November

• 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.

December

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 17th -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.

January

Happy New Year!

After the busy weeks leading up to Christmas and New Years, January provides a good time to re-merchandise your store as well as add or change departments. Take the time to review your seasonal sales compared to previous years and set goals for the upcoming year. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Check your storage for over stock items that need to be cleared out.
2. Change the endcaps around your store from Christmas related items to every day items, cold weather gear and the upcoming holiday Valentine’s Day.
3. January is a good time to decorate your store or parts of it for Valentine’s Day.
4. Get ready for the Trader’s Forum Shows.

Tips for attending the Quebec Retail Fair and the Trader’s Forum Show:

1. Search for cheap flights and hotels ahead of time.
2. Make sure you have staff scheduled to work your store the days you are away.
3. Review the Trader’s Forum magazine to devise a plan for which suppliers you need to visit.
4. Ask your suppliers for planograms. Knowing how and where products should be displayed will increase customer’s purchases as well as help your store’s space more effectively.
5. Have an idea of what you want to accomplish inside your store with the items you are purchasing. Following a floor plan with labeled sections in your store will help you avoid unwanted items.

Good time to pre-book items for Halloween, Christmas and New Years

February

• Valentine’s Day is Friday, February 14th.
• Valentine’s Day products should be on the floor one month prior.
• Change Endcaps and feature items every 2 weeks.
• Be well stocked on red and white tissue and gift bags.
• Have pre-made balloon bouquets available.