The holiday countdown has commenced! The most wonderful time of the year associated with peace on earth, goodwill to men, and ringing cash registers. Here are 10 in-store events, just in case you still need a few to make things fun. If you really need to kick things up a few notches check out our e-book, Jingle Bells... Christmas Sells! for events and templates you can download and implement in no time at all.
1. “Let it Snow” Snow Promotion
If your city gets six inches of snow from
2. Kids Decoration Day
On a Saturday, invite children to the store to make or decorate an ornament of their own – while mom and dad shop. Select easy-to-use materials such as construction paper, foam balls, beads, and ribbon. Set up tables around the front of the store, with helpers at each one. Mom and Dad get a certificate for special savings the next time they visit the store.
3. Help for the Holidays
Create a special shopping night just for senior citizens. Send invitations to senior citizen centers. Tie this event in with your local newspaper or other local company. Tell them what you are doing and ask for volunteers from their company to help; or maybe they will provide the refreshments and gift wrapping. If you can form a partnership here, share an ad.
4. Santa Claus DVDs
Everyone does the “take a picture with Santa” routine. This year, add a video camera. DVDs are inexpensive and you can sell the finished product to customers for $5.99 to $9.99 and it’s still a great value. Donate part of your proceeds to your favorite charity.
5. Tree of Hope
Display a large tree in a clearly visible area at the front of your store. Sell paper angels or ornaments for donations. When an ornament is sold, the customer’s name goes on the ornament, and it gets hung on the tree. The money you raise will be donated to help feed needy families during the holidays. Your theme: “Help Us Fill the Tree of Hope!”
6. Twelve Days of Christmas
Choose 12 different events to happen in your store for the 12 nights prior to Christmas Eve. Events can range from full-on promotions to free poinsettias for the first 100 customers. Advertise it using a “refrigerator calendar” you create and distribute as a Bag Stuffer. (Note: You’ll find more on the 12 Days of Christmas in our e-book, Jingle Bells… Christmas Sells!
7. Sell Gift Certificates/Cards at a Discount
Studies show that 80 percent of all gift certificates are redeemed for more than the face value, and 40 percent of all gift certificates are redeemed for twice the face value, so you won’t lose by discounting them upfront. But here’s the catch! Discounted gift certificates can only be purchased during a certain time frame and cannot be redeemed until after the holiday. This ensures that customers can’t use them to receive a discount on their own holiday shopping.
8. Gift Certificate/Card Added Bonus!
When a customer purchases a $50 gift card, give them a $5 gift card for his/her own use. People who are originally planning to spend $40 will often throw in an extra $10 if they know there’s something in it for them.
9. Celebrate Heritage
Holidays are all about families and no matter what holiday one celebrates, chances are the family will reminisce before, during, and after dinner about previous generations and speculate about the newest generation’s future. Host an “All About My Family” class for adults and/or children. Or, hold a class for crafting a heritage project. Attendees create projects that highlight their families past and present. Be sure to host these classes early in the season so customers are sure to have completed pages and projects to show off at family gatherings or give as gifts.
10. “Pick-a-Candy Cane”
Customers choose a candy cane to reveal a discount on regularly priced or select merchandise. On the bottom of approximately 100 plastic or real candy canes, write a discount percentage in indelible marker. The number of each discount and the amount of the discount is up to you, but as a guideline, use 15 at 15 percent; 50 at 20 percent; 18 at 25 percent; 10 at 30 percent; 5 at 40 percent; and 2 at 50 percent. Be careful not to make too many of your discounts the lower amounts – word will spread that no one is winning anything over 15 percent and customers will stay away.
Advertise that discounts will be between 10 and 50 percent, but do not include any 10 percent candy canes. That way, everyone will be happy they didn’t get the minimum discount advertised. Place the candy canes in a large basket or stuck in decorated Styrofoam near the checkout counter. Each time a customer makes a purchase allow her to choose a candy cane. Choosing the candy cane and revealing the discount should take place after the customer has completed her shopping and is ready to checkout. Keep a tally of how many of each discount percentage has been redeemed. You may find that you are running low on candy canes and need to replenish.
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