Four Tips for Planning Your Holiday Promotions

For most businesses, the holidays can be hectic and, if you aren’t on top of it right out of the gate, it’s easy to fall behind. Between budgeting and advertising its commonplace to get overwhelmed and lose sight of your holiday business goals. As a result, many fail when it comes to their holiday promotions because they don’t follow these simple strategies:

Organize

You know that phrase, “Christmas in July?” It’s a good one to follow. Start organizing photographs, sale signs, advertisements and slogans that you’ve used in the past as well as materials that you think you’ll need for this year ahead of time. Not only does this give you more time to create a holiday sales plan, but it allows you more time to finesse the details.

Budget

The best companies create a budget with a minimum and maximum at the beginning of the year. In the budget, they try to predict any shortcomings that may arise. Make sure you budget as early as you can because for most retail companies the biggest time of the year is the holidays. Christmas can bring in enough revenue to support a smaller business for the better part of a year—maybe more—if planned and executed properly.

Plan

Implement a plan to help with your sales goals. For some businesses, that means creating a theme or a pattern, like using cornucopias during Thanksgiving. For other businesses, that means subtle advertising: like a bakery lighting pumpkin scented candles. Or, it could mean coming up with an entirely new product to sell during the holidays. You need to plan ahead of time to purchase signage that fits with your products or services, and slogans to make it memorable and eye-catching.

Advertise

Above all, advertise. Whether your budget is big or small, there is a method of advertising that fits you. Consider point of sale signage, such as, floor mats, standing signage or banners. Perhaps you want something bigger—billboards, LED signage or digital signage. There is something out there that fits your needs.

Consider another phrase, “The early bird gets the worm.” The sooner you start planning your holiday promotions, the less stressful it is for your employees and the better your chances are of staying within budget and meeting your holiday goals. Organize, budget, plan, advertise and repeat!