Getting Your Store Ready for the Holiday Season

This year has flown by so fast – one minute it was the seemingly endless summer and now we’re seeing stores stocked with Fall and Thanksgiving items, and even Christmas décor is getting into the action.  These next few months are the busiest buying season of the year.  I talked to three store-owners about how they’re preparing for this holiday season, and got their advice for making the most out of this busy Shopping Season.

1. Be Ahead of the Game

Mother and Daughter team, Jen and Jane run SewnNatural, a beautiful store that specializes in organic home and baby items.  To prepare for this busy season, they’ve been gearing up for several months.  Jen recommends developing, listing and stocking holiday items as early as possible.  She points out that magazines usually start looking for seasonal items they want to feature close to 4-6 months out.  Taking advantage of the media will get the word out early, and by the time the holidays arrive, your store will have already gained momentum.

2. Build up Your Inventory

With selling handmade items, it can be a long process building your inventory for the holidays, but Jen says that it’s the most critical thing you can do to prepare.  “At holiday shopping time, people are very interested in what it is in stock and ready to ship,” she points out – and it’s true – people want to buy something instantly, and not have to deal with the stress of having to wait for something to be made after ordering, not knowing for sure that they’ll receive in time.

3. Remember Shipping

Isabelle Dansereau, owner of the Canadian store Boutique ID recommends not only building up your inventory, but keeping a good supply of shipping material.  She handcrafts lovely sleeves and pouches for iPads and iPhones, and they’re sure to be a big seller over the holidays.  With this season not only being the biggest buying season of the year, but the biggest mailing season of the year, sellers won’t be the only ones shipping out products.  Anyone with a loved one they want to mail a gift to will be purchasing shipping supplies – so if you’re one of those people that just buy your packaging at the post office when you’re getting ready to mail your item – chances are they will be sold out – so make sure you’ve got plenty of supplies on hand.

4. Include Your Customers

Afsaneh Tajvidi sells whimsical giclee prints of her illustrations at her charming store JooJoo, and she always keeps her customers in mind.  Her advice is to keep your customers in the loop by regularly updating your blog, Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, or whatever other social media networks you participate in.  During the holidays especially, you want your store to constantly be popping up in your customers’ minds, and posting regularly is the fastest way to do that.

5. Be Thankful and Personal

A little tip that I wanted to contribute to this list is to remember what this season is all about.  Remember those that have supported you over the year, and let them know that you appreciate them.  What better way to do that then to send this years' customers a little thank you card or a simple holiday card?  It’s your customers that keep you afloat, and this is the perfect time of year to recognize that.

What about you?  What are you doing to gear up for this holiday season?

Dionne Christiansen is a graphic designer based in Houston, TX. She blogs at City of Dionne.