It’s only 7 months until we’re back to Christmas Season!

What? Wait! No… It’s a leap year.
We actually have 329 days, right? That’s 10 months….

Wrong!

Don’t kid yourself!

The time to plan for Christmas retail success is NOW

while it’s “still fresh” and toward the front of your brain.

All the things about the season that you’ll “definitely remember”

will be a tiny thumbnail vision at the end of a long tunnel by this August.

Trust me. This is a fact.

So…. what to do?

Use this “7 Steps to be Ready in 7 Months” checklist.

“7 Steps to be Ready in 7 Months”
 Checklist for a Successful upcoming Christmas Season

Make a quick “top 10” list of your best sellers & customers most requested products

Jot down a list of the things you’re planning for Christmas 2016
that you are most excited about.

‘Could be things you bought, holiday themes, price points,

events, new products or services, a different store floor plan, etc

Now cross-reference your store’s “top 10” with your most exciting plans for Christmas 2016.

    Where is your “overlap”?

        Highlight these points!

        This is the list of 
                the “most important promotions for your successful season”.

Make copies of a 2016 calendar from September through December.

Grab a pencil and start planning how you will get the word out to your customers

about the “most important promotions for your successful season”.

Will you do a “teaser” email when the product starts arriving at the store?

Will you schedule an event to entice your customers to come to the store early?

Will you promote a special sale or price point item?  Use social media?

Will you run an ad on social media, the newspaper, TV or radio?

What do you want your customers to see on your website in peak season?

After working out tentative dates for sales, events & special promotions of your “most important” list,

work out if you need to do anything in advance and pencil that into your calendar too.

For instance, you might have a FaceBook or Instagram plan but aren’t using them yet. You’ll need to practice!

Or… do you need a specialist, (such as a graphic artist, webmaster, caterer, marketer), that you should contact.

Perhaps you want to partner with another business to get tap into new  markets.

You’ll want to contact these people early to discuss ideas.

When you “step back” and look at your plan, does it seem like something you can handle?

Or do you have enthusiasm that needs to be “reined in”?

Also, does it seem exciting?

If your plan shows signs of lethargy or “same old same old”, you better add some spice.

Not sure how to correct “too much” or “not enough”???

Listen to your sales staff! They have valuable information from consistently connecting with your customers!

Once refined to a manageable yet exciting marketing program put the plan, (with all of the preliminary steps), into your work calendar.

Keep those “promotions for a successful season appointments” with yourself!

It’ll be the best way to offer your customers a wonderful season

and to “take some of the heat off you” during peak season in your store.

‘To your Sparkling Success at Christmastime!