Sleigh Bells Ring. Are You Listening?
As the song goes, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” For many people, possibly you included, it’s also the most stressful time of the year. Make your in-store holiday experience for your customers as relaxing and festive as it can be by engaging all their senses.
Sight: Everyone likes some holiday cheer. Have fun determining a color scheme or theme to dress up your store for the holidays. This doesn’t mean you have to “dreck” the halls by covering every square inch with tinsel, but you can be festive in smaller ways. Decorate a tree with garlands that look like pearls. Place some holiday decorations tastefully in your cases. Does your store have lots of walk-by traffic? Decorate those windows! Garner oohs, aahs, and a reason to have those sidewalk strollers opening your door. Lots of kids in the neighborhood? Develop a coloring contest and give the winner a special gift. The possibilities are endless with a little imagination and creativity.
Sound: Invite local high school or community church choir groups to sing in front of your door to share some holiday spirit! Create a holiday playlist (or several) of tunes old and new to make your customers smile. Variety and a wealth of songs will keep it fun for your employees, too.
Smell: You may not want to light holiday candles, but some lightly scented potpourri in crowd-pleasing fragrances, like vanilla, is comforting and encourages lingering. Peppermint is energizing and cinnamon tends to make people hungry. You may want to stay away from fragrances like pine and gingerbread, which some people love and others loathe.
Taste: We’ve never met a holiday cookie we didn’t like. Whether they’re store bought, locally made, or baked by employees, share the calories! Mulled cider and hot cocoa on chilly days? Check! Have bowls of wrapped holiday candies and chocolates on counters or place some in each customer’s bag.
Touch: You’ve got this one covered already. There isn’t a better time of year to post a sign that encourages customers to touch the merchandise, try it on, and delight in the idea of giving a truly special and lasting memento to someone they love.
An extra thought:
- It feels good to give, so spread the wealth if you’re able. This holiday season, consider adopting a local family who has fallen on hard times, and invite employees and customers to help give them a Christmas to remember. Hang tags with the family members’ first names and an item from their wish list. Instruct customers to take a tag with an item they’re willing to purchase, and return with the wrapped gift. Give everyone who participates a special thank you gift or bounceback for spreading some holiday cheer. Make it an experience the family will never forget by giving them a special invitation to come in on a Sunday when the store is closed to unwrap their gifts in a beautiful setting.
With planning completed and everything in place, you truly can start off the season in a relaxed state of mind. Then you actually can enjoy the sound of those sleigh bells ringing!
Need more holiday help? Contact suits@fruchtman.com for holiday inspiration!
