Don’t Sleep on Dec. 26: How to Prep for Post-Holiday Sales Success

The holiday hustle doesn’t end on Christmas Eve—it shifts gears. December 26 is one of the busiest shopping days of the year, with customers eager to spend gift cards, exchange items, and snag post-holiday deals. For restaurants, it’s a prime opportunity to cater to shoppers refueling between sales or families looking to extend their holiday celebrations.

Here’s how you can prepare your business for a successful Dec. 26:

1. Promote Early and Often

Let your audience know what to expect:

• Retailers: Advertise your post-holiday sales now. Use phrases like “Boxing Day Bonanza” or “Clearance Countdown” to build excitement.

• Restaurants: Push a “Holiday Hangover Brunch” or special offers for groups, enticing tired shoppers to take a break with you.

2. Prep Your Inventory and Team

• Retailers: Restock popular items, organize clearance racks, and ensure your staff knows return/exchange policies.

• Restaurants: Plan for high traffic. Stock up on ingredients and schedule extra hands to keep things running smoothly.

3. Maximize Gift Card Redemptions

People will be ready to spend gift cards they received for the holidays.

• Retailers: Highlight items perfect for gift card shoppers, like new arrivals or exclusive post-Christmas collections.

• Restaurants: Offer “bonus bucks” for those using gift cards, such as a free dessert or appetizer with their meal.

4. Create an Experience

The holidays may be over, but the festive vibe doesn’t have to end.

• Retailers: Set up an inviting space with cheerful music, complimentary coffee, or even a small gift-wrapping station for those shopping for New Year’s gifts.

• Restaurants: Keep the holiday decor up for a cozy ambiance and feature limited-time specials that feel like a continuation of the season.

5. Leverage Social Media

Get the word out about last-minute deals, extended hours, or special offers. Post stories, reels, and updates showcasing what customers can expect when they visit you. Encourage them to share their experiences with your business for a chance to win a prize or discount.

The Day After Christmas Is YOUR Day

December 26 is the perfect opportunity to keep the momentum going. With a little preparation, you can end the year strong and set the tone for a successful 2025.

So, what are you doing to prepare for the post-holiday rush? Share your plans in the comments—we’d love to hear your strategies!

P.S. Don’t forget to thank your team for their hard work this season. A little appreciation goes a long way!

10 last minute ideas to drive holiday sales!

Need some easy ideas to bring more traffic and sales to your store? Here you go!

1.  Prime your Facebook page
If you're going to start posting offers or flash sales, get page engagement up first so your future posts will get better traction. You can:
Post simple questions
Are you in the holiday spirit? Comment below

Or offer a giveaway
Comment below for a 10% off coupon

Once engagement is up, start your flash sales or other important postings.

2.  Get attention with a flash sale
Now that you’ve primed your Facebook page, hold a flash sale with offers available only to your social media followers and email subscribers.

A couple of tips:
The items you sell should be limited in quantity and available only for a limited time. This creates a sense of urgency.

You can have a flash sale for one day, or one day a week, or 7 days in row -- whatever you choose.

Promote the sale heavily ahead of time with multiple posts and emails. Remember, people are busy this time of year.

When an item is sold out, promote that as well. It reinforces the fact that quantities are limited!

You don't have to have e-commerce capabilities to have a flash sale. People can call in to reserve their purchase with a credit card and pick up in store.

Make sure the deals you offer are attention getting!

3.  Prep for weather-related issues
There's a good chance there will be some sort of weather-related problem between now and Christmas. Rain, snow and sleet can negatively impact your revenues.

Take a few minutes now to plan out a weather contingency promotion to create sales even when the weather doesn't cooperate. Here are a few ideas:

Prepare a Snow Day social media flash sale
Create the ads and emails with the deals ahead of time. Direct customers to a landing page to purchase or have them simply message you complete the purchase. Emphasize these are limited time offers customers can take advantage of while staying cozy and warm at home.

Offer video shopping
If you can make it into your store, send an email blast and post on social media that you are available to video shop and will have all purchases ready and wrapped when the weather improves.

Restaurants - promote delivery
Text, email and post to remind customers about delivery opportunities.

Don't just sit back and let the weather play havoc with your sales goals!

4. Grab and Go
With each day that passes, customers get more stressed and pressured to finish their holiday shopping.

Be sure to create a "grab and go" display of popular gifts, ready and wrapped. Offer gift baskets that are fun and unique! Add toy options that relate back to your business (i.e. toy tool kits at hardware stores). Restaurants can offer a "to go" dessert with each entree purchased.

Grab and go's are appropriate for every type of business and provide a solution for which customers will be grateful and can add substantially to revenue.

5. Sell gift cards. Every. Single. Minute.
Nearly 50 percent of gift card holders spend more than the value of the card and 75 percent of those spend 60 percent more than the value of the card! Cards don't just increase holiday sales, they bring customers back after the holiday!

Create a bonus offer on gift card sales. For example, buy $100 and get a $20 bonus card.

Offer a bonus gift card with purchase.

Train your employees to ask every single person if they’d like to purchase a gift card.

Find a way to cleverly wrap your cards so customers feel good about the purchase.

Promote, promote, promote, promote!

6. Email your VIP customers
Segment the top 20 percent of your customers and start emailing them unique messages.It doesn't necessarily need to be about discounts. Try promoting a special service or opportunity just for VIP's, perhaps a private shopping event, personal shopping or simply, "We're here to make your shopping easier!"

Let your best customers know you care about them and are there to help.

7. Hide a toy
Parents are always looking for special experiences for their kids over the holidays! You can make that happen simply by hiding small toys or gifts throughout the store. Small promotions like this insure guests will spend more time in your store and perhaps find their own treasure to purchase. Enhance the promotion by offering to donate a toy to charity for every toy found in the store. It's a simple and inexpensive way to drive traffic, create goodwill and put a smile on customers' faces!

8. There's nothing that makes people want something more than knowing others want it too!
Keep your followers updated on what's hot at your store or restaurant. Whether it's the most popular flavor of ice cream, a sweater that's flying off the shelves or a gift item that customers are raving about -- post about it.

9. Last minute employee bonus
Get your employees motivated with last minute bonus opportunities. Whether it’s $25 for exceeding gift card sales or a more substantial percentage of over-budget sales during the last week of the season, give them a little push to keep momentum up during the last days of the holiday selling season.

10. Be responsive
With more traffic in store, you’re probably focused on on-site customers and attending to their needs. But you also need to be prepared for an onslaught of inquiries from multiple platforms. Whether it be by email, Facebook messenger, Instagram DM's or through your website, customers will start contacting you 24 hours a day with questions ranging from your hours to product availability.And here's the thing -- when these digital questions are asked, customers expect an immediate (or reasonable) response time or they'll just move on.

Be sure to assign staff members to monitor these platforms continuously and offer timely - and engaging responses. For example, if you received an inquiry as to whether or not a product is in stock, don't just reply, "Yes." Ask the customer what time they'd like to pick it up! Online channels are a gold mine of potential business not to be ignored!

Wishing you a great holiday season!

Until next time remember,
You can do this!
Angel

Creating a Signature Holiday Promotion People Will Talk About

There’s a German restaurant in NYC named Rolf’s that’s been a neighborhood staple for over 40 years. During most months, the establishment attracts a small, local crowd. But in the fall and winter, people line up around the block for hours just for the opportunity to warm up over a drink while taking in one of the most elaborate Christmas displays imaginable.

You see, every year Rolf’s transforms from a rather unassuming restaurant into a winter wonderland. Virtually every inch of every surface in the restaurant is decorated.   What used to be a holiday business booster has expanded to an annual event that draws interested locals and tourists for nearly half the year.  Rolf’s has grown its signature promotion to such an elevated level that it has become a “must see” in NYC.

As you plan for this holiday, why not think about creating your own signature promotion?. This is about much more than stringing some lights or offering free gift wrap. This is the type of promotion you can build on year after year and resonates with your community.

As you start planning here are some basic tips to creating a true signature promotion:

It becomes synonymous with your brand
It can build in importance and/or scale over time
    It is unique or at least better executed than others like it
    It is buzz worthy
    It draws new customers and is responsible for an increase in business.

You’ll need to consider the size of your store, target audience, nuances of your community, your personal talents and passions as you develop this idea.

Here a few ideas to start getting you inspired.

Add a service

Create a “send us your list” service through which you pull appropriate gift items and have them ready for review during a scheduled private shopping appointment.

This is personal shopping at the highest level!

Give them a reason to come in-store

Create a video station where customers can create video cards to send to friends and family. Go all out with props and décor. If you live in a military town, they can send the videos to their loved ones and you can show them in-store to honor those in service.

Align with a charity

Make it meaningful. If you’re going to raise money for a local animal rescue, be sure showcase adoptable dogs regularly and even dress them for the holidays. 

Whether you’re raising money/awareness for vets, children, animals or hospitals, be sure to include those who are affected to bring humanity to the effort.

Consider putting a cash value on loyalty points and allow customers to donate those points to a charity of their choice.

Everyone collects food and toys for charity during the holidays. Your job is to make an impact.

Exclusive offerings

Create a mini-gallery, showcasing local artists/artisans throughout the season.  Make sure the objects are exclusive to your store. Have visitors vote on their favorites and award prizes to the winners.

Remember, your signature promotion doesn’t have to be about the holidays but something you do to mark the season. Notoriety doesn’t happen overnight. But if you start thinking about this as a long term project and invest the time and effort, perhaps one day you’ll have a line out the door as well.

www.rolfsnyc.com