As retailers, we’re used to preparing far ahead. But many shoppers will find themselves waiting until the last minute to do their holiday shopping. While it may add stress to their daily lives to wait that long, you have opportunities as a retailer to make their last-minute shopping a bit easier and, in turn, turn them into loyal customers for your store. Find five easy tips below that you can use in your retail store to attract last minute shoppers this holiday season.
Discounts, Discounts, Discounts!
Everyone likes a discount, that’s indisputable. Yet in the holiday shopping season, discounts go even further than normal. A whopping 84% of shoppers say they keep their eyes out for discounts and promotions throughout the holiday season. For those last minute shoppers coming into your store, this is the perfect way to show them your store has the best deals they’ve been waiting for. Flash sale discounts and daily deals during the holiday season help draw these shoppers in and simultaneously influence them that your store is the best bang for their buck.
Promote Gift Cards
Gift cards are an easy and practical gift for just about anyone in the 21st century, and year-after-year their popularity as gifts remains prominent. They’re especially easy last-minute gifts because the customer who buys them for another won’t have to spend time gift wrapping them and hiding them from their recipient. They can simply stuff them in a festive envelope and deliver it by hand whenever the time comes.
Leverage Urgency to Your Benefit
Naturally, last minute shoppers know that the clock is running out to get their purchases in. Leverage urgency and scarcity to your benefit by highlighting how time for holiday shopping is running out, so last-minute shoppers need to act fast in order to get what they need. Additionally, this is a great opportunity to use inventory levels to your benefit by highlighting that you’re running low on certain popular items. Adding tags to items that say “just a few left” or “less than X left in stock” is a great way to push those last-minute shoppers into purchasing what’s left and clearing out your inventory.
Offer Shipping
Convenience can be a deal-breaker for last-minute shoppers looking for gifts. Add convenience and ease to their shopping trips by offering shipping to their order, alleviating them of the hassle of delivering those gifts themselves. Take the worry off their hands and watch the stress melt off their shoulders!
Provide Shopping Baskets
Studies show that retailer sales increase when customers can use shopping baskets. It helps shoppers out by giving them a convenient way to carry what they pick up, and it’s a practical way to assist last-minute shoppers rushing through the store.
Final Thoughts
All retailers are bound to get some last-minute shoppers during the holiday season. Help them make their last-minute purchases less hectic by offering discounts, promoting gift cards, leveraging urgency to your benefit, offering shipping, and providing shopping baskets.
Sources
https://smallbiztrends.com/attract-last-minute-holiday-shoppers/
https://www.success.com/last-minute-holiday-marketing/
https://www.twice.com/blog/executive-insight/5-strategies-to-attract-last-minute-holiday-shoppers
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