Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Research shows that consumers are shopping earlier than ever for Christmas — no more waiting around until December! In 2021, many people started in the summer — and that turned out to be the biggest Christmas shopping season ever. So, if you’re a small business owner, it’s critical that you start thinking about the festive season earlier than you ever have before. From stocktaking to planning sales, here are 7 things you can do right now to get your small business Christmas-ready.
- Do a stocktake.
- Get shoppers excited for the season with festive packaging.
- Stay top of mind.
- Put your best festive foot forward.
- Design seasonal signage.
- Get your website ready.
- Step up your Pinterest strategy.
1. Do a stocktake.
Supply chain issues are still prevalent…so the earlier you can do a stocktake, the better. Look at sales from past years to determine which product categories were top sellers, and make sure you’re stocked up and ready to go. And beyond products, take stock of your staffing, too. Maybe you’re planning to extend your hours during the festive season, or stay open 7 days a week — make sure you have the staff support you need to succeed.
2. Get shoppers excited for the season with festive packaging.
Show shoppers that you’re in Christmas mode by surprising them with festive packaging. Whether it’s a Christmassy postcard tucked into their shopping bag or red and green tissue paper used to wrap their order, let customers know that you’re gearing up for the season.
3. Stay top of mind.
Shoppers might pop into your shop, or browse your online offerings, without making a purchase…just to get a feel for what you sell. Follow up with them as Christmas grow closer, maybe with a personalised email or promotional postcard.
4. Put your best festive foot forward.
Make it known that your small business is a Christmas shopping destination…the earlier, the better. Consider curating gift guides in your online shop that make it easy for customers to find the perfect present, offering a personalised shopping service or providing complimentary gift wrapping. These gestures can go a long way in elevating the customer experience, and can keep shoppers coming back throughout the festive season — and beyond!
5. Design seasonal signage.
Plan out all of the seasonal signage you’ll need this year — including for any festive promotions or events you’re anticipating. Find a template you love, customise it with your logo and brand colours and order it now…so you’ll be all set when it’s time to decorate your shop front in November.
VistaPrint Tip
If you don’t have a brick-and-mortar shop, go digital when it comes to signage. Create a Christmas-ready banner for your website’s homepage, or update your social media profile icons to something with a festive feel.
6. Get your website ready.
More people are shopping online than ever — so if you have an online shop, make sure everything is running smoothly before the Christmas shopping boom hits. Have some friends and family members try out your online shopping experience so you can troubleshoot if necessary, and ask them for overall feedback on their user experience. Beyond the ecommerce element, look for other areas of your site to make improvements. Consider optimising your local SEO strategy, updating delivery information and opening hours and refreshing your FAQ page.
7. Step up your Pinterest strategy.
Pinterest is the most popular platform consumers use to get inspired — and 1 in 5 Christmas shoppers say that Pinterest content influenced at least half of their Christmas purchases in 2021. So, this festive season, make it a goal to spend more time on Pinterest. People start using Pinterest to get Christmas shopping ideas as early as July, so it’s the perfect place to start if you want to get a head start on the season. Create boards that act as gift guides and showcase a variety of your products, and engage with the community by re-pinning content that speaks to your brand.
