May – Mother’s Day:

• Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14/2017
• Make and display Gift Baskets on May 1st/2017, include picture frames.
• All cottage and camping gear should be out at the beginning of the month.
• Display an endcap of fireworks for Victoria Day. (May 22/2017)
• Have teacher thank you cards and gifts on display throughout the month.

• Decorate your store for Christmas. Play Christmas music to encourage shoppers.
• Don’t forget to keep the store full with basics. Reorder November and December.
• Feature outdoor decorations such as lights, wreaths, bows & bulbs, etc.
• Regularly rotate giftware items.
• Stock up cold weather gear such as ice scrapers, antifreeze, salt, etc.
• Don’t forget hats, mittens, scarves, gloves.
• Build a Christmas stocking stuffer section in mid-November.
• Make sure your craft section is well stocked as people make their own decorations and gifts for Christmas.
• Review last year’s seasonal sales / notes and last year’s inventory.

Generate some extra revenue this holiday season:

With your store nicely decorated, Christmas music playing in the background and merchandise displayed strategically around the store you are sure to have a significant increase in sales from the month before. Here are a few extra tips on how to capitalize on this time of year:

• By the end of the first week of December, you should have a new endcap set up displaying party hats, wrapping paper, serviettes, disposable tableware, etc.
• Historically, the highest volume of sales on bags, tissues and bows occur the week of December 18th -24th.  Make sure you are ready – STOCK UP!
• Maintain a large quantity of gift-wrap essentials: bags, tissue paper, bows, ribbons, etc.
• Have a visible section of scissors, tape, glue and sparkling markers. May be displayed in your impulse buy section.
• Include photo albums/ frames endcap as Christmas is the season for pictures.
• Continue to rotate/ change your endcaps to give your store a new look.
• Cash area remains the #1 impulse buy section; therefore, try new items in this area. Take notes on what sells well and what does not.
• Throughout the month be well stocked with gloves mittens, and hats.
• Starting December 26th is boxing week. Use this time to clear out all Christmas items i.e. wrap, cards, bags, etc. at 30%-50% off.