The unpredictability of seasonality

Seasonality throws all kinds of unpredictable scenarios at the retail industry.

From summer showers to a sunny September, retailers can see sharp rises and unforeseeable plummets in demand for certain products throughout the year. UK Point of Sale (UK POS) shares some seasonality hints and tips to help businesses stay ahead of the game and stop sales being dented by a nasty surprise.

1. Learn from the past

Look over your sales figures from last year; it’s a good idea to roughly follow the pattern for this year and alter your inventory accordingly. During busy times, crowded shelves can often neighbour ransacked sections; take note of these patterns and think about the point of sale you use to keep the high demand items tidy.

Dump bins, for example, can provide a great alternative option when it comes to presenting items with a high stock turnover and keeping shelves from looking too unruly.

2. Plan for the future… then plan some more

The key to getting through the seasons without overstocking or leaving yourself short is to plan, plan and plan again. Know where you’re focusing your sales each week a month or two in advance; this will reduce the risk of stock mismanagement.

Some products will sell faster than others, to deal with this common situation be ready with planned discounts and deals. Keep on top of your inventory, know how many you expect to sell and discount accordingly – a 25% discount on overstocked products will usually boost sales and kick start the clear out, but increase the discount incrementally if the stock refuses to shift. When it comes to reducing prices, awareness and planning are important to success but the promotion of the discount is key.

To really make the most of your discounted stock, a board placed outside the shop or wall-mounted posters can help to catch consumer attention and boost numbers coming through the door.

3. Plan your display

How your shop is presented is just as important as what you’re selling.  Have your displays ready to go and react quickly to make the most of changes in the weather, viral sensations or news stories that are sweeping the nation.

Have an array of point of sale for all seasons so, whatever the weather, you have a suitable display option to showcase your products and services. Snap frames, for example, allow you to easily interchange the poster within and tailor promotions to suit.

4. Be tech savvy

Interactive point of sale devices can really help you to react to changes in your environment and connect to a new, tech-savvy customer base. Recent innovations in technology mean that interactive displays are all the rage. Take advantage of these versatile merchandising tools and make your retail space stand out from the crowd. Making your customers aware of your latest deals, your newest products and anything you think might drum up business and get them through the doors is of utmost importance.

5. Be reactive

If you fail to react to seasonality it will all be pretty useless when it comes to keeping your profits consistent and unaffected.

The stock needs to be regularly refreshed to encourage a healthy cash flow and ensure the continuation of sustainable storage.