by Nora Höfler
We all know that Christmas is high-engagement season. Utilize this time to bring even more attention to your business and services to your customers. Here are some tips to prepare yourself and bridal shop for this time of year and apply it to your sales goals.
Let it Shine
Show that the festivities has begun! And what better way than with a winter wonderland in your shop window!
World-famous department stores, such as Galeries Lafayette in Paris or Harrods in London, outdo each other in the competition for the most beautiful and original Christmas decoration in their shop windows each year. This approach has a great effect, as crowds of people form in front of the shop windows.
Decorate your shop window in an original and beautiful way so that passers-by cannot help but stop and look!
Use your creativity by staging wedding dresses and an entire winter landscape around them. Whether it be a theme in white-red-green or rather a white-blue-glitter ice landscape, decorate how it best suits your shop and brand. Much inspiration can even be found on Pinterest, for example. Simply enter the appropriate keywords, such as “Bridal Store Window Display” * and be amazed. The imagination knows no limits. People want to dream this time of year – so give your customers enough opportunity!
Make it pretty!
Not only decorate your shop window, but also your online window: Your Website!
Present dresses and accessories on the first page of your homepage that are particularly suitable for a wedding in winter. Also check the content of your website for all relevant information for new customers, such as your address, directions, contact details and the link to your social media channels. These are particularly important, as brides-to-be follow many social media accounts, especially in the days and weeks immediately after they are engaged in order to get an overview and be inspired.
So make sure that all your social media channels are in top shape. These should appeal to your existing customers as well as your potential new customers. The right hashtags, such as “#WinterBride” as well as the usual hashtags for bridal wear, weddings and all seasonal and current topics, are particularly helpful here.
Online contest are a great way to attract attention, even into the New Year and January. These can be easily distributed via your social accounts. For example, an exciting much needed gift or a trial dress fitting. You may also have the opportunity to offer special seasonal gift packaging. In addition, it is wise to place the seasonal offers in such a way that there are also higher-priced articles that fit the winter theme.
A million ways to say, thank you!
Saying “thank you” to your customers.
Now is the right time for it. There are many ways of saying “Thank You”. You should choose a way that suits you personally as well as your shop, brand and thus your customers.
So if you have a rather young clientele, you can post a message and thanks on your social media channels. This works with a nice photo (for example from your Winter Wonderland shop window) or even a small video from your shop.
If you run a long-established traditional business in the second or even third generation, it makes sense to invest money and effort and send a high-quality Christmas or Thank-You card to your customers by post. It often feels there is no immediate response, but this type of customer communication is very sustainable.
Who still receives a high-quality, beautifully designed Christmas card per mail today? Few people send cards in the business context. And you don’t forget this little joy that you have with it even after months. And when a daughter, cousin, girlfriend or colleague gets married and looks for a dress, they will think of you and certainly send the new bride over to you. Not only do you give the impression of optimal customer service, but the feeling that they are in good hands. If you have a very mixed clientele in terms of age and values, you can simply create a combination of both methods. Christmas greetings per mail plus a social media post, maybe even a small video from you company and employees.
And since we are on the subject, please don’t forget your employees! They are also happy to receive acknowledgement their commitments and the work they have done in the past year. How you intend to thank them is of course up to you. Even if you are not interested in expressing your gratitude monetarily, there are many more ways to say “Thank You” to your staff. Organize a Christmas brunch or invite your employees for a prosecco at the local Christmas market. Or write a personal card to everyone and thank everyone individually for their efforts. You will notice that your employees will come to work more motivated and happier in the New Year if you make them feel valued. In the end, your customers will notice that too!
With this in mind, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Photo source: Pinterest