The holiday season brings many opportunities for businesses alike to obtain additional revenue to help meet their goals. Holiday sales during November and December are forecasted to grow between 3.8 and 4.2 percent this season and bring in an average of $729.3 billion, according to the National Retail Federation (NFR). With the holiday season right around the corner, we offer a few tips and tricks to help capitalize on this money-making opportunity.

Be Ahead of the Game

Every year holiday shopping happens earlier and earlier and this year is no different. More consumers are starting as early as September, compared to 2018, when they began on Black Friday. Marketing plans and holiday promotions should be set well in advance to stay ahead of the competition and reel in consumers and revenue.

Think Like A Consumer

The consumer shopping experience is ever-changing with all the technological advances. Consumers now have information at their fingertips and are exposed to an overwhelming amount of information through ads, social media, emails, and other marketing. Cut through the “noise” to help the consumers in making buying decisions. Consumers not only need help but also want a simple, easy, and fast shopping experience. They want to be able to see products on a website, in-person at a store, and have promotions at their fingertips. To keep pace with the ever-evolving buying experience, try having an easy-to-navigate website, an area for holiday promotions, and product reviews.

Offer Outside-of-the-Box Promotions

When it comes to deciding on what promotions to offer for the holidays, think creatively. Try selling products from different categories together, like skin care, hair care, and body care. Also, don’t only put top-selling products together but try putting products that are selling at a slower rate with best-selling products. Bundling some amazing products together will not only help move some of that stagnant inventory but allow consumers to try products that they might not usually purchase.

Maintain an Online Presence

We know the holiday season can be busy and stressful, but it is essential to keep an online presence during this time. The number of people using social media is continually growing, with close to three billion users worldwide. Using social media like Facebook and Instagram to run contests and promote sales helps to create excitement and engagement among consumers resulting in shares and likes, generating more visibility and bringing in more traffic and sales.

While social media plays a vital role in reaching consumers, email is the best way to reach and communicate with them. Keep the lines of communication with consumers open by sending emails with details about special promotions, sales, and events or to thank them for their purchases.

Implement these useful techniques to increase customer traffic and sales this holiday season, and remember it is never too early to start planning for next year. Don’t forget to check out all of the promotions happening on Nectar.