Holiday Sales

With the holidays approaching, I'm reminded of the big sales that go on during this time of year. Stores like Walmart that shred prices on electronics, clothes, and toys, make it difficult for the little guys to compete. The good news is that some industry experts are betting that smaller merchants will win out over stores like Walmart because shoppers are basing their purchases on price, quality, and service, not just price alone.

An article about these "holiday price wars," featured on cnn.com today, noted that the November-December period is a critical time for retailers, accounting for as much as 50% of profits and sales. Sounds exciting and stressful at the same time! While big brand stores can spend beaucoup money on ads and billboards, smaller businesses with excellent quality goods may feel like they're fighting a losing battle. But the thing that small businesses have that big box stores don't have is loyal customers and community support!

So while places like Walmart may have the financial backing to spread the news of their holiday sales, you have the ultimate advertising campaign - your loyal customers - to help spread the word about you and your excellent services. And we here at MerchantCircle want to help your customers better serve you, especially through the holidays. That's why we have your website set up with a customer review section. So, encourage your customers to leave feedback to let you know what you're doing right and what they'd like to see changed. You'll probably end up hearing things you wouldn't have otherwise!

Our bulletin board section is another great, interactive place to note new sales or happenings. And customers can join in and make notes too! You can check out Central Perk's bulletin board and Monk's Cafe's bulletin board to get an idea of how it works.

With holiday sales well underway and the number of shopping days 'til Christmas counting down, it's good to know that you have great resources for spreading the news about your business! So, use all of the free and easy tools at your disposal, and let us know how your holidays go!

Best Regards,
Ryan
Product Marketing