Andre Niemeyer, Digital Driver at i9media

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Nick’s insight on starting your marketing earlier than in the past is right on point. Incentivize your customers to purchase earlier than Black Friday/Cyber Monday to get their orders in before the rush. Buyers will feel better about having their gifts taken care of, and your business will also have less competition for their attention. For example, an online retailer might consider offering their biggest sales in early November to get their product out the door and in the hands of their customers sooner.

Keep inventory in mind


"Aligning the holiday promotions with the inventory on hand will be critical.

Also keeping an eye on margins will be key. With limited inventory, you may find stores/brands less inclined to offer deep discounts. Watching the competitors and being able to adjust with an A/B launch plan may be the solution to optimize sales without cannibalizing margins.” -- Andre Niemeyer, Digital Driver at i9media

Andre makes a wonderful point about keeping your inventory in phone number lead mind when developing your marketing strategy. As Nick mentioned, in recent history, global shortages and labor issues severely impacted the supply chain for this holiday. Because of this, businesses should be mindful of availability and inventory in case economic events affect the supply chain once again. If you’re a business that usually relies on deep discounts to drive sales, take a step back. Maybe you should consider a different strategy, such as targeted discounts or offers for your best customers.

See? I told you these suggestions were insightful, but something almost every business could implement. Now, roll up your sleeves, grab a cup of holiday cheer (or coffee) and get to work.