Ecommerce News estimates that 30% of U.S. retail sales happen from Black Friday until Christmas. You might think of the holiday retail season as a race and Black Friday as the starting line. Your business must be prepared for the onslaught, but you also must attract Black Friday shoppers in the first place. You know the obvious – plan early, create attractive offers and build anticipation – but there’s more to prepping than just the basics. This quick guide lays out more Black Friday tips to help small business owners make the most out of this critical day.
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Choose the Right POS System
There’s nothing like increased sales volume to make you aware of needed improvements. Before your POS systems slow down and lock up, it’s worth checking your tech and upgrading. Don’t forget that more customers will use contactless payment methods this season – and your infrastructure must be ready. Clover POS software offers touchless payment options right out of the box. And when paired with stations and credit card terminals, you have a complete system for collecting EMV, PIN, magstripe and contactless payments. Clover’s solutions are customizable, allowing you to choose the hardware that best meets your business’s needs.
Beef Up Your Inventory Management
Online shopping was already popular before the start of 2020. This year, it’s played a crucial part in keeping businesses and the economy going. Real-time information provides strong advantages for merchants and shoppers. Now more than ever, you must have a robust and responsive inventory management system. After all, both your online and in-store customers rely on this information to make purchasing decisions. A complete POS system should include inventory management, and Clover’s POS system for small business is a perfect example. Clover’s Mini is user-friendly, compact, and customizable. It also features Clover apps – smart solutions for inventory, accounting and much more.
Maximize Curbside and Store Pickup Services
Your customers will be looking for deals, but they also want to stay safe and healthy. Unsurprisingly, curbside and in-store pickup options have been popular this year. Both take full advantage of online ordering and allow customers to much less time in close contact with others. Make sure your website accurately reflects shipping and pickup options for each product.
Your in-store infrastructure should also be prepped and ready to quickly check out your curbside and in-store pickup customers. Clover’s Flex POS is a great choice for curbside service. Lightweight and portable, this handheld device can take orders, process transactions, print receipts, and get customer signatures. Its built-in camera and QR code scanner lets you quickly update inventory. With a robust rechargeable battery, wireless 3G and WiFi connectivity, the Flex is a must-have to provide fast, convenient and friendly service.
Solid Infrastructure Is Key
This year’s holiday shopping season will look radically different from previous years. Getting your business ready means having solid infrastructure to handle the demand, but it must also provide what your customers want: up-to-date product availability, reduced in-store time and ability to use contactless payments. Clover Flex for sale and other Clover stations offer these and other benefits, providing the tools you need to handle Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the rest of the holidays.