Christmas is sooner than you thin

o Light standards in the parking lot decorated or hung with banners.

o Holiday window displays to show gift ideas.

o Lifesize Santa with reindeer and sled full of gifts.

o A live Santa to talk with the children.

o A special decorator shop with lights, ornaments, candles, tinsel, wrapping paper, ribbons, cards and such.

o End caps of gift ideas under $10, $20, etc.

o One or more decorated trees surrounded with baskets or tubs of decorations for sale.

Story at a Glance

Time to get ready f or Christmas festive surroundings encourage sales ... how you can help shoppers with gifl ideas... sen ices you can olfer customers.

o Live Christmas trees, holly, wreaths, poinsettias, amaryllis, gift plants in the nursery section.

o Special Christmas music playing throughout the store.

o Entertainment by community musical groups.

o Santa's helpers to give out trinkets to children.

o Photographs with Santa for free or a fee.

o Balloons for the children.

o Tree trimmed with small items from sections such as cookie cutters in housewares or nuts and bolts in hardware.

o Giant snow flakes hung from the ceiling.

o Pre-Christmas classes in decorating, using power tools to make gifts, refinishing small antiques for gifts, holiday baking and candy making, etc.

Services become important to customers in the busy days before the holiday. Emphasize those you offer by listing them on signs placed strategically throughout the store. Some you should consider that have proved successful for other merchants: o Gift certificates o Layaway o Credit o Aisle displays of easily forgotten items such as batteries and extension cords. o Xeroxed shopping lists of gift ideas and holiday necessities available in "take-one" displays. o End caps wrapped like gift boxes with colorful paper and bows. o Tinsel or twinkle lights outlining shelves. o Snacks such as a hot dog and drink served to shoppers for a small sum. o Attractive displays of holiday dishes and party equipment in housewares. o Gift wrapping o Personal shopper service o Liberal exchange or returns after holidays o Installation service o Delivery o Shipping

Whatever you decide on for your approach, make your plans now. There is nothing like being prepared to smooth out the wrinkles of a harried holiday retail season.

And don't forget to plan for returns and exchanges on the 26th and an After Christmas Sale.