Retailers and Restaurants can win big this holiday season
2020 is slowly coming to an end, and what a year it has been! As we head deeper into this holiday season, with Christmas fast approaching, customers and businesses alike hope that this holiday season will still be merry.
We are in store for a holiday season like no other, yet we mustn’t let COVID-19 steal this year’s Christmas. Christmas after all is the season to be jolly and a great opportunity for businesses to put a smile on peoples’ faces, as they plan to spend more money.
So, despite the challenges COVID-19 may have presented your business, you can still maximize your sales and your growth this holiday season. Take the time to remind your audience that you are there for them, give back to your loyal customers, and make them feel appreciated for their ongoing support. It seems like you will not regret it. According to research from IAB UK and YouGov, 79% of consumers are more likely to buy from businesses that behaved well during COVID.
It is therefore important not to miss out on this opportunity and ‘behave well’. But the question remains: How can businesses take advantage of this opportunity, especially the ones who strongly rely on the holidays to meet their annual sales goals?
It’s beginning to look a lot like SMS and Email marketing will come up strong as efficient and effective methods to cut through the clutter and jingle-bell-rock their sales. With all that said, let us take a closer look at how two dominant industries that have been hit by the pandemic can benefit from using SMS and Email marketing this holiday season.
Use SMS and Email marketing, and don’t let COVID-19 steal this year’s Christmas.
Retail Industry – Get festive and get your audience in the mood for shopping
With many brick-and-mortar stores still on lockdown, many customers will move online for their holiday shopping. According to Rakuten, this holiday season 73% of shoppers will purchase primarily online. SMS will be essential in supporting customers in their holiday shopping, providing a boost to their Christmas sales.
If you are wondering as to how you can incorporate SMS into your retail business holiday marketing strategy, here are just a few ways:
1. Promotional Time-Sensitive Messages
Generate holiday buzz with seasonal offers. With so many gifts to be bought, Christmas flash sales or last-minute offers are always tempting. Make sure your website is looking good so you can drive traffic through your SMS campaign. And as Christmas draws near, don’t forget to follow-up with alerts that your offers are ending soon to add a sense of urgency and to trigger last-minute shoppers, using the appropriate SMS call-to-actions.
2. Click-and-collect option
With delivery services burdened with handling most online holiday shopping, the click-and-collect option is a convenient alternative for your store. With this option as an alternative, you can alert your customers through SMS when their order is ready and even enable them to text the store when they have arrived.
3. Order and shipping confirmation messages
Transactional messages receive high customer engagement, as they contain important information about your customers’ orders. With your customers worried whether their order will come in on time for Christmas, take advantage of Routee’s transactional message options to update them on relevant delivery information. Surely, they will appreciate them!
4. Showcase your Christmas gift guides
Gift buying can be tough and overwhelming. This holiday season you can step up and help shoppers by putting together holiday gift guides with ideas for family, friends, and anyone else on their list. By sending customers a link via SMS to your beautifully designed Christmas gift guides will provide value to your audience and build awareness for your products!
Restaurant Industry – Whet your audience’s appetite with your Email holiday campaign
Although, it’s not looking like you can invite many guests, if any to your restaurant this holiday season, that does not mean your sales will not be boosted with alternative options. Your customers are hungry to learn what you have in store for them and are patiently waiting to see how you will operate this year.
1. Use fun, festive email designs to inform them about how you will be operating
Let the holiday spirit ‘flow’ through your restaurant or in this case your email! Adapt your email design using festive templates and notify them about how you will be operating this particular holiday season. This will give you a chance to stand out from the ‘crowds of emails’ your customers will receive.
If you need inspiration, Routee will give you access to over 20 templates which you can customize according to your business needs, once you register.
2. Share your Christmas Menu Options
As many guests will prompt to stay safe and stay home, giving them the option to enjoy your delicious Christmas menu at home will surely be a treat. Create emails that will make them drool over your menu, and include options from both traditional and alternative Christmas dishes, to win overall picky eaters (a.k.a Grinches).
3. Offer unique deals on your catering options
Make your email subscribers feel appreciated by offering deals on your different catering options, ranging from discounts on specific Christmas menu options to free drinks. After all, Christmas is a time of giving and your deals won’t go unappreciated.
4. Send season’s greetings emails including your whole team
It sure is great that you are providing your customers with a home catering option, however, that doesn’t mean that they don’t miss being around you and your restaurant. With everything happening, this year’s holiday season is particularly emotional. So, make sure to capture your customers’ emotions when you send out your Christmas wishes. Routee’s easy-to-use email platform can help in adding a more personal touch to your greetings.
Wrap up (of our gifts 😀 )
If you are in the retail or restaurant business, then ‘tis certainly the time to start setting up your campaigns! Don’t waste anymore time, think smart, and jingle-bell-rock your sales this holiday season with Routee’s SMS and Email marketing services.
Merry SMS & Email campaigns and Very Merry Sales!