The holiday season is in full swing, marking the busiest time of year for retail operations teams. Stores are bustling with activity, and customer expectations are at an all-time high. Every retailer aims to create a holiday shopping experience that delights customers and keeps them coming back. But with the surge in shoppers, is your team truly prepared to “sleigh” the season?
Feeling the pressure? Don’t stress—while you might already have a strong foundation, there’s still time to make a few key adjustments to boost holiday sales and make your store the top choice for shoppers. In this quick guide, we’ve gathered insights from over 100,000 consumers and practical tips to help your store deliver an unforgettable holiday experience.
Download the store ops guide to creating magic this holiday season
Top takeaways from the report
1. Understand shopper behavior
Shoppers are more budget-conscious this year due to inflation, but holiday spending is still growing modestly (2.5%-3.5%). Highlight value and offer flexible payment options to appeal to cost-conscious customers.
2. Timing is everything
With a later Thanksgiving, expect a condensed shopping period. Cater to both early planners and last-minute buyers with staggered promotions and extended store hours.
3. Balance service and selling
Most shoppers enter without specific gift ideas. Train staff to provide personalized recommendations and create an engaging, festive atmosphere to encourage purchasing.
4. Train and motivate your team:
Focus on training staff to engage meaningfully with customers, avoid pushy sales tactics, and prepare for peak shopping times with clear guidelines and motivation.
5. Create festive magic
From decor to music, build a welcoming and cheerful store environment to make shopping memorable. Enhance this with thoughtful services like gift-wrapping or refreshment stations.
Hear your customers during the holidays.*
(*And the rest of the year as well)
Book a demo of TruRating to collect verified customer feedback at the point of sale, online or in-store. Deliver fast insights to your frontline to generate tangible ROI. And get a direct channel to consumers to prove your customer-centricity. All with the world’s first Open CX customer feedback platform.
Useful resources
- Predictive analytics in retail – examples and strategies
- Retail pricing optimization – strategies, models and examples
- Business intelligence in the retail industry – strategies and trends
- Retail customer journey – how to create a retail customer journey map
- How to measure customer service – metrics and tools
