Christmas comes but once a year so wholesalers must act now to secure a strong share of the festive market.
Here are seven ways to grow Christmas sales:
1. Review the previous year
What went well, what didn’t, which suppliers let you down and which excelled. Start planning and speaking with manufacturers and customers.
2. Get a fast start
Display is key and if you expect customers to start their festive displays in September, wholesalers need to start in August at the very latest.
3. Know the festive-must stocks
Did you know that salad cream and toilet roll are best sellers for some retailers around the festive period? Speak to customers about what they need.
4. Festive foodservice
Caterers’ customers are looking for something different to your ordinary mince pies. Think of ways to up-sell traditional classics like hot chocolate.
5. Staffing levels
Anticipate that you may get a higher-than-usual level of off-sick calls and holiday requests around the festive period. How can you incentivise workers to do a festive shift?
6. Find new ground
Convenience retailers can’t always compete head-on with the multiples on pricing. Find new categories to help them to stand out, like 35cl spirits and unique gifting ideas.
7. Entertainment
How can retail customers capitalise on entertainment, particularly as bringing new releases to local level offers shoppers the ultimate in convenience?
