The holiday shopping season, starting with Black Friday on November 29, 2024, marks a crucial period for retailers worldwide.
During this time, online and offline shops experience increasing demand as consumers seek deals, seasonal offers, and Christmas gifts. By preparing in advance, retailers can set themselves up for success and build lasting customer loyalty.
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An important aspect of achieving success in holiday sales is the checkout experience. Studies show that a smooth checkout can boost sales significantly, while long wait times can lead to abandoned purchases.
According to the Harvard Business Review, reducing wait times by just one minute can increase sales by up to 3%.
Here are five practical tips to help you increase your sales during Black Friday and the holiday season:
5 Tips to increase holiday sales this season
1. Analyze last year’s data to create attractive deals
Use last year's holiday performance insights to identify popular products, optimal price points, and bundling opportunities. By bundling products and offering discounts on older inventory, you can encourage customers to spend more per visit, ultimately increasing your average order value. Consider also placing small, full-priced items near checkout areas to drive impulse buys, maximizing sales per customer.
2. Embrace omnichannel marketing
To maximize your reach, ensure your holiday deals are well-publicized across all channels—social media, email, in-store displays, and even SMS campaigns. Today's consumer often engages with multiple touchpoints before purchasing, so an omnichannel approach is essential. Google reports that omnichannel strategies can increase customer retention rates by up to 89%, making it worth the effort to engage your audience across platforms and drive them to your store. Discover how Softpay supported a major retail chain in enhancing its omnichannel sales strategy.
3. Be prepared for increased demand
The holiday season brings heightened demand, requiring both inventory and personnel preparation. Ensure your sales team is well-trained to communicate the value of each product and manage any last-minute stock or shipping issues. According to Talk Retail, inventory shortages are common during this period, and nearly 70% of consumers abandon purchases if faced with stock issues or wait times exceeding 10 minutes. By planning in advance, you can help prevent lost sales and maintain customer trust.
4. Enhance the checkout experience with Softpay
An enjoyable in-store experience is crucial, and a SoftPOS (Software Point of Sale) solution can significantly enhance checkout efficiency. Softpay is an independent SoftPOS solution that transforms Android and iOS devices into a mobile payment terminal, allowing retailers to scale their checkout capacity quickly without investing in expensive hardware.
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Softpay ensures secure transactions by meeting all industry standards, including PCI DSS and PCI MPoC. Its integration with multiple acquirers, seamless onboarding, and intuitive interface make Softpay the leading SoftPOS solution in Europe.
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With mobile checkouts, staff can process contactless payments on the sales floor, which helps reduce waiting times. Check out the success story of how Matas implemented on-floor payment acceptance with Softpay.
5. Create in-store exclusives to drive traffic
Offer special deals, limited-time promotions, or exclusive in-store products that customers can only access by visiting your physical store. In-store exclusives draw in customers and allow for higher engagement and potentially larger basket sizes as customers take advantage of one-time offers. To boost this effect, use clear signage or digital displays highlighting these time-sensitive promotions, encouraging impulse purchases, and enhancing the in-store experience.
Maximize your in-store sales potential
The holiday shopping season is a golden opportunity to boost sales, create memorable shopping experiences, and establish customer loyalty. With strategic planning, optimized inventory, and a seamless checkout experience, stores can maximize holiday sales and make a lasting positive impression on customers.
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The Softpay tap-to-pay app allows retail merchants to handle high transaction volumes without additional payment hardware. Simply turn any NFC-enabled devices into a payment terminal to get:
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✅ Faster checkouts with the market’s fastest transaction processing, cutting down wait times.
✅ Enhanced mobility so staff can accept payments anywhere in-store.
✅ Scalability to add extra points of sale during peak shopping hours.
✅ Cost savings by removing the need for traditional payment terminals.
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Black Friday success is more than just offering deals; it’s about creating a smooth, enjoyable shopping journey that keeps customers returning long after the holidays. By implementing these strategies, you’ll make the most of the holiday season and position your store for continued growth.
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Contact us today by filling out the form or emailing us at hello@softpay.io to start accepting contactless payments with Softpay.