Beat the Christmas Rush with Mirror!
Working with Brands Providing Outsourced Sales Teams. Auditing, POS Placement, Check & Fix, Sampling, Person In a Place to do a Task!
While the ongoing cost of living crisis and rise of online shopping has seen in-store sales over the Christmas period fall over the last few years, the festive season still remains one of the most important dates in every brand’s calendar – and for good reason!
It’s no secret that a positive in-store experience can influence buying behaviour, even for customers subsequently ordering online, and this is heightened further in the run up to Christmas.
And with the majority of consumers beginning their Christmas shopping in November, planning a seasonal, in store merchandising and marketing campaign from as early as October could be the difference between a sales rise and slump.
The Power of Point of Sale
Did you know that around 66% of Christmas shoppers spend more than planned due to eye-catching displays?
That’s the power of Point of Sale (POS)!
From FSDUs to standing displays, shelf edge strips to wobblers, festive POS items both big and small are ideal for drawing new and existing customers to your brand – and the more festive the display, the better!
What’s more, if you plan to run a festive promotion (Black Friday, we’re looking at you 
), POS items are a great way to entice shoppers to your offer in-store.
Mirror’s Festive POS Recommendations
- Free Standing Display Units (FSDUs) – make the most of your designated space with a fully branded and festive stand!
- Aisle Fins – bus stop style..
- Shelf Edge Strips & Wobblers – make your brand stand out, ideal for when you’re limited on space.
- Festive Labels & Competitions – we can pop a collar or a tag on for a specific retailer, ideal for alcohol and soft drinks brands.
Don’t forget your pets! In 2023, 1 in 5 brits admitted to spending more on their pets than their partner!
Everybody Loves a Freebie
With 73% of consumers induced to try a brand when given a free sample, Product Sampling is a truly effective marketing technique that should be high on your festive strategy list!
From Christmas gifts to big day essentials (wine, we’re looking at you ), Sampling allows shoppers to make an informed decision on which product to choose.
We all want the best of the best when it comes to the festive season, and offering a Sampling service where your competitors don’t is a great way to increase shopper confidence and sway them towards your brand.
Whether this takes place in store, at Christmas events or even in the town centre, there are a multitude of Sampling techniques to help boost shopper confidence over the festive season.
Mirror’s Festive Sampling Recommendations
- Guerilla Sampling – distributing samples and promotional materials in high-traffic areas, such as town centres, capturing shoppers’ attention before they even hit the stores!
- In-Store Sampling – enticing shoppers right at the point of purchase.
- Event Sampling (e.g. Christmas Markets) – festive events are one of the highlights of the season for many. Grab their attention while they’re feeling their most festive!
Don’t Forget to Audit
Failing to incorporate Auditing & Compliance into your marketing strategy is one of the biggest faux pas – especially during the festive season!
With more brands than ever competing for consumers’ attention, ensuring that your presence in store remains on-brand, visible and engaging is key to generating those all important sales.
While many brands often rely on in-store colleagues to manage their activations, the sheer pace and volume of promotional cycles during the festive season coupled with an increased pressure to provide exceptional customer service, makes this an increasingly difficult (if not almost impossible) task.
Having an independent Auditor to monitor everything from merchandising to compliance and general customer experience is key to maximising sales and return on investment during the busiest shopping period of the year.
Mirror’s Festive Auditing Recommendations
- Check On-Shelf Product Availability – if your product isn’t readily available on the shop floor, sales are going to plummet! We ensure your product displays stay fully stocked and looking their best!
- Ensure Products are Properly Priced & Positioned – your products deserve to be front and centre; we’ll make sure they are!
- Competitor Analysis – are your competitors outperforming you in store? We’ll provide insights on how and where you can improve.
- Ensure Correct Merchandising & POS Placement – around 50% of brands spend money on promotional material that never makes it to the shop floor; we’ll make sure you’re not one of them!
To Finish
Mentioning Christmas in August might seem a bit premature, but if you’re serious about boosting brand sales this festive season, now is the time to start developing your in-store marketing campaign (if you haven’t already that is).
With a quarter of shoppers expected to start their Christmas shopping as early as September, having a clear, concise and ready-to-action strategy ready to execute before your competitors is key to maximising sales and profit this festive season!
For more information on how Mirror can help you execute the best possible strategy this Christmas, get in touch today for an initial, no-obligation consultation.
