Chocolate Yule logs, candy canes, Turkish delights … as the nights grow colder and Christmas starts to rear its snowy head, we start to crave those seasonal treats which get us feeling festive. As a result of this, Christmas sales are vital for the sweet shop owner who needs to capitalise on this Christmastide craving for confectionery. We have a few pointers on how to prepare for what will probably be your most active sales period of the year.
Foster That Footfall
It is likely that there will be increased footfall in your shop (or traffic on your website) during the run-up to Christmas. Make sure that you are prepared for this: have all of your stock ready well in advance of December, and ensure that staffing schedules have been sorted out so that you are covered for any situation.
Do everything you can to encourage people to cross the threshold and see, touch and sample what you have to offer. You could offer tasty teasers at the front of the shop to entice buyers further inside, or you could stay open for late-night shopping on one night of the week to make the most of Christmas sales. Maybe you could set up a giant advent calendar in your retail space, giving away a chocolaty present to one lucky customer every day of advent until the big day.
The high street can be a fiercely competitive market, especially at this time of the year. If you can’t compete with the big names in terms of price, focus on conveying the quality and the personal service that your business has to offer. Shout about the fact you are an independent retailer to encourage goodwill from supportive customers.
Deck the Halls
Christmas is one of the few times of the year when you can pull out all the stops when it comes to themed decoration of your retail space. With some snow, sparkles and products in seasonal packaging it is easy to transform a humble window display into a Winter Wonderland. There is a huge range of Christmas figurines in the hf Chocolates Christmas catalogue if you are looking to create a chocolaty tableau to get your customers into the festive spirit.
We currently stock a range of edible products which would look fabulous hanging on a Christmas tree. For example, displaying these Milk Chocolate Tinsel Balls from Storz or these charming fudge-filled Vintage Tin Baubles on a tree will not only brighten up your retail space but will also advertise your stock.
Feel free to get in touch with hf Chocolates for more advice about how to set up your retail space for success this Christmas. Sales are sure to soar if you prepare fully and welcome customers through the door!
Angelina Moufftard works for hf Chocolates, established chocolate suppliers who know how to boost your Christmas sales. Working with the most dedicated suppliers from France, Spain, Germany, Holland, Belgium, the USA and the UK, hf Chocolates' great tasting and beautifully packaged products add panache to any Christmas display.
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