As July comes to an end, it’s time to start thinking about the season ahead. With fall just around the corner, retailers need to be planning for their displays and marketing strategies. In some cases, that means learning how to repurpose the supplies you already own, and in other cases it means making a few strategic purchases to get the most for your money. Making theses decisions now will allow you to start the autumn shopping season off on the right foot. You don’t want to be playing catch up when the leaves change color, so read on for tips on how to get ready for fall.
Think in terms of colors
One of the best parts of autumn is getting to see the changing colors of nature. Those changes should be reflected in your store, to create a sense of seasonal enthusiasm. Regular shoppers should be able to notice the difference right away. Pantone, the No. 1 authority for colors, has already come out with its top picks for the 2016 season. In addition to warm red, calming taupe and dusky orange, there are spicy yellows, robust clays and calming, vibrant blues. If you rotate your mannequins throughout the season, consider getting a C3 custom color model in one of these must-have colors.
Go natural
This autumn, bring a little nature into your store. Garlands of faux orange and yellow leaves can really contrast nicely with our boutique black table sets, or they pair well with a table set made of rich cherry wood. Retail Design Blog noted that some stores have used real logs and trees to enhance the feeling of being out in nature. This can provide a calming effect that makes shoppers feel more at ease in your boutique. Decorative gourds and pumpkins are another touch that works well.
Market aggressively
It may seem too early to start thinking about the holiday shopping season, but autumn is actually the perfect time to put the idea in your shopper’s minds. According to Time magazine, the holiday shopping season starts as early as November 1, which means late summer is the time to start preparing for those sales. You might not need to think about specific products just yet, but it would be helpful to outline what you want your business goals to be, then think about what you can do to reach those goals. Are there marketing avenues you haven’t explored yet? Now’s the time to do your research.
The best marketing campaigns always work together with the displays you use at your store. Thanks to the internet, combining the two is easier than ever. Let’s say you’ve planned wisely during the late summer so that on the first day of fall you have a beautiful new autumn-themed window display. In less than an hour, you can snap a few pictures of the display with your smartphone and get them up on your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds. That’s instant social engagement!
As the end of summer gets closer, start working on those fall displays. You’ll be thankful when the season changes and you’re already ahead of the competition.
