Dec. 2, 2008 – As I write this, the advent calendar is already starting to wind down.
Only 23 days left (and counting) until the big day arrives. Now's the
time when it's crucial to get that Christmas merchandise selling and to
help you do so, I've compiled some selling tips from around the World
Wide Web.
As I write this, the advent calendar is already starting to wind down.
Only 23 days left (and counting) until the big day arrives. Now's the
time when it's crucial to get that Christmas merchandise selling and to
help you do so, I've compiled some selling tips from around the World
Wide Web.
-Talk with your staff in the morning. Is there a particular product you
need to move out of the shop? Make that product 'today's mover' and
share tips and strategies with your staff to help sell, sell, sell.
Select add-ons and talk about ways you can upsell 'today's mover.'
-Woman are often the people who feel the burden and stress of shopping
for their spouses, children, cousins, aunts, parents, etc. Make the
ladies who come into your centre feel special by asking them a simple
question: "What are you going to treat yourself to this Christmas?"
-When your customers come into your garden centre, ask them to list five gifts
from your store – one for themselves and four for other people they
have to buy for. Make a weekly draw at your shop where one customer
will win all five gifts (up to a certain value if you have higher
priced items). This promotion will get your customers thinking about
gift ideas from your shop and help you give other customers gift
suggestions. Download the form for your customers here (care of
www.christmastipsforretailers.com): Customer Gift Ideas
-On busy weekends, hire a student from the local high school band to
come into your business to play Christmas music and
get your customers in the spirit.
-Psych your employees up for the Christmas Scrooges. Prepare your staff
for those customers who will complain that 'Christmas is too
commercial' or 'I'll be glad with Christmas is over.' Talk with your
employees to come up with a way to handle these comments in a positive
way – maybe you could share a story of how Christmas helped one
customer reconnect with their family, etc.
-Don't take it personally. Let's face it – you're are probably going to
encounter at least one grumpy shopper this holiday season. Take a deep
breath, smile and don't take offense.
-Create a fun countdown badge for your employees to wear to remind your
customers how the clock is ticking and they need to buy gifts right now
– from you!
-Visit Graff Retail's website to see two videos that touch on what retailers can to do to ensure you have a successful holiday season.
And last, but not least, here's a fun fact about how important the
retail and commercial world is to the Christmas experience: It's common
knowledge that Santa is outfitted in his jolly red suit with a white
beard but it wasn't always that way. The truth is, before Coca-Cola
came along, Mr. Claus was more apt to be found in green then red. He
ranged from big to small, fat to tall and even appeared sometimes as a
spooky little elf.
In 1931, the modern day Coca-Cola Santa Claus was introduced in the
company's magazine ads in his now-token red suit. Because the magazines
were so widely viewed, this image of Santa stuck and decades later,
this is how we picture him.
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