December may seem far away during the dog days of summer, but now is the time to start planning for a successful Christmas season. While the holidays are a make-or-break time for retailers, nearly every organization should be planning now for a successful year end. Here are some ways to prepare for the holiday season while the AC is still running.
It’s online & mobile
From Amazon’s Prime Day to Wal-Mart’s responding rollbacks, online retailers are trying to create Black Friday magic in the middle of July. Traditional brick and mortar retailers need a strong online presence and an action plan to compete. A great first step is a responsive website with easy to navigate ecommerce functionality to help your customers shop online or on their smartphone, as well as in your store. You don’t need to stop there, though. Develop a mobile app with special promotions, sales or loyalty programs. That way when the holiday season rolls in, you’ve strengthened your relationship with your customers.
It’s not just for retail
Those in the service and manufacturing industries should also be preparing for the holidays now. From considering how holiday closures can impact customers to developing new ways to market your services, you should start evaluating your customers’ holiday season needs and create a response plan now. Remember, the holidays aren’t just about buying presents. With advance planning, there are many ways you can help make your customers’ lives easier during this busy season.
It’s for employees & customers too
Your employees are one of your most important assets. The holidays are a busy time for your employees, so planning early for increased staffing needs as well as holiday parties, vacation requests or closures is important. It’s also not too early to start thinking about how you will thank your customers for their business over the past year. Planning ahead can save you big on custom holiday cards and gifts for your best clients, and decrease your stress during the holiday crunch.
You may have some time before you need to take the holiday decorations out of the attic, but to ensure your holidays are happy and successful, start planning now. Fresh Creative can help you develop your company’s marketing strategy – for the holidays and beyond. Call us at 717.274.0292 or email [email protected].
