YIKES! Thanksgiving is nearly here, so can the rush for gift-buying be far behind? You know the answer and you know the drill: prepare, prepare, prepare.

Your seasonal items are either en route or already in the tea shop, you’ve hired the necessary extra help, and together, you and staff will display new products, teas, and accessories to their best advantage, mixing inexpensive with pricey, and new with traditional items on your shelves. So, how do you tell existing customers what you have and how do you attract new customers? Here are a few ideas to treat your current customers well and spread the word to new ones:

First, Train Your Staff. Nothing you offer online or in-store should be a surprise or puzzle or source of confusion to anyone working for you. Remind them all that they can come to you with any questions at any time. To help them:

-Give them copies of all the deals and promos you will offer customers this season.

-Do a show-and-tell for new teas and accessories, all new products and/or services; provide any appropriate written material.

-Have them check the website as it is updated to can keep up with additions or deletions during the holiday season.

Second, Communicate with Your Customers, Big or Small.

Reward Loyalty: Whether you have a Tea of the Month program, a discount for number of purchases or a membership program, now is the time to reward these loyal customers with:

-Exclusive deals for limited items or your best high-end teas.

-Early or late hour shopping for the convenience of those working 9-5.

-Shopping by appointment; great for schmoozing and renewing friendships, but focus on the reason for the season: sales!

-Discounts, as possible and where appropriate such as bulk sales for corporations or organizations who honor employees with holiday gifts of appreciation.

Create a Holiday Gift Guide both on your website and a print version to:

-Pass out at local events.

-Leave with bookshops, grocers or other shops in your neighborhood to foster cross marketing between you.

-Post a larger version of the Guide in one of your windows or on the door.

-Keep a pile of the Guides at the checkout station and put one into each shopping bag and suggest that the customer share others with friends.

Host an Event! If you have room, to showcase the best products and teas of the season. This can be a:

-Tea tasting.(Always a popular event!)

-Scheduled, exclusive, gift basket station for a fee or free, as part of your exclusive membership perks.

-Product demonstration of new kettles or brewers.

-Host a tea sommelier, tea book author, or party planner to share holiday tea events.

Make shopping easy:

-Offer curbside drop-offs; they’re not just for lockdowns, they help shoppers save time by ordering online and scheduling pickups at their convenience.

-Add Venmo, Zelle or PayPal, as appropriate, to your credit cards for those who love using these services.

-Offer either flat shipping/handling fees or include them as a service in a yearly “membership” category for regular customers.

-Update the website weekly for Holiday Specials, Limited Time Only deals, and emphasize any and all services you offer.

-Think about traffic flow on the shop floor. Keep aisles clear. Decorate, but don’t overdo it because what the customer should notice is your inventory, not the dazzling wreaths. Use signage to help them find various categories of your inventory. Include signs that direct customers to sales clerks for “individual shopping assistance."

-Add areas of easy-peasy shopping ideas under $25 and have many pre-wrapped. This helps the last-minute shopper and helps those with a budget. Call them stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, or gifts for service people, as you like; this encourages multiple purchases and gives you the opportunity to share fun ideas for gifts for everyone.

Say Thank You TO EVERYONE!

TO STAFF: Expressing praise and gratitude during the rush helps foster pride in doing their jobs well. And, offering an end-of-season get together, a little gift or a bonus helps retain loyalty from staff that’s really a small price to pay for those who help you build and maintain your business.

TO CUSTOMERS: No sale online, in person, via email should ever be consummated without a verbal or written “thank you” ever. No exceptions. Just as greeting people warmly, inquiring their needs, and showing them alternatives make them feel welcomed by you, saying thank you acknowledges their time and effort to shop with you.

Thank you for reading!