Holiday hustle – The ultimate retail strategy checklist for a profitable season

The holiday season may seem far off, but early preparation is key to a smooth and prosperous festive period. By starting your planning early, you can stay ahead of the competition, delight your customers, and handle the holiday rush with ease. Our holiday planning checklist will guide you through the critical steps you need to take, from mid-summer preparations to the final weeks before the holidays. Get ready to make this holiday season your most profitable yet.

20 weeks out

Start the groundwork for a successful holiday season.

☐ Analyze last year’s data

Review your sales data from last year to identify best-selling items, peak shopping times, and customer preferences.

☐ Set goals

Establish clear sales targets and marketing objectives for the holiday season.

☐ Plan promotions

Outline your holiday promotions, discounts, and special offers. Consider creating a promotional calendar.

☐ Stock inventory

Begin discussions with suppliers to ensure you have enough stock of your best-selling items.

☐ Website audit

Conduct a thorough audit of your website to ensure it's user-friendly, mobile-optimized, and has a seamless checkout process.

☐ Develop marketing strategy

Create a comprehensive marketing strategy, including email campaigns, social media posts, and advertising plans.

16 weeks out

Build on your initial plans and start implementing key actions.

 ☐ Finalize promotions

Solidify your promotional offers and create marketing materials.

☐ Order inventory

Place orders for additional inventory based on your sales forecasts.

☐ Enhance website features

Implement any necessary updates to your website, such as improving load times and navigation.

☐ Email marketing prep

Begin drafting your holiday-themed email campaigns and segment your email list for targeted messaging.

☐ Social media content

Plan and create a holiday content calendar for your social media platforms. Schedule posts in advance.

☐ Staff training

Start training your staff to handle the holiday rush efficiently and provide exceptional customer service.

12 weeks out

Execute your marketing strategy and ensure all systems are go.

 ☐ Launch early promotions

Begin rolling out early holiday promotions to build excitement and attract early shoppers.

☐ Optimize SEO

Update your website’s SEO to ensure your holiday deals are easily found by search engines.

☐ Test website

Perform a stress test on your website to ensure it can handle increased traffic.

☐ Email campaigns

Launch the first wave of your holiday email campaigns to keep your customers informed and excited.

☐ Social media engagement

Increase your social media activity, engaging with your audience and promoting upcoming deals.

☐ Decorate store

Start decorating your store (both online and brick-and-mortar) to create a festive shopping environment.

8 weeks out

Finalize preparations and get ready for the holiday rush.

☐ Full inventory check

Ensure your inventory is fully stocked and ready to meet holiday demand.

☐ Refine marketing campaign

Adjust your marketing strategies based on initial feedback and engagement.

☐ Launch main promotions

Kick off your major holiday promotions and sales events.

☐ Monitor performance

Start closely monitoring your sales and marketing performance to make real-time adjustments.

By following this checklist and preparing well in advance, you can ensure a smooth and profitable holiday season. Start now to avoid last-minute stress and maximize your holiday sales potential.

About Snap Finance

Snap Finance harnesses the power of data to empower consumers of all credit types to get what they need. Launched in 2012, Snap’s technology brings together more than a decade of data, machine learning, and nontraditional risk variables to create a proprietary decisioning platform that looks at each customer through a more holistic, human lens. Snap’s flexible lease-to-own and loan solutions are changing the face and pace of consumer retail finance.

For more information, visit snapfinance.com.

Snap-branded product offering includes retail installment contracts and lease-to-own financing. Talk with your local Snap sales representative for more details on which product qualifies at your store location. For more detailed information, please visit snapfinance.com/legal/financing-options.