Spring is almost here.
The air is crisp, and the days are getting longer. Something about spring brings a fresh perspective, which you should take full advantage of. Your retail store, whether a small fashion boutique or a garden center, can and should benefit from seasonal promotions.
Whether you introduce special discounts, refresh your shop's aesthetic, collaborate with local partners, or leverage social media — there are various opportunities to promote your products around spring themes.
If you’re struggling to think of ideas, this article highlights five easy and cost-effective ways to take advantage of the spring feeling. If you want to drive traffic and compete with big retailers, seasonal promotions are a great tool.
We all want to shake off the winter. We spring-clean our homes, plan parties, and refresh routines. Retail should mirror this shift.
Themed promotions around spring cleaning, graduations, gardening, and outdoor entertaining are a great way to bring shoppers to your store. Not to mention Mother’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, and Easter.
Related Read: 6 Proven Holiday Promotion Ideas for Small Businesses
How can you take advantage of spring promotion ideas without breaking the bank? There are creative ways to launch seasonal promotions:
Get creative and avoid elaborate spending. That said, let’s dive into actionable ideas for your retail store.
A seasonal sale is a classic way to bring in a new season. And it’s simple to implement.
Offer discounts like 20 percent off spring accessories and clothing. Focus on lighter, brighter seasonal merchandise like florals, pastels, and breathable fabrics. Think about what your customers will be excited to buy.
Garden centers can also take advantage of seasonal sales. Think 10 percent off lawnmowers and other gardening tools. Get creative with your store layout and signage, and feature spring items in a main display.
Related Read: How To Attract Customers With 5 Creative Retail Window Display Ideas
Pro tip: Your point of sale (POS) system can help manage seasonal sales. You can set up discount codes, track which items sell best at promotional prices, and monitor overall performance.
Patio hangouts, barbecues, and dinner parties. As spring takes hold, people love to entertain friends and family outdoors. How can you capitalize?
If you run a garden center, you could try gift bundles with practical items fit for patio hosting. Floral napkins, table runners, bottle openers, serving trays, and candles are all great options. Arrange these items on outdoor tables so customers can visualize it all.
Stage these items near your checkout and get your staff to prompt add-on purchases.
Pro tip: Use your POS system to track bundles. Look at sales reports to see which items are selling fast and which need more promotion.
Loyalty programs are a staple in retail marketing. Getting your customers to keep returning and rewarding them for doing so is a timeless play. You could run a ‘double points’ promotion as an extra incentive.
Give loyalty members double points for the entire month of April and pitch it as your special spring loyalty event. Double points mean customers get to their rewards faster. It feels exclusive. Announce it through personalized emails. For new customers, it’s an enticing opportunity to sign up for your loyalty program.
Related Read: 3 Reasons To Choose a POS With a Built-In Loyalty CRM
Pro tip: Modern POS systems come with integrated loyalty programs, making it easy to manage enrollment, member purchases, and points. You’ll also get analytics and reports to see how your loyalty program benefits your bottom line.
Your store can help make Mother’s Day memorable. Hosting events is a great way to get more foot traffic and personalize the shopping experience. A personalized boutique experience is a great way to make moms feel special.
Send targeted emails to customers in the weeks leading up to Mother’s Day. Shout about it on your social media channels. On the day — or maybe for the whole weekend — shut off a section of your store to prevent distractions.
Related Read: 4 Small Business Social Media Post Ideas To Engage More Customers
Staff can guide customers through selecting items that suit their style and interests. Provide soft drinks and snacks. Help your customers choose complementary items to bundle and provide custom gift boxes. Small touches are meaningful.
Pro tip: Use your POS system to collect customer details so you can reach out about future events and promotions. When customers have a great time in your store and feel special, they will likely want to hear from you.
Memorial Day is a way to honor those who lost their lives in service. It’s also the first hint of summer for many customers. Try a Memorial Day sale to shift spring stock that hasn’t sold as you expected it to.
Or, promote products that customers can use on the day. Many people will spend the day by the pool, at cookouts, hiking, or playing backyard games. Garden centers can create Memorial Day displays. Small outdoor clothing outlets could offer discounts on hiking boots. Tailor offers and sales to your store.
Don’t forget to promote your Memorial Day sale. Send emails, use a website banner, and post on social media.
Pro tip: A robust retail POS system can handle high transaction volumes over a holiday sale weekend. Your POS should let you make price changes on the fly and update inventory in real time.
You’ve got five seasonal promotion ideas to run with:
And we’ve told you how a POS system can help you manage and bring your ideas to life. But you won’t know if your promotional ideas worked if you don't know your numbers. Look at sales, inventory, and customer reports to see what you can replicate for other seasons.
Comcash provides point of sale software and hardware built for retail stores. Whether you run a garden center, boutique clothing store, or hardware store, Comcash can power your promotions and business.
To see Comcash in action, schedule a demo with one of our retail experts today.