Whew! By the end of the holiday sales period, every retailer is more than ready for a break. All you can think of is getting off your feet. But while you richly deserve some slack time, you’ll be missing out on potentially lucrative year-end-into-new-year sales. Yes, there’s money still to be made. Fresh, tantalizing post-holiday store displays can give your 2015 bottom line a final boost and get 2016 off to a revenue-friendly start.

Recharge your window displays.

This is your first chance to entice post-holiday shoppers in the door. You can keep the winter look (minus Santa and his elves) or tempt shoppers with a warm, homey display. 

Buff up your interior.

Holiday madness can leave your floors grubby and fixtures looking bedraggled. Clean and repair before building new displays, so every little detail looks and feels appealing. Use bright colors and strings of sparkly LED lights to accent fixtures. Perking up your store’s atmosphere will perk up shoppers’ enthusiasm and also draw attention to specific displays.

Design displays with “purpose.”  

Post-holiday shoppers have a variety of distinct purchasing goals in mind, so choose merchandise and display arrangements that “speak” to each of them:

• Bargain hunters are on a mission to get lower-than-low prices on holiday leftovers such as decorations, wrapping and home items. They’re also on the lookout for any other amazing deals, so this is a good time to feature other non-sellers as clearance goodies, too. End caps are good for these displays.
• Some shoppers arrive armed with the inevitable returns. They’re expecting a hassle, so thrill them instead, with plenty of friendly smiles. Engage them in line, with digital displays showing new merchandise and a kiosk that encourages them to join your email club, to get exclusive alerts and specials. (You could even reward them with a “next time” discount coupon).
• Some shoppers are flush with funds and anxious to spend. They may have cash from presents or a work bonus, or they may be wielding a gift card. They’re buying for themselves, and they may be picking some “oops, I forgot” post-holiday gifts. They’re looking for good buys, but they’re oh-so-ready to kick-start their new year with just-in merchandise. Show them displays that cross-sell, upsell and spark their imagination.

Make sure any items you’ve advertised (discounted or not) are easy to find, because shoppers will be looking for them. Put these displays close to the front of the store with clear signage.  

Feature gift cards now to boost post-holiday sales.

Gift cards are golden. They sell like hotcakes because they’re quick and convenient for busy holiday shoppers. Customers redeeming your gift cards may be brand new to you, building your clientele base, and gift card holders frequently spend more than the card’s value. So prominently promote these gems now, then reap the rewards later.

With strategically designed displays that appeal to multiple types of post-holiday shoppers, you’ll draw in more customers and give them plenty of reasons to buy. Happy New Year indeed!

Palmer Retail Solutions strives to offer our clients the absolute best combination of innovation, quality, service, and value for our diversified custom store fixtures and merchandising displays. For more information about our designs, retail fixtures, cash wraps, kiosks, or point of purchase displays, visit our website at: http://www.palmerretailsolutions.com.