With the Fall season well underway, it’s time to look just around the corner: for the floral industry, as it is for all wholesalers and retailers around the country, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! It comes on so rapidly this time of year, that any and all preparatory steps you take now will reap rewards during the hectic and lucrative Christmas season. Following are a few ideas to help boost your holiday sales this year.

Create Promotions for the 12 Days of Christmas

Drive customers to your shop by offering a new promotion for each of the 12 days leading up to Christmas. Some ideas of promotions could be a gift or gift card with purchase, a percentage off a certain item for one day only, buy-one-get-one floral centerpieces – the options are endless. Share your promotions across social media and through emails.

Buy One Give One

For a twist on a BOGO promotion, try a Buy One Give One: Every time a customer purchases a floral arrangement, you will donate to a cause that you and your customers believe in. Christmas is a perfect time for this, as the holiday is all about giving. Customers will love being able to give back to their community just by frequenting your business!

Update Your Website for the Holidays

Your website is one of the most important marketing tools you have, so display your holiday products, centerpieces and holiday decor in organized, easy-to-find categories to create a user-friendly experience. Write a blog entry or two about new seasonal products, tree decorating tips, or other holiday floral ideas, and make sure your holiday hours are displayed clearly on your site.

Showcase Your Holiday Offerings on Facebook

One of the best ways to promote your business during the holidays is through paid advertising on social media. Facebook in particular gives you the ability to target specific demographics, and as the ads are only allowed to be 20% text, they are an ideal way to showcase your holiday floral offerings. It’s a powerful advertising tool that can reap big rewards when customers click through to your website!

Create a “How to” Holiday Guide

One great Christmas promotion idea is offering a holiday guide to your customers. It doesn’t have to center on just how to decorate with flowers; your customers will appreciate general holiday decorating tips or party-hosting suggestions. Offer the ideas and show how your flowers tie in, and make sure the last page of the guide showcases the specific floral products that you offer, and directs them to buy.

Throw a Holiday Block Party

If you have other retailers in your immediate neighborhood, get together and create a holiday block party. Invite customers to come shop on a certain day, and have each business offer a special holiday treat as well as a discount for the hours of the party. This is a fantastic way to increase holiday sales, as you will have many new potential customers enter your shop during the hours of the party.

With these ideas put into action, you will be sure to have a happy, successful holiday season!