Summer can be a tough season in
retail. Your customers are out enjoying the sun, enjoying some travelling, enjoying
summer activities with their families and friends.
Don’t panic! All is not lost.
Craftily
using displays, events, community involvement, and extra customer care are a
few things you can do to promote your
business and boost those summer sales.
Use Displays
Pull together merchandise you already carry in-store to create a new comprehensive summer display. Think summer fashions,
summer entertaining, summer gifts, summer scents … Feature these items in a prominent area inside
your store as well as in your window(s) to attract passers-by.
Host Events
Invite your customers your hosted outdoor or
summer-oriented events. Any excuse to create an event will do, really! Perhaps
pair up with a complementary business to help create new customers for both
businesses. Offer some refreshments, an activity, a draw, specials, or
promotions to boost traffic. Hosting a weekday evening event will promote sales
on days other than those already busy summer weekends.
Clearance Sales
Summer is a great time to start clearing out old
merchandise; start clearing out winter & spring merchandise before fall
arrivals, which usually begin arriving in August, to stimulate otherwise slow
July revenues. Be sure to group similar items or items within the same
promotion and sign them properly so customers feel compelled to buy!
Make Some Phone Calls
Make a quick call to keep your best (and most
profitable) customers up-to-date on what’s happening in-store. Keeping the call
friendly, invite your trusted customers to your events, tell them about your
sale, or update them on future arrivals. Let your customers know they are
important to you. Enjoy the chat!
Keep Customers (and
pets) Refreshed
Who wouldn’t enjoy a cool, refreshing beverage on
a hot summer shopping day? Offer your customers a glass of cold water – perhaps
infused with lemon, lime, or cucumber. Don’t forget a bowl of water for
visiting pets! Comfortable, happy shoppers are more likely to stick around
longer and spend a few extra dollars.
Team up with others
There’s a good chance others in your area are also
feeling a lull in business. Chat them up and see what you can accomplish
together! You could all chip in to take out an ad or get together for a large
community event. Together, you can come up with ideas to take advantage of what
might already be happening in the community, too. Business is easier when
you’re working as a team.
Get Involved in the Community
What events might be taking place nearby this
summer? Sponsor charity or non-profit events happening in your community that
might appeal to your target market. Attend these same events armed with
business cards or brochures for some good old-fashioned networking!
Although, summer time can be tough for
any entrepreneur, don’t forget the resources at your fingertips and to make use
of the extra time that a lull in business can provide. Use the time for getting
ahead on blog posts (scheduling them to post according to your editorial
schedule), tweaking your website, doing guest article posts, or adding to your
social media reach. The sky is the limit!
Looking for more info, articles, and interaction? Follow us on facebook, twitter, and Pinterest, too! Not enough? Get in touch with Flourish today to ensure your store is the most engaging it can be.
