Tips and advice on increasing sales and customer retention at your business this holiday season.

1. Thriving During the
Holidays
Tips and advice on increasing
sales and customer retention at your business
this holiday season.

2. Thriving During the Holidays
More than one-third of shoppers surveyed stated that they plan to purchase
gifts at small businesses in their immediate vicinity.
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If merchants want to thrive during the holidays,
there are certain steps to take.

3. Think Beyond Retail Displays
Consumers use a variety of methods to locate products and compare features or prices.
• Ensure that your website is easy to navigate
• Features the most current information
• Focuses on converting lookers into buyers.
More than half of the shoppers plan to compare prices with a smartphone app.
Be sure that your mobile site features:
• Prices prominently
• Any specials you have
• Reviews of your products
• Product specifications
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4. Enhance Shoppers’ In-Store
Experience
If you recognize your customers when they enter your business, let them
know it. You might not remember their names, but perhaps you remember
what they last purchased or what types of items they find most interesting.
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5. Keep Customer Experience Positive
Coordinating all shopping mediums can seem overwhelming, but you can’t
allow your customers to feel frustrated.
• Inconsistent pricing in-store, online and in social media can lead to irate
customers.
• Statistically, most people need only 2.2 negative experiences to stop
patronizing a merchant or purchasing a brand.
• Among the millennial generation, a single negative experience is
sufficient for 70 to 80 percent to abandon a retailer.
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6. Build a Loyal Customer Base
Encourage shoppers to return for repeat purchases.
A simple "thank you" is the least you can offer your customers. Giving them a
gift, such as a coupon offering a discount on a subsequent purchase or a
bonus item, can help them think of you in a more favorable light.
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7. Show Appreciation to Your Customers
Capture your customers' contact information, but use it wisely.
Send them holiday greeting cards or invite them to an exclusive
open house.
Send newsletters that detail new arrivals, special shopping hours or
seasonal specials.
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8. Understand Gender Differences
Men and women have different tendencies when it comes to shopping.
Understanding their differences allows you to cater to each gender in a
different manner.
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9. Targeting Female Shoppers
Women today tend to look for discount coupons on the social media sites, so
if you want to target female shoppers, consider placing your coupons on
those sites.
Approximately 44 percent of the women responding to a survey confirmed
that they had responded to a mobile sale alert by visiting the store.
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10. Targeting Male Shoppers
Most men prefer to see the specific details and realistic photographs when
shopping online or via smartphone. They do most of their bargain-hunting
online, typically at websites that specialize in deep discounts.
They are twice as comfortable with making purchases costing more than
$500 using a mobile device than women are.
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11. Help Customers Save Time
One thing that most of your customers will have in common this holiday season is that they
feel pressed for time.
Make it easier for them to coordinate gifts by :
• Grouping products or things that go together
• Arranging items that can form a gift
package next to each
Make their experience convenient:
• Let customers know that you offer gift cards by posting
signs and placing the cards in a spot that is easy to find,
such as at the cash register.
• Consider allowing customers to order online for
expedited pick up.
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12. Support Your Fellow Merchants
If other merchants are hosting a holiday mixer or open house, try to attend. It
is not only an opportunity to show your support, but also a chance to
network, learn from others and strengthen relationships. You never know
when you might need to request or grant a favor.
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13. Thriving During the Holidays
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Knowing the basics of how to thrive this holiday season can help your
business end the year on a positive note. If your interesting in learning more
about omnichannel retail, leverage mobile payments or cutting your credit
card processing costs, visit Cayan at https://cayan.com