WIN MORE CHRISTMAS SALES BY OFFERING A ONE-STOP-SHOP SERVICE

Approach local businesses that run a family or kids Christmas party and local charities that provide toys and gifts to people in need – usually at a Christmas party or some other community event.

Any business with fifty or more employees could be a target as could a community group offering gifts to kids at a party of fifty or more.

Also consider approaching nursing homes, hospitals (or their association), day care – any group that has a Christmas party where gifts are handed out.

Offer a one stop shop service: you purchase and wrap gifts to their budget and grouped as they need by gender and age within gender.

Some businesses will currently do their buying in bulk at major retailers while some charities and community groups may get members involved in buying.

You can offer a service that saves time for all involved and provides a more consistent mix of gifts for the kids.

Price the gifts at retail. The bonus, your gift to the business or local community group, is time saved and a free wrapping service. But take care to set your price points carefully. 

Offer the businesses and community groups you pitch this to a range of price point options from which they can choose.

Approach the prospective businesses and community groups early in the year to give them and you enough time. Get a non refundable deposit.

You will need to group the numbers required by gender and age groups. Do this in a spreadsheet so you keep track.

Once you have the total numbers, if they are considerable consider using a limited number of suppliers are asking for an additional discount or benefit to drive your margin.

Manage your cash carefully – get payment for the gifts before you have to pay suppliers.

Consider bulk wrapping paper. This would be cheaper than using wrap off your shop floor. It would be better quality paper than if you go to a discount variety store.

If you run with this idea, be sure to ask for feedback once the gifts have been handed out. Feedback from the organisers and gift recipients could help you do a better job next year.