For many who open a dollar store the months of November and December determine whether the year will go down as a year with a profit or a loss. While there are many marketing steps that can be taken throughout the year, being prepared for those two critical months of business is a key to store success. Without adequate preparation and execution many dollars of potential sales are lost.
Critical steps to take in advance include ordering adequate quantities of holiday merchandise. Merchandise should be in-hand and ready for display no later than September. Many who open a dollar store are amazed by the number of requests for holiday merchandise that start coming in during the summer.
Merchandise that is placed on display will sell. Sales will start slowly, and will be primarily focused on handicraft and decoration items. As the weeks pass however, the total quantity sold will accelerate. Don’t lose sales because merchandise wasn’t placed on display early enough. When you open a dollar store you simply cannot afford to lose these sales.
When the merchandise is first placed on the sales floor, it should be displayed together. However it doesn’t need to be placed front and center in the store. Follow good merchandising techniques in creating displays. (When you open a dollar store you will learn that striping is critical to driving higher sales.)
As the key months approach the merchandise needs to move to more conspicuous locations. End caps should be as full as possible. Signage needs to be added. Even though it is just a ‘dollar store’ sales will increase with proper signage and display.
As new holiday merchandise arrives be sure that every employee is aware of the items that are in-stock and where they are located in the store. Increase annual sales by being ready for the key months of the year. When you open a dollar store you will be glad that you did!
