How Retailers Can Attract, Engage And Entertain Shoppers This Festive Season 

It’s no secret that the festive shopping season is especially important for brands and retailers in India. In fact, last year’s festive shopping amounted to Rs. 2.50 lakh crores. Manufacturers making smartphones, refrigerators, wearables and two-wheelers are producing 20% more inventory as compared to last year for the festive season, owing to a demand revival and a good monsoon coupled with stable inflation. This year, in particular, is very crucial for retailers as the past 2-3 years have not met the expectations of the industry at large, however, the Confederation of All India Traders expects a 60% uptick in festive sales as compared to last year, which means retailers are feeling slightly more optimistic. Early sales data from Onam suggest that retail companies may report better growth this festive season as spends are up by 20%. Brands in fashion, jewellery and footwear are anticipating a double-digit growth of up to 20% in the third quarter. 

Importance of the festive season for Indian retailers

Considering that the festive season sale contributes to 35-40% of annual sales for retailers which is a huge chunk, many livelihoods and small businesses are banking on a lucrative festive season. In fact, the apparel sector is expected to see huge traction in sales and will catapult into more demand during the wedding season which follows shortly after. 

Steps for Indian retailers to take to make the most of the festive season 

Stock up & plan inventory well 

Handling inventory is a major issue during the holiday season because having too much stock can tie up money and lead to discounts while having too little can result in missed chances and reduced sales. Retailers must utilise past data to comprehend demand by analysing sales patterns while also staying updated on present trends. Having the right products in the correct quantities is a sure way to success for retailers in the festive season. 

Boost your digital presence 

In today’s hyper-connected world, an omnichannel approach bridges the gap between physical and digital demand and retail stores that can leverage an online presence on social media and have built mobile-friendly websites and apps have a stronger chance of succeeding. Retailers can also leverage digital ads which can target people via interests, location and age.  Retailers can use digital mediums to provide attractive in-store offers to get people to visit their store by reaching a very relevant group of potential customers. Besides this, one can also immensely benefit from the use of tailored email campaigns and geotargeting to attract the right customers to the stores. 

Give your store a festive makeover 

Presentation is everything! Retailers must definitely consider ramping up their festive decor to compete with the competition and ensure more walk-ins. Personalisation and delivering rich experiences become very important during the festive season as retailers compete to try and outdo each other to attract more customers to their stores. 

Upgrade your digital signage 

Signage is every retailer’s first impression, and attractive signage can significantly boost the ambience of retail space and can look extremely eye-popping and stand out in cluttered commercial spaces like malls. Brands can leverage digital signage to create a stunning, immersive first impression on potential customers. Digital screens can be used to showcase anamorphic content which makes products seem 3D and larger than life. Bringing stores to life with effective digital signage is one of our strengths at Resurgent, we can help with 4K resolution LED displays which are completely digital and feature centralised scheduling.

Help customers find what they’re looking for

Indian shoppers are spoiled for choice, with huge department stores cropping up which follow extremely competitive pricing, crowds are something that is inevitable, this can become quite overwhelming for a shopper. Therefore, if you’re a retailer with a department store or multiple sections, you should have effective wayfinding applications that can enable customers to seamlessly find what they’re looking for or navigate the store without being overwhelmed or getting lost. At Resurgent, we can help with digital kiosks, wayfinding software and more. 

Make announcements with ease 

From temporarily losing loved ones to alerting employees to assemble in particular departments, a good PA system is a must, especially given how crowded malls and stores get during festive season in India. Besides announcements, public announcement systems can be used for music to provide a better experience and atmosphere for shopping and to play marketing messages or announcements to boost customer engagement. At  Resurgent, we can provide complete, state-of-the-art systems of PA amplifiers, speakers, mics and zone controllers. 

Boost your customer experience with virtual assistants 

The introduction of self-service kiosks at chains like McDonald’s has led to a rise in tech-savvy shoppers in India. A self-service kiosk or virtual assistant can greatly enhance the shopping experience for customers who are pressed for time or unable to locate a customer service representative. At Resurgent we can help with boosting a retailer’s presence at key touchpoints and offer virtual assistants to customers whenever they need it. 

Provide immersive experiences to stand out 

Experience is everything, and Indian retailers are leveraging experience centres to help them stand out. The flagship Apple store in Mumbai is a perfect example wherein regular events and workshops are held for artists looking to use iPads and Procreate for their work. Electronic retailers can also leverage these spaces to provide immersive experiences. If you’re looking to elevate your brand with a highly immersive space for customers to experience your product, we at Resurgent can build them 

With the festive season just around the corner, retailers must put their best efforts into making the most of the season as a final push before the year-end. Get in touch for custom AV solutions to make the most of the upcoming season.