During Summer the tourist and hospitality industries are on their busiest season, reaping the benefits of increased sales. However, traditional retail often experiences a slowdown as the temperature rises. This dip in sales occurs because many consumers prefer to spend their money on vacations, outdoor concerts, festivals, or sporting events, among other activities.
But this slowdown doesn’t have to be the norm. Smart retailers can cash in the tourism spending this time of the year, while still engaging local customers. Whether your retail business operates online, has physical stores, or both, there are several strategies you can employ to boost sales during the summer season.
Discover the top three summer marketing ideas and contact our team to help you implement them across your stores and sales channels via SMASH – Consumer Engagement & Digital Commerce Framework. Leveraging these strategies can significantly boost your summer sales and customer engagement.
1. Run Summer Loyalty Program Promotions
Launch a loyalty program that rewards customers for repeat purchases during the summer with exclusive perks. Promote this program through email marketing, social media, and in-store signage to ensure maximum visibility.
To enhance the effectiviness of your summer loyalty promotion, consider offering:
Exclusive Discounts: Offer discounts on summer products or services for loyalty members. This could include items like swimwear, sun screen products or summer themed accessories
Double Points Days: Schedule specific days when members can earn double points on their purchases. This can drive traffic on slower days and increase overall sales.
Seasonal Rewards: Create rewards that resonate with the summer season, such as branded beach towels, sun hats or travel kits for customers who reach certain spending thresholds.
2. Run Flash Weather-Based Promotions
Leverage weather-based promotions to engage customers by addressing to their immediate needs.
You could:
Use Dynamic Pricing:
Adjust prices according to weather conditions. For example, offer discounts on ice cream or cold drinks during heat waves to attract customers looking for a refreshing treat.
Run Promotional Discounts:
Create special offers for loyalty program members linked to specific weather events. For instance, on particularly hot days, promote sunscreens and sunglasses at discounted prices exclusively for loyalty members.
Don’t forget to promote your weather-based offers on social media to generate excitement!
3. Hold A Raffle
Encourage purchases of seasonal merchandise with a raffle or a contest. Reward participants with discounts on their final items. This approach not only keeps your loyal customers engaged but can also help you clear out extra inventory that might be taking up space on your shelves.
Feeling ready to increase Sales in your Retail Store? Contact our Team for more!
Lightspeed. (n.d.). 10 Hot Summer Ideas to Increase Sales in Your Retail Store. [online] Available at: https://www.lightspeedhq.com/blog/summer-marketing/ [Accessed 22 Jul. 2024].