Editorial Team
5 min read
Believe it or not, the holiday season is upon us! You’re probably bracing yourself and your business for its busiest and (hopefully) most profitable time of year. Before things get really crazy, take a minute to ask yourself this question: Is your bookstore set up to keep step with the flurry of incoming holiday sales?
Now, before the holidays are here, is the perfect time to fine-tune your business operations to ensure your business can support an influx of new and existing customers. And, to help you do that, we’re sharing 12 simple, yet impactful ways to help your bookstore score more sales this holiday season.
1. Holiday-themed storefront
It seems obvious, but a little holiday cheer goes a long way. Decorate with all the festive touches: Use lights, garlands, and other holiday displays to create a cozy atmosphere. Catch your customer’s eye by featuring holiday book recommendations and local authors in your window display.
READ: The ultimate 2024 retail store holiday checklist
2. Book gift baskets and reading accessories
Make gifting a snap for your customers with themed gift bundles. Pair a thriller novel with a cozy blanket or a romance novel with a charming box of tea. Also, consider allowing customer participation! Offer customers a chance to build-your-own-basket for a more personalized touch.
3. Holiday book bundles
Pull together titles that fit holiday themes. How can anyone resist “Cozy Mysteries” or “Heartwarming Tales”? Be sure to offer discounts or promos on said bundles to make purchasing an easy decision.
READ: 10 bookstore promotion ideas to drive foot traffic and sales
4. “Secret Santa” display
Make holiday shopping a game! Offer pre-wrapped books with hints or themes for potential readers. Examples include: “For the historical fiction lover” or “Fans of Brene Brown.” Even better, you could add an interactive element to shopping by encouraging customers to guess which book they’re buying and reveal it once purchased.
5. Holiday gift guides
Help your customer’s discover new titles or rediscover older ones they may have missed. Create printed or digital gift guides for different categories (e.g., “Gifts for Foodies,” “Books for Teens,” “Hidden Gems”). You can also feature staff recommendations, complete with personal anecdotes to engage customers. Include a local authors gift guide with books that resonate with the community. Here are some more general gift guide ideas for your shop.
6. Holiday events
Host local authors for book signings or readings. Bonus points if you can put out festive snacks. Organize holiday-themed story sessions for children. Offer book-related workshops, like journaling or writing, to attract adult readers.
7. Loyalty programs and promotions
The holidays are a great excuse to introduce a loyalty card program. Allow customers to earn points for purchases. Another strategy is to have limited-time promotions on popular titles to create urgency. Don’t forget to offer digital gift card options for virtual shoppers! This complete guide can make sure you’re not forgetting anything.
READ: Best practices for gift cards
8. Collaborate with local businesses
Spread that holiday spirit around! Offer book bundle discounts for customers who buy a book and visit a local cafe (and vice versa). Collaborate with local artisans to offer crafts (like book-themed ornaments or handmade holiday greeting cards) that can complement book purchases. (Also a great addition to your holiday gift baskets mentioned above.)
9. Personalized recommendations
Sometimes, we can use a little help finding “the one.” Offer a book matchmaking service where customers fill out a short questionnaire to receive personalized book recommendations. Create fun “choose your own book adventure” games around your shop that can suggest book categories based on readers’ interests. Think “if yes, then…”.
READ: How (and why) small businesses should lean into personalization this holiday season
10. Online presence and e-commerce
Dedicate a section of your website to holiday gifts, guides, and bundles. If you’re able to, host virtual events or book clubs for those who cannot visit in person. This is a great opportunity to continue showcasing local authors, for those who want to support from a far! If you’re in need of some extra guidance on how to ramp up your e-commerce holiday strategy, start here.
11. Social media engagement
Use your store’s social media account to countdown with daily book recommendations or fun facts. Encourage customers to share their favorite books or holiday reading lists with a dedicated hashtag. Make sure to do a lot of reposting!
READ: Social media 101 for bookstores
12. Post-holiday follow-ups
The holiday season can be a blur of activity. Make an impression with customers and send personalized thank you notes to those who made purchases during the holiday season. And keep the good times rolling: offer a “New Year, New Reads” discount for purchases in January to keep the momentum going.
The holiday shopping season presents many ways to get creative with your small business. Applying just a few of the above ideas to your holiday sales strategy can help your bookstore create a festive, engaging atmosphere that enhances the holiday shopping experience and helps your bottom line.
Using a Clover bookstore POS system can make even the most daunting holiday to-do easy—from accepting payments and organizing inventory to managing employee schedules and running reports to understand your best sellers—it’s all available at your fingertips.
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