As winter approaches and images of hot cocoa, snuggling up in cozy blankets, and snow begin to swirl around, so begins our planning of the inevitable last-minute holiday shopping season. For the small business owner, this is both a nerve-wracking and exciting time. With a little preparation, and some extra teamwork, any worries of chaos can easily transform into cheer.  As exciting as the impending sounds of a busy store may be, businesses need to be as prepared as possible for the increased customer presence. Here are some strategies that can help you feel as ready as possible for the month ahead:

 

Prepare your staff

It’s important that your employees are prepared to greet the influx of shoppers during this holiday season. You may also need to hire seasonal employees to help with the demands of greater foot traffic and potential extended hours. While this can be a huge help to full-year employees, it’s essential to train your new hires early and ensure they continue representing your store with impeccable customer service. Make sure everyone is prepared with the knowledge of seasonal holiday promotions you plan to roll out and possible additional services you may provide, such as gift wrapping.

 

Organization is key

When the bustling crowds arrive, the last thing you want to be doing is scrambling to find where you placed your box of extra bags, or where your latest shipment of receipt paper disappeared to in your stockroom. Find logical spaces for each necessary item to go before the holiday season arrives and leaves you with stressed employees and customers. Your back room should be your sanctuary during this season - make sure it's well maintained and equipped with all of the essentials. Don’t forget that organization can also include online strategies. Ensure that your software is up to date, that you can easily track inventory, and that your system is up to the challenge of frequent sales.

 

Spruce up your space

Although you may have stocked up on additional supplies for the season, make sure to find room for those materials in storage (which should be organized already) and keep the store itself free from clutter. As more customers enter, they should feel free to roam around without too much crowding by other people or the items for sale. In order to avoid chaos, generate intentional spacing for shoppers to easily flow around the store. 

 

…and then add some festive flourishing! 

Avoid being labeled the Grinch of the mall, and be sure to let the holiday spirit shine. Once you feel your store is set up in the best way for sales, it’s time to then enhance it with some decorative pizzazz. Decorating your storefront will draw customers in, and having an inviting ambiance inside will make them want to stay. Plan a night where your employees can stay late to help display holiday garlands and baubles. Create holiday playlists to add festive cheer and watch those bustling shoppers glow in the warmth of feeling merry and bright. 

 

Create a strong holiday marketing campaign

Whether you use Instagram posts, email updates, or social media ads, it’s necessary to prepare an enticing holiday promotion early on to share through these channels. Think about what kind of sales or freebies you’d like to offer to your customers, and then use your creativity on social media to further attract your audience to visit your shop. Don’t be afraid to post frequently and to highlight what makes your store unique and special during this holiday season. Although there is a clear goal to attract new customers, don’t forget to remind your loyal customers why they should stick around too. Consider a rewards program that can benefit frequent shoppers, perhaps with extra perks during the holiday shopping season.

 

In Conclusion

Remember that a little extra prep work can go a long way in making sure everything runs as smoothly as possible this holiday season. Don’t forget to be proud of the value of your store and services, as well as its traditions that you can continue to enhance during the most wonderful time of the year. ‘Tis the season, and with a few added efforts, this season can be your most successful yet. 

Your Last Minute Holiday Season Checklist for Small Retail Businesses

December 5th 12pm-7pm & December 12th 11am-8pm

December 5th: 12pm-7pm &amp;

December 12th: 11am-8pm

Bring your pets to pose with Santa! Located in Center Court in front of JC Penny. All pets must be on a leash. 

Pet Photos with Santa

Come get your photo with Santa at Center Court in front of JC Penny from November 25 until Christmas Eve! 

The set is open daily to the public to visit, and professional photos are available for purchase by VIP Recognition.

Reservations are recommended!Click here to make your reservation. 

Photo's With Santa

Westland Mall has partnered with Sneaker Impact, a non-profit organization, to help recycle gently used sneakers, reduce landfill and help people in need. It's simple, bring your gently used sneakers  to Westland Mall, drop them off in the designated Sneaker Impact bins around the mall and we will take care of the rest. You would be helping the earth and so many people!

  

Westland Mall partners with SneakerImpact

Sneaker Recycle Drive

Holiday Hours

Westland Mall, a regional mall located in Hialeah, FL, just 20 minutes from Miami International Airport, features over 100 speciality stores, food, entertainment and great shopping for the whole family. Shop at many of our great stores, including JCPenney, Macy’s, Outback Steakhouse, Bath &amp; Body Works, Finish Line, G by Guess, Victoria’s Secret, Champs Sports, Best Buy Mobile, Aeropostale, Express and many more! Enjoy great food from Los Ranchos, Chili’s Grill &amp; Bar, Fuddruckers, IHOP – International House of Pancakes, Cajun Grill, McDonald’s, Subway, Cajun Grill, Yihi Japan and Charley’s Grilled Subs.

MALL MANAGEMENT OFFICE

Shoppers can find the following services at the Mall Office located in the hallway adjacent to JCPenney:

<ul>
	<li>Lost and Found</li>
	<li>Directions</li>
	<li>Complimentary wheelchair and scooter rental</li>
</ul>

Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm

PH#: <a href="tel:+13058239310" rel="noopener" tabindex="0" target="_blank">305-823-9310</a>

RESTROOMS

Family Lounge: A space to relax and recharge, featuring things like private nursing areas, baby changing-stations, and family restrooms. Located next to the Management Office.

ATM MACHINES

Yes

PLAY AREA

Visit the Play Area located near the Food Court.

Guest Services

Centennial Real Estate

Westland Mall in Hialeah is your source for shopping, dining and entertainment for families and friends. Shop a wide selection of the latest products.

<a href="https://cdn.placewise.com/Centennial/WestlandFL/files/WestlandMallHours-.pdf">HOLIDAY HOURS</a>

Westland Mall

Pinterest

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

LEASING

MEDIA SPONSORSHIP

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

PARTNER HUB: RISE & THRIVE

FAMILY SERVICES

PARKING SERVICES

SECURITY

ATMS

GIFT CARDS

GET CONNECTED

CODE OF CONDUCT

It may feel like fall only just began, but the holiday shopping season is already very much top-of-mind for retailers everywhere!

Wondering what you can expect out of this year’s busy season as a small business owner or local retailer? Read on for a few of our seasonal predictions to help you plan for what’s in store this holiday.

Expect shoppers to check off their gift lists EARLY

The days of kicking off your holiday marketing on Black Friday are a thing of the past: as has been the trend since the pandemic started, consumers are shopping earlier and earlier to tackle their holiday gift lists. With Amazon announcing asecond ‘Prime Day’with sitewide discounts on popular items October 11th and 12th this year, shoppers are already in the holiday spirit and ready to begin their gift shoppingnow.

Everyone is on the hunt for the best bargains

Lingering supply chain issues and still high inflation have impacted consumers throughout 2022, and the holiday shopping season will be no exception. So while doorbuster deals and special holiday offers are always successful in driving retailer sales - this year especially, expect your customers to be on the lookout to shop special promotions and discounts on your best sellers throughout the season.

The retailers with both a digital and physical presence will do best

Whether you’re a national brand or a small local shop, it has become essential to find ways to blend both the physical in-store shopping experience with the digital environment to best connect with your customers. If your local shop can’t support e-commerce offerings in addition to your brick-and-mortar operations, there are still ways you can tap into the digital world to drive sales. For example, investing in “buy online, pick up in store” capabilities, utilizing social media feeds to showcase new product lines, and rewarding your most loyal customers with exclusive offers in their inbox are all ways to drive sales this holiday season. 

Key Takeaways

While the holiday shopping season can be a bit unpredictable in our post-pandemic world, a few things are for certain: shoppers are hitting the stores earlier than in the past, and are on the hunt for bargains this holiday season. Finding ways to extend your physical store presence to the digital space can also set your business up for success this holiday season.

Keep yourself in the know

see what’s in store