Section 1
2020 holiday shopping and COVID-19
COVID-19 has thrown retailers of all sizes a curveball. With businesses uncertain on whether there will be a new lockdown, and consumers cash-strapped and anxious about the virus, every company has had to innovate to survive.
With the dominance of eCommerce, brick-and-mortar stores need to find ways to stand out. In fact, online retail holiday sales are estimated to grow by 25% and 30%, despite the fact that overall 73% of Americans have reported they plan to reduce their overall spending during the season. But for business owners of all sizes, it will be critical to be prepared for anything.
To survive and thrive, it can be helpful to plan for continued social distancing efforts and, in the worst-case scenario, another lockdown. You’ll need to ask yourself:
- Can I afford to hire seasonal staff?
- What precautions do I need to take to protect my customers and my employees?
- Am I able to sell online?
- Are there any delivery services I can use to stand out?
- Which marketing tactics will be most cost effective?
You’ll want to manage your inventory appropriately and be extra strategic this year.
Our ultimate holiday preparation checklist
To help you make the most of the holiday season, we’ve put together this comprehensive checklist to give you as many ideas as possible when it comes to optimizing your sales. Keep in mind, the holiday season will include major days like Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and general Christmas shopping.
So whether you sell online or in person or use both methods, there are tips for every kind of business owner.