In my penultimate post before Christmas, I'm going to pose an open letter to retailers.
Dear Retailers:
Most sources I read say that Christmas spending is down, or at best about the same as last year. Most cite the recession and unemployment as reasons.
I'm sure those to factors are quite important. But I think there is another reason contributing to lackluster sales: YOU'VE TAKEN THE FUN OUT OF IT!
If you really want to break out in Christmas sales in 2010, putting up decorations the day before Halloween isn't the way to do it. The big Black Friday sale isn't either. Every store has those covered.
No, if you want to differentiate your business for Christmas 2010, make Christmas shopping fun again! Shoppers having fun are documented to spend more money.
If you have forgotten how to do this, let me offer some suggestions.
1. Put up LOTS of Christmas decorations...AFTER Thanksgiving.
2. Let your employees wear Santa hats or elf outfits or whatever they think is fun.
3. Encourage every employee to say joyfully "Merry Christmas!" to every customer.
4. Bring in high school choirs to sing Christmas carols.
5. If you're a big store have your OWN Santa Claus, not the mall clone. GIVE AWAY Santa pictures if you REALLY want to draw a crowd of shoppers!
6. Offer free gift wrapping!
7. Drop the imaginary pretense that any of your customers are shopping for any holiday but Christmas.
That's it! Try that "Old School" approach, and I would bet your sales increase substantially. (If so, you may send commission checks to me directly)
Take care and Merry Christmas.
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'Cause most people who work in retail will find wearing Santa or elf hats fun? Good luck trying to sell crap with no employees.
ReplyDeleteWow. How could I have missed that? Of course anyone asked to have fun will instantly quit, especially in today's economy.
ReplyDeleteBTW: Dean-O it said "..whatever THEY think is fun." They could wear a kilt and carry a pink gun if they wanted!