How to create the right holiday shopping experience for your retail store.

Today’s retail store owners don’t just try to out-sell their rivals from across town, they are also competing with sellers all over the world. And at no time are the stakes higher than during the busy holiday season. Since the revenue made in the last three months of the year often makes up the majority of the annual profits for many sellers, stacking the holiday deck in your favor to boost your sales is a great way to meet or exceed your yearly goals. 

Harness the power of your online presence.

Even if you want to focus mostly on attracting consumers to your physical location, your digital footprint should still be a big component of your campaign. Closely inspect your website to see if it is updated, easy to navigate, and optimized for mobile devices. Then use it to highlight the special deals and products you are featuring.

You can accentuate your multi-channel approach by letting your customers order online and pick up their purchases at your store. This provides added convenience while still allowing you to cement that all-important personal relationship with your buyers. Should they prefer to go with a contactless option, they can arrange for easy product shipment and delivery right to their door.

Provide a shopping journey your customers will remember.

It starts with a frustration-free website, which is often customers’ first glimpse into what your business is all about. From there, the journey progresses to a shop that is beautifully decorated for the season in a manner compatible with your brand’s messaging. Along with the baubles and bows, be sure that you and your employees are warm, accommodating, and knowledgeable about everything you have to offer.

Believe it or not, the welcoming journey even includes the credit card processing hardware and software you choose. That’s because it is your point of sale system that should be equipped to not only accept payments, but also serve as the hub for your customer relationship management. Thanks to the contact information you get from your patrons, you can send them promotions, discounts, and newsletters. You can also implement a program to reward them for their frequent business. When you go the extra mile to make your guests feel special, they will reciprocate by coming back again and again and referring friends and family.

Shape your advertising campaign to appeal to all customers.

These days, people want their entire shopping experience to be personalized, including the advertisements they see. You can tailor and personalize your marketing campaign by taking advantage of the power of social media, combined with customer testimonials and reviews.

People don’t just wish to accept your word about how wonderful your store is, they want to hear about it from real customers. Use your social media pages to post reviews, testimonials, and product how-tos that encourage potential buyers to visualize themselves making a purchase from your store. Pique their interest with time-sensitive promotions and giveaways and you’ll be amazed at the increase in foot traffic.

In the end, forging ahead of your competition during the holidays comes down to a combination of hard work, embracing technological tools, and good old-fashioned customer service. Shoppers no longer want cold sales transactions. Instead, they demand full-fledged, personalized purchase experiences. With a little forethought and planning, you can shine brighter during the rest of this most wonderful time of year.