This Christmas will see a huge increase in online shopping. Yet, with eased social distancing rules, more people may want to get into the Christmas spirit by checking out some festive stores in person.
With so much attention on online marketing these days, it can be easy to forget that you also need to focus on your in-store marketing. To help you with this, here are eight tips to bring people into your shop and provide them excellent service, so they come back again and again:
- Define Your Goals
Take the time now to work out precisely what you want to achieve from your in-store marketing. It should be easy to improve your sales over last year since few people were shopping in stores. So, look at your 2019 Christmas sales and work out what you’ll need to do to beat them. After all, plenty of people out there want to spend money this year, and with proper planning, you can reap the benefits.
- Have an In-Store-Only Sale
A great way to get people into your store is to promote and hold a sale that’s only valid in-store. Maybe you have a one-day sale where everything is 20% off. Or perhaps have a weekend sale with different discounts on different items each day. If customers know that they can only get these discounts by coming in, they’re likely to do just that. And when they see what you’ve got available, they just may purchase more than they thought!
- Hold an Event or Workshop
Another fantastic tool for bringing customers into your store is to have a workshop or event. You can promote and hold a DIY Christmas Arrangement workshop to create the arrangement we feature in this issue of LivRio. You may also want to have a Christmas party, where people come in with their families and enjoy treats, music, and holiday cheer — while also checking out all the holiday gift items you have on sale!
- Promote and Sell Christmas Gift Bundles
Creating flower and gift bundles is a fabulous way to help your customers because they don’t have to go to two different stores. And of course, it’s a great way to increase your in-store sales. You can bundle any item with a flower arrangement, from chocolates to board games to decorative items.
- Go All-Out on Store Decorations
Make your store the place to visit this year by going all-out on Christmas decorations. Design your windows, so people stop in their tracks and want to walk into the Christmas wonderland you’ve created. And set up a section of the store with coffee or hot cocoa and comfy chairs, so people can come in, sit, and relax before hitting the next store.
- Create a Last-Minute Gift Section
The closer you get to Christmas, the more likely you are to have people coming in looking for that last-minute gift. So, create a section in your store with grab-and-go arrangements. Think about arrangements for a host or hostess gift, an “I didn’t know they were coming for Christmas” gift, or an “I totally forgot to get something for her” gift.
- Add on Christmas Gift Cards
To provide something for every possible customer who comes into your store, offer Christmas gift cards at your register. Many people who have no idea what to give will be happy to purchase a gift card. Make this even easier by creating simple arrangements with gift card holders so that customers can buy the arrangement and the gift card as a set. Remember, bundling is always a good idea!
- Provide Free Delivery
While free delivery during the holidays is an excellent online service, it also works in-store. Let your customers know that if they would like their arrangement delivered to someone in the local area, your store would be happy to do it. Even if they don’t take you up on your offer, they will certainly appreciate that you care enough to provide this service.
Now that you have a few ideas, go ahead and plan out your in-store marketing in conjunction with your online marketing. You might just be amazed at how much your sales will increase this Christmas!