18th September 2024
Christmas – Yes, Christmas. I know it feels like it’s too early, after all it’s still 98 days away, but believe me, the time is right for you to start planning, and to start talking to your clients about your plans for this years festive gifts and appointments.
In an ideal world we would start talking about Christmas at the start of December, maybe we would open up appointment books early November and gradually nuzzle into the busiest month of the year. Alas, the big retailers have said NO, they dictate that the festivities have begun. Liberty, Harrods, that chemist I don’t name, they are up and running. Even my local village store has got Christmas cards, calendars and decorations available for purchase.
Do they know something hairdressers don’t? Perhaps they do, but it’s more likely the fact that they recognise a few facts about Christmas shopping.
1: Time are tough, every penny counts and for some people, with lots of gifts to buy, they have to start early because there are only 3 pay days before Dec 25th.
2: Lots of consumers like to get the present shopping out of the way so they can wrap them up, put them away and then start to focus in on decorating the house and getting enough food to feed a small army ready … some may even have their sprouts on a low boil already!
3: Shopping time is precious, with busy work and family life, time to wander round the shops is limited, so the big stores recognise that and capture them early.
4: Online shopping. Big stores recognise the power of Amazon and all the big web shops so that are aiming to get the impulse purchases as their customers visit the real stores for essentials, groceries, beauty supplies etc.
Now it’s your turn! Don’t panic, I’m not for one second suggesting you get the tinsel and flickering fairy lights out, but what I am suggesting is that you and your team start mentioning what you have planned for Christmas gifting ideas. Open up the conversation by getting clients to commit to booking their appointments, and then drop into the conversation the fabulous festive gifts you will have available.
Don’t forget to use your socials to start your festive campaign as well, post occasional graphics and fun stuffs that tell your Christmas story.
Don’t go overboard, but don’t leave it to the last minute either.
98 days will come and go in a flash!
