you make the most of this period? Read on for our tips on how to increase Christmas sales in your store this year.
5 failsafe ways of increasing Christmas sales
1. Create enticing window displays
To increase your sales, you’ll need to maximise your footfall. One of the best ways you can attract customers is by creating eye-catching window displays. At Christmas, go all out! A showstopping seasonal display will bring in the crowds and get you noticed on the high street. This is your opportunity to stand out from your competitors and entice new customers over to your store. Some of the best window display tips include:
- Using bright and bold colours
- Storytelling
- Utilising plenty of lighting
- Determining focal point
But remember, it’s one thing to draw shoppers over, but the ultimate goal should be to entice them into your store. Make sure your doors are open, and the inside of your store feels warm and welcoming.
2. Optimise store layout and displays
Once you’ve got your customers inside, it’s crucial to think about your store layout and where you place your products. There are a few visual merchandising techniques you can use to ensure your customers interact with the items you want them to.
One way is to create a store layout that guides your customers through your store, so you can strategically place items in key locations. Don’t forget the ‘invariable right’ theory – most customers turn right after entering a store, so guide them anti-clockwise and place products on the right as they enter.
Other tips to maximise product sales include:
- Keep your high-priced items at eye level on the shelves.
- Use tall risers, blocks or plinths to draw the eye to certain products on display.
- Keep the aisles clear and uncrowded.
- Display core products 10-15 feet from the store entrance – after what’s known as the ‘decompression zone.
These subtle techniques will help ensure your customers come into contact with your star products and increase sales on these items.
3. Have a seasonal sale
Christmas shoppers are looking for bargains. To compete with the rest of the high street, you’ll need to offer customers incentives to shop with you. One of the best ways of increasing Christmas sales is to offer seasonal discounts for a limited time period. Discounts will motivate customers to buy, helping you quickly increase sales and attract new customers. Remember, shoppers will compare the price difference between stores, so make your discount worthwhile!
If you can’t offer a blanket sale across all items, consider buy-one-get-one-free deals on certain popular items and offer special deals for loyalty cardholders too.
4. Create gift bundles
Another way to increase sales at Christmas is to create gift bundles. Christmas shoppers are looking for the perfect presents for their friends and family, and this creates a fantastic upselling opportunity. While customers may only buy one product from you usually, bundling items together in a Christmas gift set encourages them to spend more per transaction.
5. Spread the word
Though your window display will entice shoppers on the high street, get the word out about your sale through digital means too. Email marketing is a fantastic way to tell your customers about your Christmas offering and incentivise them to come in-store.
Remember, shoppers will be inundated with promotional messages, so to add a personal touch to yours, be sure to include each customer’s name at the top of each email. Have a social media account? Be sure to maximise your reach by promoting your Christmas deals there too.
Follow these tips on how to increase sales during Christmas, and you’re sure to see your revenue rise. By incentivising customers with seasonal sales and offers and attracting them with your window displays and visual merchandising, you can maximise your in-store sales this year.
