Prepare your online store for Christmas!

Christmas is just around the corner, especially for the retail world. All over the country, thousands of businesses are beginning the growing list of chores and tasks, from decorations to restocking, that come before one of the busiest times of the year. Even for those who do not sell gifts, it is typically a period of great activity.

Moreover, many people are now doing their Christmas shopping earlier and earlier, to avoid the last-minute rush and take advantage of the convenience of online shopping to do so.

In this article, we will explore some of the most important Christmas preparations you should not forget in your online store.

1. The perfect occasion to attract new customers

Being the choice of the occasional person looking for a gift is, of course, excellent. But one of the most important targets to focus on is the opportunity to attract and positively impress new customers, who may remain loyal even after the festive season is over.

There are many customer retention strategies; a typical approach is to offer a discount on the next purchase. The main approach to customer retention should be to optimize the customer experience at every possible level.

For example, more activity means more things that can go wrong and more people needing help: try to ensure that your support team is fully staffed and ready.

2. Preparing stock

If your store is not newly established, you may already have forecasts about the most sought-after items.

Don’t forget to think not only about Christmas, but also New Year’s, and about how many people make various kinds of purchases at this time. If you have restocked items that previously sold out, for example on Black Friday, be sure to advertise the fact.

3. Think about returns

Online shopping and gifts inevitably involve returns. Meanwhile, these are also opportunities to impress the public: few things generate as much dissatisfaction as a bad returns experience, and, on the contrary, a good experience will make the customer remember your store.

This is one of the benefits of InPost's parcel delivery service, which integrates a simple and efficient reverse logistics solution, since returns can be made through InPost points. Visit our website to find out more about our network of Pack and Lockers Points.

4. Create a personalized experience

Personalization is, as always, one of the most important considerations in all digital commerce. Personalized gift recommendations are a common idea, and something as simple as a “Merry Christmas” card can go a long way in making a good impression.

5. Collect visitor data

It is inevitable that most site visits will not result in immediate sales: some people only intend to browse options. But you can make full use of the additional number of visitors by asking for their contact details for future contact.

As an incentive for sharing contact details, a common strategy is to offer a discount on a future purchase.

6. Turn your physical store into a Pack Point

If you have a physical store, a fantastic way to attract more customers to the space – and this tip does not apply only to Christmas, naturally – is to create a Pack Point.

By becoming part of our Pack Points network, you will be creating an additional source of foot traffic and potential sales: people who come into your store to pick up a parcel and see your windows, get to know the store, or take the opportunity to make a purchase.

Contact us today to take the first step towards turning your store into a Pack Point.

7. Don’t forget to have the site ready

A basic precaution is to have the site working properly: run tests, identify errors, check search speed, etc.

8. Reduce cart abandonment

Christmas passes and leaves a trail behind it: not only of hanging decorations and wrapping paper in the trash bins, but also of abandoned “shopping carts”.

Take advantage of these through automatic messages, reminding the customer of the purchase they left incomplete. This type of message shows care and personalized attention on your part, as long as they are not excessively persistent or intrusive.

And while you're at it, for the good of the planet, don’t forget to make use of wrapping paper as well: every year, there is too much paper and packaging material thrown away.

9. Use social media

It may be tempting, with all the other tasks at hand, to neglect social media, but the reality is that this is one of the main ways the public uses to research products and see suggestions. Try to reach your audience on the social networks they use most often.

10. Deliveries

In all digital commerce, the “delivery” factor is one of the most fundamental for ensuring a good customer experience and promoting loyalty. At InPost, we specialize in a distribution service through a vast network of collection points, which prioritizes efficiency, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.

Visit our site to find out more about InPost and experience for yourself the advantages of using our parcel delivery service this Christmas.