{"id":10914,"date":"2017-09-18T10:22:18","date_gmt":"2017-09-18T09:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.repricerexpress.com\/?p=10914"},"modified":"2024-12-13T10:25:02","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T10:25:02","slug":"7-ways-get-ready-holiday-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.repricerexpress.com\/7-ways-get-ready-holiday-season\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Ways to Get Ready for the Holiday Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although it seems like just yesterday the kiddies have gone back to school and we\u2019re still getting some gorgeous weekend weather, it\u2019s time to start thinking about the holidays. As an online merchant, you have to think about the upcoming shopping seasons months in advance. But if you\u2019re not quite ready to do an all-in right this very second, then RepricerExpress<\/a> has a handy list of 7 things you should put on your to-do list.<\/h4>\n

1. Take Stock of Your Inventory<\/h2>\n

Unless this is your first year in selling online, then you have a bit of a history to work with. Take a look at years past and see how your performance was around Christmas time. What items did you sell a lot of? Maybe those should be things you order more of, and maybe those should be things you price a bit higher to increase your profit margin. And maybe those things were trendy items that won\u2019t apply to this year. The idea is to look at your past and use it as an indicator of the future.<\/p>\n

2. Do Research About Hot-Selling Holiday Items<\/h2>\n

Some products are pretty easy to make decisions about, like not highlighting a lineup of swimwear and barbecue gear (unless maybe your major clientele is in Australia where it\u2019ll be summer for them). There are some sure-fire items that will be a hit at holiday time, like tech items (think headphones, chargers and other accessories). And some will be more target-specific, like items for men, women, spouses or family members. Google around and find common trends, and then cross-reference your data with the metrics on Amazon to see which items you should stock.<\/p>\n

3. Get in Contact With Your Suppliers<\/h2>\n

If your supplier<\/a> has more customers than just you, then you can bet the others will be taking a look at their inventories and contacting their suppliers to ensure they\u2019ll be able to stock popular items. One of the worst worst-case scenarios you can face is emailing your supplier and finding out they\u2019re out, and they won\u2019t have your items back in stock until the new year. Don\u2019t make that mistake and ensure you have enough to see you through until 2018.<\/p>\n

4. Take on Extra Help if You Can Afford It<\/h2>\n

Christmas is one of the most hectic shopping periods of the year and have extra hands on deck to take some of the pressure off can be a key difference-maker. If you\u2019ve got room in your budget, then hire temporary staff to ease your burden so you can focus on selling more widely and efficiently.<\/p>\n

5. Identify Weak Points From Your Past<\/h2>\n

As good as it is to key in on areas where you\u2019re strong and better them, it\u2019s just as important to minimise your weaknesses so they don\u2019t become an issue this year. If you noticed you had delivery problems last year, look at ways you can mitigate that this year, like switching to new fulfillment method or going with another delivery service. Or maybe you didn\u2019t package items the best way \u2014 now is the perfect time to figure out what that better way is and iron out the kinks ahead of time.<\/p>\n

6. Sketch an Outline of Your Marketing and Advertising Strategy<\/h2>\n

This one will creep up on you faster than you think, as you\u2019ll be sending out emails and promos in a little over a month\u2019s time. Here\u2019s a rough schedule of what things should look like for you:<\/p>\n