Five Ways to Make Your Retail Business Stand Out During the Holiday Craziness

With every retailer scrambling to make the most of the holiday sales season, it can be hard to stand out in the crowd. What can you do to bring in customers and keep them coming back? Here are a few ideas for helping your retail business shine during the busiest time of the year.

1. Outstanding Customer Service. When a customer has an experience that goes above and beyond their expectations, it makes a lasting impression. Great experiences create loyal customers who will likely share their satisfaction with others. On the other hand, poor customer experiences mean bad reviews and lost business.

In a retail environment overrun with complacent employees, a helpful salesperson can make a huge difference. Make sure your employees are trained on how to resolve common issues, answer questions, and make each customer feel valued. An effective sales staff understands the value of every person who walks through the door.

If you feel like your staff isn’t prepared to give customers this kind of experience, it might be time to bring in an expert. T-ROC offers employee training for companies that want to go above and beyond for their customers.

2. Roll Out the Deals. It might seem obvious to bring customers in by running a sale during the holiday season, but not all sales are created equal. Storewide sales can be effective but only if it’s a percentage that will wow your customers (usually over 20%).

If that’s not a good route for your business, consider running great deals on specific products for a shorter amount of time, such as 50% off all outerwear for 2 days only. It’s easier to hold customers’ interest and keep new traffic coming into the store by offering big deals that change every few days instead of running a sweeping month-long sale.

3. Stay Transparent. In retail, honesty is always the best policy. You can probably remember a time when a company over-promised and under-delivered. This type of experience doesn’t build trust and can result in bad reviews that influence other potential customers.

There are too many sales representatives out there that will say anything to make the sale. If an employee misspoke about a price or sale, discuss it openly and honestly with the customer. If for some reason you can’t deliver what was purchased by the specified date, reach out and tell the customer as soon as possible. Respectful communication builds far better relationships than excuses or slick sales tactics ever could.

4. Get Out There. When it comes to holiday selling, it pays to think outside the box! If your mall or shopping district is hosting any holiday events, be sure to get involved. If not, you might consider hosting an event of your own to draw customers in.

When planning an event, be sure there’s a big benefit for attendees. Ask yourself what you as a customer would gain from coming to your event. Are you having a huge sale accompanied by refreshments and entertainment? Is there a chance to win a grand prize (must be present to win!)? If there’s no benefit for the customer, attendance is sure to be low.

5. Don’t Forget the Email Campaign. Social media has endless viral potential and is effective for engaging with your audience, but when it comes to selling, email campaigns are king. Promoting your holiday sale via email has been shown to bring in more customers than using social media alone. A personalized, attention-grabbing subject line can draw recipients in, while a sleek design that showcases your offerings helps to spark their interest.