Consumers and retailers preparing for big holiday season
In the coming weeks, American consumers will rush to retail brick-and-mortar locations as well as ecommerce sites to buy items and gifts for the holiday season. While it is expected there will be large amounts of shoppers each day, there are some days that will see more significant increases in purchases and activity. This includes Black Friday and a variety of other times that customers will flood retail stores and channels. Businesses are already preparing for the influx of anticipated shoppers by hiring more seasonal employees as well as updating their websites with added security features and easier browsing.
Busiest shopping days
According to a recently released report from ShopperTrak, there are several days over the next few weeks in which retailers will experience more activity in their stores. Retailing Today states that l Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving which falls this year on November 23, takes its usual top spot. Super Saturday, the Saturday before Christmas and this year on December 22, comes in second place, due to the fact that many shoppers will be buying their last minute items. Other days on the list include Saturday, December 15, Saturday, November 24, and Thursday, December 20. This year's holiday season is longer than normal, as there are 32 days between Black Friday and Christmas Day, the source reports.
"This unusually long season presents retailers with opportunities and challenges," said ShopperTrak founder Bill Martin. "They'll have a golden opportunity to convert more browsers into buyers, but they'll have to prepare to manage increased operating costs. Retailers will need to optimize staffing, scheduling, marketing and advertising with the calendar and individual store trends in mind."
Preparation already underway
Retailers throughout the country are doing exactly that, as they are already preparing for the large amount of consumers they are expecting to flood both their stores and websites this holiday season. But for those merchants who have yet to get a jumpstart on their winter sales efforts, NBC News offers some suggestions for businesses. Speeding up websites can have significant impacts, as customers are more likely to not purchase items and services from companies that have slow or poor sites.
Another method that retailers can use is training employees on delivering a consistent and efficient shopping experience throughout the season, as this will ensure that all staff members are equipped with the necessary knowledge. This will also result in increased customer satisfaction, states the source.
