I know, I know, there’s a certain relief in Christmas being in the rear view mirror, but
Can we talk Christmas just one more time?
You see, there’s this really nifty decoration you can do for 2012, that costs like practically nothing and which will build your shop’s WOM like crazy… but it will .
take some time to accumulate the makings.
So here’s what you do: gather up and throw in a bag or hat box or basket, all those around-the-shop things that would end up in your junk drawer, if you had a junk drawer in your shop.
Weird buttons. A loose belt buckle. A manufacturer’s hang tag. A photo of that couch they consigned, in their garage with their cat on it. The Barbie abandoned in your lost-and-found box, a feather butterfly from a NTY floral arrangement. A framed picture of your goofy crew dressed up for the 4th of July parade. In other words, the detritus of the year at MyShop.
Then, come some rainy night next October, glue gun in hand, you arrange all these on a nice piece of wallboard or foamcore or whatever,
into a Christmas tree like this:
You can prop up the wallboard/ foamcore in your entry, use it as a window back, even hang it from the ceiling. Or hey, use it as a photo backdrop for your holiday outfit/home decor suggestions… being sure, of course, to incorporate your shop name and logo in a prominent place.
Certainly will make your shop stand out in the Sea of Sameness that is retail in the 21st century.
I’d give credit for the photo, but the place I saw it didn’t so I couldn’t, and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t theirs. If it’s yours, let me know!
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
Okay, since you mentioned Christmas in July, I will run this by you. I am moving to a new location – 5 doors down in the same plaza. I have twice the space plus three odd rooms down a hallway. Since storage of Christmas seems to be an issue (and I just opened last October), I thought I should have a Christmas room. Advertise it specifically, market it with Christmas smells. Throw in all the nicest toys ready for gifting, all new in box stuff to use for gifts to give shoppers an extra reason to go in the room year round. It would also be a place for coats, since people are forever asking for them after the season even though I couldn’t sell them at half off in March!
Your thoughts? I thought I could at least try this for a few months and then try something new. And of course it would be ready for a Christmas in July debut!!
Hi Kindra, Using “extra” space for uses like this is great. Of course, you will need to be concerned with shoppers on their own in a “back room”… both for shoplifting and safety reasons. But I’m sure you can work that out. And golly, secondary rooms like this gives your shop name, Housefull, a whole new meaning! What a marketing opportunity!
That’s really cool Kate–thanks!
Thanks Kerri, I thought so too! Now, I promise to not mention Christmas again until October. Well, except for my NFP, whom we all know get PILES of holiday-themed donations the 1st week in January (I’m guilty, myself, of burdening them with my 2nd-string Santas when I know they’ll have to store them for 10-11 months). For NFPs, *Christmas in July* is a financial and storage necessity and hopefully a beloved tradition… right, you non-profits out there?