Post-Noel Windfall

Even after this year's holiday shopping season reveals itself in the rearview mirror, retailers have the opportunity to continue robust sales into the new year. The combination of customers looking for even better post-holiday deals, and merchants seeking to clear out stale inventory or introduce new items, spells the prospects for a win-win that savvy retailers will recognize. Here are some retail strategies that can lead merchants into an even happier new year: Think New. Promoting new products is one route that has proven successful in keeping the registers jingling well after Santa has returned to the North Pole. Connecting products or services to popular New Year's resolutions is one approach. Whether it is about getting fitter, better organized, extra productive or finding a new job, the opportunities for retailers to connect their services and products with customer goals are virtually limitless. Another strategy is to link your offerings to approaching holidays, for example, Valentine's Day or even imminent travel plans. It is also helpful to remember that many customers have gift-buying needs for family and friends with January and February birthdays. Maintain Engagement. Whether it is through email or social media, let shoppers know that you are still thinking about them. Offer promotions and discounts on Facebook or Pinterest. Invite shoppers to interact with you by asking them to post or pin a wish list. Encourage repeat business by offering customers a discount if they bring a receipt from a holiday purchase made at your store. Review your holiday sales and determine which items were the most popular; then, select those that make sense for discount or promotion. Send customers who shopped at your store during the holidays a follow-up "thank you" email, spotlighting special promotions. Motivate Sales. Posting coupons on your website and social media sites for special January offers is another reliable way for retailers to generate post-holiday sales. Staying visible can increase foot traffic to your store and keep the merry bells ringing even as Spring appears on the horizon. Offer a free gift to offload excess small-ticket items. Provide perks for customers who register on your email list. Continue free shipping with a minimum purchase. Bundle Up. Combine several select products to sell as a single item. This allows retailers to introduce shoppers to products they might not have otherwise considered purchasing. It also provides retailers with the ability to conveniently shed excess inventory. Bundling also gives you a competitive advantage. Grouping items makes purchasing easier for shoppers, while making it more difficult for competitors to compare your prices. Consider Community. Community engagement affords the small retailer a great opportunity to knit your brand into a broader network. Link your products or services to a cause that is relevant and meaningful. For instance, if you sell office products, electronics or backpacks, partnering with a local school to create an event or highlight a cause-related donation program can help position your business for enhanced visibility. You can also cultivate community goodwill by having employees volunteer for an event or cause. This approach promotes your business and helps to increase employee retention. Spotlight Customers. Contemporary shoppers have come to view brick-and-mortar stores as a destination. They expect to have a positive experience. Ensuring stellar customer service is central to that expectation. Finding ways to create the personal touch that is part of your brand can offer your business a potent boost to your conversion rates. Post-holiday exchanges and returns can be tiresome, but it is also a golden opportunity to prove your value and convert a shopper into a loyal customer. Monitoring social media for positive feedback as well as for complaints is additionally crucial for identifying opportunities to build repeat business. Lighting Up the New Year January can seem dim to retailers and shoppers alike. Retailers can light the way for shoppers to discover that there are still hot deals that can warm chilly days. As the lights start to come down with some of the darkest nights of winter still ahead, think also about replacing holiday-styled lights with winter ones. Monochrome whites bring sparkle to a bleak landscape, while red lights offer warmth and inspire thoughts of Valentine's Day. The prospects for fueling revenues are virtually unlimited for proactive retailers.