It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas: Get Ready for the Holidays

As Nielsen reports, "60% of American consumers plan to start their holiday shopping before Halloween." That means it's time for businesses to start preparing for the busiest shopping season of the year.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Here are a few signs that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas:

The stores are starting to fill up with holiday decorations.

Christmas music is playing on the radio.

People are starting to talk about their holiday plans.

The weather is getting colder.

How to Get Ready for the Holidays

There are a few things that businesses can do to get ready for the holidays:

Start planning your marketing campaigns.

Order your inventory early.

Hire additional staff.

Extend your store hours.

Benefits of Getting Ready for the Holidays Early

There are several benefits to getting ready for the holidays early:

You'll be able to take advantage of early shopper discounts.

You'll be able to avoid the last-minute rush.

You'll be able to provide better customer service.

How to Avoid Common Mistakes

There are a few common mistakes that businesses make when preparing for the holidays:

Not starting early enough.

Not ordering enough inventory.

Not hiring enough staff.

Not extending your store hours.

Advanced Features

Use a holiday marketing calendar to plan your campaigns.

Offer special promotions and discounts to early shoppers.

Use social media to promote your holiday products and services.

FAQs

When should I start preparing for the holidays?

You should start preparing for the holidays as early as possible.

How much inventory should I order?

You should order enough inventory to meet the expected demand.

How many additional staff should I hire?

You should hire enough additional staff to provide excellent customer service.

Maximizing Efficiency

Use a POS system to track your sales and inventory.

Hire a temporary staffing agency to help you find additional staff.

Use online marketing tools to reach more customers.

Industry Insights

The National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts that holiday sales will increase by 3.6% to 5.2% this year.

Online sales are expected to grow by 8.5% to 11.5% this year.

Mobile shopping is expected to account for 40% of all holiday sales this year.

Store	Sale Dates
Macy's	November 1-December 24
JCPenney	November 2-December 25
Walmart	November 1-December 31
Target	November 1-December 24

Gift	Average Price
Toys	$25
Clothing	$30
Electronics	$50
Gift cards	$25

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas: Get Ready for the Holidays