There are many ways to increase holiday business but four key elements are knowledgeable salespeople, point of purchase displays, holiday gift baskets and setting the holiday scene. First and foremost is your staff – having knowledgeable salespeople who know the product line as well as all the product offerings is key to successful sales. Even with the most gorgeous holiday displays, if your salespeople can’t sell the items, the holiday displays are serving merely as a store decoration. Kerry King from Kool Dog Kafe, a doggie bakery in New Mexico, states, “Sales associates up selling last minute items or gift certificates are extremely important in successful holiday business.”

Point of purchase displays and those last minute items at the register are also a great way to increase add on sales at the holidays. Kerry King recommends, “Rounders or shelves around your counter for impulse purchases are important as well as point of sale signage at the counter with hot holiday items.” Kristen Stavistky from Max’s Place, a pet boutique in Spring Valley, NY, suggests holiday impulse items should be displayed at the counter, “Cute dog toys are perfect or all-natural dog biscuits. The key is inexpensive, $10 and under, and cute, unique gifts. You want to show items that people will “need” to buy.”

Gift baskets are also a key holiday merchandising technique that will increase your sales. The baskets add to the festivity of the store while giving your customers a great gift idea for their friends or pets. Kerry King states, “We find holiday gift baskets and packaged sets make for easy gift shopping and increased sales”.

Finally, your store should encapsulate the holiday season with color, in store merchandising and holiday window displays. Basically, you want to “set the scene” of the entire store with an assortment of products and holiday accouchements. Kerry from Kool Dog Kafe recommends, “We found using theatrical props such as a sleigh or fake snow, etc. in our window displays draws attention to the store with a hip/cool element.” Kristen from Max’s Place suggests, “We’ve found that it helps to set the scene; we include a range of products so that we can inspire our customers. They might feel as if they are looking at a room in a house, rather than a single item display. We also group products by color and style.” Elena Ferrante from Sophisticated Canines in Westwood, NJ recommends setting up little vignettes with a holiday theme to show people how the items could be used, i.e. have a little decorated Christmas tree set up with a dressed up stuffed dog wearing holiday attire. She states, “Set up the display so that people can envision how their purchases will look.” Whether it’s grouping products by color, style or showing how the products can be used, it’s important that the entire scene of the store flows together with your chosen holiday theme.

The holidays (Christmas, Hannukah, etc) are a great way to enlighten your store with color, products and displays but what about other holidays during the year such as Thanksgiving, Halloween and more. These are great opportunities to spruce up the store with color, themes and products to sell. Kristin from Max’s Place suggests decorating the store with goblins, ghosts and dummies at Halloween and she even has one idea that might really spook the clientele, “We also have been known to color our pond and fountain displays and have an eyeball or two floating by!” Kerry from Kool Dog Kafe says, “We bring Halloween decorations to create a spooky atmosphere and also use fall leaves and hay bails. This time of year is such a great time for creating that cozy (shopping) holiday experience.”

Whether you are decorating your store for Christmas, Hannukah, Halloween or even Ground Hogs Day, remember to spotlight your best holiday merchandise.

Quick Tips for Holiday Merchandising:

Do use holiday colors and holiday product assortment for unique displays
Do set up holiday scenes rather then random products
Do use fun props such as lighted sleds, snowmen, etc
Don’t let your props overtake your products being displayed
Don’t use items that can be dangerous to animals, i.e. poinsettias, open cords

Author: Lori Dotterweich
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty