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Details, details, details! Getting your company ready for the holiday season can be time-consuming and stressful! It is important to plan, at least a few months in advance, so that nothing is forgotten and rushed to be completed at the last minute. That is when mistakes happen, or things cannot get done on time.
For your digital and print marketing, put your schedule and content on the calendar so that the entire company is aware of upcoming special promotions and initiatives, and can answer customer questions. Company goals that are specific to the holiday season should be set and clearly communicated to everyone in your company.
Here are some essential aspects to keep in mind while prepping your company for the holidays:
Signage & Visual Merchandising
During the holidays, it is important that your company and key merchandise are visually appealing to the consumer's eye. Presentation of products, especially products with special deals, is vital during the holidays. Pop-up display stands are one example of a way to exhibit products to make them stand out. Noticeable holiday visuals are also important to generate a seasonal ambiance.
Signage should include the product or brand names. It should be visible and easy for customers to understand as they browse your store. Before production, spelling, grammar, and visual errors should be triple-checked to avoid any embarrassing mistakes. And all info and dates on the signage must be accurate.
If your company is on social media (which it should be), adding social media handles or your company’s website to signage could help promote the business and direct digital traffic. Overall, holiday signage should look festive, professional, and trustworthy, while maintaining your brand identity.
Window Clings
The holidays are all about decorations! Using window clings or decals to create a festive look and feel will draw the eye of those who are window shopping or just passing by. Snappy and festive window clings may even help increase sales. Make sure to include any special holiday sales or highlight in-demand products that will draw customers into your store. Adding holiday cheer makes people feel warm, happy, and welcome!
Mailers
Mailers are not out of style! Using mailers for your company during the holidays can be a great business-driver and brand builder. Mailers can be used to make people aware of special promotions or offers. Or they can be used to send holiday greetings to customers or employees, letting them know you are thinking about them. Mailers can be as personalized or generic as you want. Creating a mailer that is aesthetically pleasing, and especially personalized, can go a long way to letting people know you care about them and are willing to make an extra effort.
Gifts
What’s better than getting gifts? Giving gifts. Gifts make people feel important and valued. Think about gifting to your employees and/or clients during the holidays as a reminder that you value them. “Swag bags” for employees help boost morale during a high-stress time of year. Ready-made gift sets make shopping easier for your customers and allow you to bundle higher-ticket items to make customers feel like they are getting a deal. Think about the boxes or bags that the gifts will be going in. Because they are just as important as the gift itself.
Digital Marketing
Consumers frequently check their email and social media during the holidays to make sure they can snag the best deals. Your company can use this tactic to its advantage. In your holiday emails, use call-to-actions and add personalized elements, such as names or locations, to get the customer’s attention and direct them to what you want them to do. Some fun ways to get customers excited about what you are offering during the holiday season include: sneak peeks, gift ideas, deal dates, or giveaways.
Social media can be used to create a story or emotional attachment to your product or company. If you want to paint a story on social media, you should be consistent with colors, graphics, fonts, etc. If you plan on partnering with celebrities, influencers, or other brands for the holidays, you should plan a few months in advance and make sure everyone involved knows the plan and the details.
Inventory & Fulfillment
Inventory should be taken and planned ahead of Q4. It is important to make sure there are enough stock and packaging materials for the hectic holiday season. It is also important to stay up to date with trends and order inventory accordingly. Having the proper amount of stock and fulfillment materials will help make sure you do not lose out on any potential sales. Reference the previous holiday season, if possible. Otherwise, look at your sales throughout the year and consider how much of an increase you anticipate seeing during the holidays. Be realistic with your estimates.
If you use a third-party fulfillment service, make sure you are in close communication with them about inventory and delivery times. You want to make sure that you are managing customer expectations, as well as giving yourself adequate time to order goods if you need to restock shelves.
Omega High-Impact Print Solutions provides a variety of print, design, marketing, and fulfillment services. Contact us today to get started on your holiday plans!
Written by Omega High-Impact Print Solutions’ Marketing Intern, Ava Hoch.