When it comes to the holidays, most retailers immediately start thinking big. They want over-the-top displays and an overall “wow” factor that will grab attention. Stores also want competitive promotions to bring in consumers, and entice shoppers away from competitors. A lot goes into preparing your retail location for the busy holiday season.

If you’ve ever entered a retail store unprepared for the holidays, you can tell immediately. You’ll see overstocked shelves in complete disarray, as if an army of shoppers had rushed through and scattered goods all around. Good luck finding whatever you’re looking for, much less with particulars, such as your size or a specific style.

You may encounter dirty floors and dusty fixtures, lighting that doesn’t match up with displays, and employees that seem unable to answer even the most basic questions about what’s in stock or what the return policy is. This is a retail location that is woefully under-prepared, despite a stellar window display or an eye-catching tree full of tinsel and lights in the center of the store.

You don’t want this to be your store. What can you do to prepare for the holidays and ensure your retail location is ready to provide an optimal experience for consumers? Here are a few details to focus on.

Stock Supplies

The last thing you want to do when customers are ready to spend money is inform them that popular items are out of stock. As much as possible, you need to maintain your inventory to ensure that you’re able to deliver a successful and satisfying shopping experience for every customer.

Train Employees

Holiday shoppers are sure to have many questions about products, pricing, and policies, and they won’t hesitate to grill any employee they can grab. It is therefore imperative that you take time to properly train your employees to answer the most common questions, to do so in a polite and attentive manner regardless of customer tone, and to always provide the best possible customer service.

Keep it Clean and Tidy

Holiday shoppers prize expedience—they’re in a big hurry. The best way to make the shopping experience more convenient is to make sure your store remains clean and tidy throughout the holiday season.

You might want to start with a deep clean before any holiday promotions begin, and then ramp up daily cleaning tasks to account for increased store volume. Make sure that employees know they should use any free time to tidy displays, return out-of-place items to correct locations, and generally keep the store looking neat and clean as much as possible.

Be sure to cover the end of the night closing procedures with the entire staff and double check that your managers are seeing these tasks completed. This also means providing staff with the right tools and equipment to get the job done. Restock cleaning supplies if needed, take a look at your mop and broom. Consider replacing these items if they are worn out.

This makes your store attractive and the shopping experience more approachable. When you also make sure to have the proper lighting, it helps to highlight displays and draw the eye to certain signage or sections of the store. This can help you provide the best possible experience for customers and maximize sales in the process.

If you are interested in purchasing Retail Holiday Supplies, shop our website, Specialty Store Services, for all your retail store needs.  If you have a question that you would like answered immediately, you can Live Chat, or phone us at 800-999-0771.