CURRENT EVENT - HOLIDAY DISCOUNTS: Strategy How To Boost Sales In The Peak Season of The Year?

As usual, every year, before Thanksgiving Day until Christmas Day, it is the most convenient period for retailers to collect money from shoppers. The discount strategy of every brand store has been set clearly how to seduce customers to spend much money on its product because the managers realize that here comes the time the revenue generation can reach peak in the entire year. It is easily to understand why people become more incentive to shop during this time. Some people buy gifts for relatives, friends and colleagues in special events while others think this occasion is the best time of the year to stock up new stuffs and new clothes for their warehouses and closets with variety promotions from retailers. Shoppers love discount and every merchant tries to meet their satisfaction. Thus, when needs and demands are reaching at one point, which foremost strategy is best for a business to obtain its goal effectively and efficiently.

Up to now, promotion is used as one of the most effective weapons for advertisement campaign to attract customers’ glances to the products and then buy them as in need. Most of the managers, nevertheless, don’t spend much time on building discount tactics. They find it so mundane and routine. Discount method, especially in the holiday season, is a crucial method for retailers to generate revenues; it is, however, also a weapon to ruin the brand easily without cautions. As a manger, you should discover which promotion is suitably applied for characteristic of your business for the best outcome. Thus, promoters make sure that your brand is distinguished from others in the strategic promotion, for example, an inspired idea for holiday promotion. Importantly, the program brings benefits to not only the customers but also the business. Therefore, it should also help reduce expenses on operating cost and tempt the customers to buy more to increase revenues. For example, customers are motivated to buy 2 to get 1 free instead to buy 1, or better deals online than the ones in store induces customers to buy online instead of in store to reduce operating cost. Promotional calendar should be set cohesive and announced to teams in the marketing department so that the strategy works effectively regard on their connections. The managers have to keep track the affectation of the promotion on products in the market, and then learn from these experiences for the next programs. In order to make a good impression on customers, promotional strategists try to help the customers feel convenient as shopping. Gift sets are ready for customers to select when customers usually run out of time during the holidays. Coupons, circulations, and catalogs for sale preview have been sent via mails or e-mails one or two weeks or even a month in advance before holiday season comes. The website should be updated with all the events, special discounts, offers and recommendations. Thus, the customers are at ease to prepare a checklist what and where they want to buy for as gifts on their tight budgets and time constraint. You can use social media as the means talking to customers, doing surveys, and doing corporate responsibility for society. These actions can help attract customers’ attentions when people usually want to contribute to charity to help the poor and unlucky people especially in the holiday season.

Discount method will make a big difference for the merchants with the suitable strategies when all shoppers desire to save as much money as possible, especially in holidays. Of course, the sellers should catch these opportunities as the most advantage on their sides in competition. Along with the promotional programs, the assistance for customers via social media also creates a good image of the brand in heart of the customers. That's the reason why most of the business retailers consider holiday season is the best chance in the year to competitively boost their revenues and images in the market.

Reference:
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/11/the_seven_sins_of_holiday_pric.html
http://smallbiztrends.com/2012/11/social-media-holiday-marketing-strategy.html
http://www.trimarksolutions.com/inside/internet-marketing/online-holiday-strategy-for-small-businesses/
http://multichannelmerchant.com/crosschannel/news/0728-four-tips-for-holiday-strategy/