Feed your customers festive this season

But how does this painstaking preparation compare to how you prepare a festive 'feast' for your customers? If you still feel ill-prepared for the festive season, these tips should see your business through it, and hopefully help retain existing customers, whilst garnering new ones.

Plan

Retail attributes 40% of its sales to year-end expenditure. That said, planning for the anticipated festive customer footflow goes beyond placing your orders on time, for just the right amount of stock.

Think of it as enticing customers to come over for a festive meal at your restaurant.

Browsing

Spend-ready customers browse with a critical eye to decide on the best place to dine. Know where your clients hang out, so that you're there; ready to dangle your smorgasbord of fabulous products/service.

Does your website look inviting - highlighting your specials in such a way that browsers won't have a choice but to see you as the best option? What about your social media pages - are they a feast of helpful hints and solutions?

Deciding

Help to facilitate your customers' decision-making, in your favour.

With 90% of customers attributing their online shopping decisions to companies' online reviews; and 78% to social media, it makes sense for businesses to have their online presence and reputation in order - especially for the festive season.

Preparation

A lot of the excitement of planning a festive meal lies in the prep. It brings the tingling of anticipation, like only the festive season can.

The better you know your customers and what drives their decision-making, the better prepared you'll be.

Trends

Familiarise yourself with current trends - study relevant statistics.

Having the right information will put your business streaks ahead of floundering competitors. Put out exactly what will entice current, as well as prospective customers.

Collaboration

If you're a guesthouse owner, for example, why not partner with local restaurants to create a win-win feast of sales? Promote them on social media in a bid to attract visitors to the area, and have them reciprocate.

Ambience

Whether you're an e-commerce business or a walk-in store, you need to set the right mood for browsers and shoppers to want to linger.

Online, ensure your profile and cover images are inviting, and that they reveal your offering at a glance. Use simple, engaging language and steer clear of a sell-sell-sell approach.

In a walk-in store, take some time to adopt the right look-and-feel. Are your products displayed strategically? Do you have your best (most customer-friendly) staff on duty? Is there background music in the offering?

Cook

What you display on your 'table' had better be what your spend-ready customers are expecting, and want to splurge on.

Taste

Have you run a survey amongst your customers to establish what they will be looking for during the festive period? Now use that information to shine during the taste-test.

The availability of more disposable income is a golden opportunity for businesses to sharpen service and wow customers with a great offering and world-class service. Customers have adopted the festive spirit of giving, but don't mistake this for a compromise on their discernment.

Enjoy

There's nothing more disheartening than concluding the festive season on an "I could've done so much more" note. If you've prepared adequately, you'll not only retain existing customers, you'll also attract new ones.

Now, pull up a chair, grab a crisp, white napkin and sit down with your customers to a feast of gastronomic delight. What better way for the host to get acquainted than to break bread with the guests?