How to rock the Christmas rush as a retail franchisee

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and if you’re a retail franchisee, you know what that means. It’s time to get ready for the busiest and most profitable season of the year. According to the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and Roy Morgan, Aussies are expected to spend a whopping $66.8 billion on Christmas shopping this year, which is pretty much the same as last year (up by a tiny 0.1% or $74,000) thanks the rising interest rates and inflation.

 

Still, that’s a lot of dough to make from selling gifts, goodies and festive fare. So if you’re a retail franchise, you might be wondering how you can make the most of this opportunity and get your store, staff and stock in tip-top shape for the silly season.

 

Here are some handy tips and insights from the ARA and other industry gurus to help you ace the peak season.

 

Be prepared.

 

The ARA says that the best thing you can do as a retail franchisee is to plan ahead for Christmas as early as possible. This means setting your sales goals, ordering your stock, hiring and training your staff, creating your marketing campaigns, and sprucing up your store layouts and displays. Planning ahead will help you avoid any nasty surprises and make sure you have everything you need to meet customer demand.

 

Be adaptable.

 

While planning is awesome, so is being able to change things up when needed. The ARA suggests that you monitor your sales performance and customer feedback throughout the season and tweak your plans accordingly. For instance, you may need to reorder popular items, stay open longer, offer some discounts or perks, or change your delivery options. Flexibility will help you cater to customer needs and wants and boost your sales potential.

 

Be safe.

 

COVID-19 threw a spanner in the works for retail businesses, and we can still learn from the lessons of the pandemic in terms of health and safety. The ARA urges that you follow the latest health and safety guidelines from the government and your franchisors. This may include keeping your distance, wearing masks, providing hand sanitiser, limiting store capacity, and encouraging contactless payments. Being safe will help you keep your staff, customers, and reputation safe and sound and ensure a smooth and fun shopping experience.

 

Retail franchisees can rock the Christmas rush by following these tips and potentially boost their sales. And don’t forget, Christmas is not only a time to sell but also a time to celebrate. So have fun and spread some festive cheer with your staff and customers!