holiday marketing...

[greenoak]

our store does the normal holiday thing....we have an open house for our customers...using our mailing list...we decorate, serve food , have a little charity benefit and have a drawing for a bout 100 $.....if you ever open a store this is a wonderful time to sell ...and also to show appreciation to your customers ...
..we choose this early time, nov 3....because christmas is so messed up and has been out in many places since sept...by thanksgiving its about over...sad but the reality a store faces...... you can see our newsletter and last years openhouse under newsletter on our site....
ann www.greenoakantiques.com

[Jilliebean]

Thank you for the tips. December is a very busy time for most people. I think your idea to have it early is a good one. We have a craft sale where I work and find it sells best if we have it the week of Halloween. Any later and sales sink since everyone is on the Christmas bandwagon.

[Fisherman]

Thoroughly enjoyed it - wish it were closer and I could shop there. Love the scale and diversity of your store.

Yes, we are all forced into early Holiday shopping. 5% off would not inspire but the charity aspect does. For me, the old fashioned, hand addressed/signed, mailed card instills loyalty to a vendor.

There is an upscale restaurant out in the boonies that is doing great business. Owner has a ranch and also started a B&B & antique/gift store. All about marketing her products. She sent mass mailings introducing herself along with brunch discount coupons. Greeted each guest and gave you a preference form (i.e. Would you like to see a,b,c on the menu? Would you like to attend a fashion/jewelry show, book signing, wine tasting...? Asked for your e-mail address.) She then worked the room asking each of us how we liked the food/decor. Her receipts have discount coupons for the gift store. Now every week or so I get an e-mailing with her latest menu changes, this week's wine samplings, etc. There is always a changing theme in each of her enterprises.

She has several designated/reserved tables for 'patrons' - they don't need to call. Their tables are always ready. December 1st - can count on a gorgeous card (no advertising - just the true spirit of Christmas card).

[Cottage Flourishings]

I had my own website for a year, and just didn't want to pour more money into print advertising and trying to SEO. So, I placed my items on Rubylane, under the shop name The Lighting Bug: http://www.rubylane.com/shops/thelightingbug
I've done pretty well with the site. In September, I started paying for "featuring items" and that has improved my sales too.

It's something you may want to research and consider.:D

[primrosecottage]

our store does the normal holiday thing....we have an open house for our customers...using our mailing list...we decorate, serve food , have a little charity benefit and have a drawing for a bout 100 $.....if you ever open a store this is a wonderful time to sell ...and also to show appreciation to your customers ...
..we choose this early time, nov 3....because christmas is so messed up and has been out in many places since sept...by thanksgiving its about over...sad but the reality a store faces...... you can see our newsletter and last years openhouse under newsletter on our site....
ann www.greenoakantiques.com

How did your open house go? Your web site is wonderful!!! I just spent about 2 hours today changing over a little antique space. This year my Christmas colors are white, blue and silver. I decorated my space with those colors in mind, looks lots better than my usual throw everything in there but the kitchen sink just to get rid of it attitude. I have a front window space that I pay more for and I've noticed the last couple of times I've been in there the owners have been 'junking' up the outside front of the window. They said it draws customers in from the street but I'm not so sure about that...

[greenoak]

i hope your window worked out.and tempted them to come in... .....
...the openhouse went great....it was so hard getting the store ready just 3 days after halloween....when we were all fall....but it got done and about 500 people came..and bought!!!! that much in a day really tells you what they liked, and didnt...

now we are in a steady but lots easier mode.... with pretty good sales everyday....but no mad rush like the openhouse... most of the work is restaging and fluffing the areas....its pretty dramatic when a big cupboard full of merchandise sells....we just tear it down and bring something else in...
ann