Halloween hasn’t even arrived yet, and Thanksgiving isn't until November. However, retail stores are already starting to prepare for the holiday shopping season. This is the most important time of year for retailers. There is a lot of planning that goes into meeting sales goals, and happy customers don’t just arrive by chance. If you’re working in the retail industry, there are some things you should already be doing to prepare for the holiday season ahead.
Make Sure You Have Adequate Insurance
The holiday season is very busy in a retail store. According to Constant Contact, between 20 and 40 percent of yearly retail sales occur during this period. Unfortunately, this is also a time when a lot of insurance claims are filed. Sometimes, this is simply due to the winter weather that accompanies the season. Icy sidewalks and parking lots can make for a treacherous location. Customers aren’t the only ones you have to worry about. Busy employees can hurt themselves on the job as they rush around to keep up with the fast pace. Make sure that the insurance policy you have will cover everything and anything that could go wrong.
Make Sure Your POS Systems Are Ready
When you have a long line of impatient customers looking to complete their transactions, the last thing you want is for your registers to freeze or shut down. Make sure that your POS systems are ready to go and prepared to handle an influx of customers. According to Celerant, completing daily sales volume is actually a pretty common retail challenge. You should have a plan for when something goes wrong and make sure your employees are trained on what to do.
Keep Up With the Competition
The holidays will bring all kinds of sales and promotions. According to Snap, the holidays are a great time to connect with your customers and bring them into your store. Regardless of who your competition is, your store should come up with ways to push sales and get customers in the door. You can attract people by decorating your establishment, having family and friends sales and even offering rewards programs for the month of December.
When you're working in retail, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the holiday season, but putting in the proper planning can help set your mind at ease. People need to shop for holiday gifts. By following these tips to prepare for the holiday season, retailers can make it easy for customers to get their shopping done without a hassle.