A.R. Discovery's Business Preparation Guide for the Holidays

    JERSEY CITY, NJ, November 22, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- With the holiday season approaching A.R. Discovery says that it is likely businesses have already started promoting their sales to their customer bases. But, the direct marketing firm says, with so many other competing sales, the weeks leading up to the holiday season is the most crucial time to raise awareness and stay on customers' radars. A.R. Discovery points out that brands will be competing for the same customers so it is important not to be forgotten about and to stay at the forefront of customers minds.

To help small business owners succeed in the holiday season, A.R. Discovery is offering their marketing and sales advice.

Market to loyal customers
Acquiring new customers requires a lot more time and money than getting repeat customers to return. Offering highly personalized discounts and promotions to existing customers can be very effective at encouraging holiday purchases.

Be present on social media
Spread the word about what the brand is offering on social media. This can be helpful for connecting with consumers looking for recommendations on where to shop and putting the brand name in front of potential customers.

Offer in-store pickup
If the brand does not already offer this, this can be the perfect way to attract new business. Offering a pickup option for online purchases will create a better connection between the online and in-store customer experience.

Offer additional value
Small businesses tend to have to charge a bit more than larger retailers for similar items. To combat this A.R. Discovery says that small businesses can offer freebies that add value beyond the product itself can help encourage customers to shop there. Offering free gift wrapping or an extended warranty not only adds value but adds a personalized touch to the service which consumers will appreciate.

A.R. Discovery has also put together some advice about the common mistakes that should be avoided.

Uninformed, storewide discounts
Larger retailers can afford to offer across-the-board discounts but smaller businesses need to avoid the temptation to slash prices on everything. Taking this approach could quickly make profits plummet.

Online price-matching
Offering to match a competitor's online price might get people in the door but it won't be sustainable and will result in lost profits.

Only focusing on one holiday at a time
Holiday shopping happens before and after thanksgiving so waiting until the last minute to advertise, or stopping discounts as soon as Cyber Monday ends will ultimately harm the business.

A.R. Discovery is an outsourced sales and marketing firm based in New Jersey. The firm specializes in a personalized form of marketing that involves using face-to-face techniques in order to create long-lasting relationships with consumers on behalf of their clients' brands. This helps to improve clients' brand awareness, brand loyalty and customer acquisition.

About A.R. Discovery: http://www.ardiscoveryinternational.com/#about-us

A.R. Discovery is an outsourced sales and direct marketing firm that specialize in a personalize form of marketing to deliver a high ROI for their clients.

Follow @AR_Discovery on Twitter and 'Like' them on Facebook.

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