Planning Your Best After-Christmas Sale

The 2024 holiday season promises to be a busy one, with consumer spending up by a minimum of three percent (3.2%).1 However, the shopping period is shorter so businesses may either quickly sell out or have leftover inventory from larger than usual orders.

Excess inventory presents additional revenue opportunities for after the holidays. Forty-five percent of consumers say they enjoy shopping after Christmas sales.2 In fact, 50% said they shopped for themselves from December 26 – January 3 last year, hoping to find discounts (28%).3

Here’s how you can prepare for successful post-Christmas sales.

1. Thoughtfully price merchandise to offer post-holiday discounts.

   You’ll need to decide what items to feature in your sale, based on popularity and available quantity. Inspect each product to determine shelf life. For example, if items are obviously holiday themed and there is considerable leftover inventory, offer deep discounts. On the other hand, you can offer smaller discounts on popular items with lower remaining inventory. BOGO deals are another effective way to move merchandise. The goal is to generate as many sales as possible, while making room for fresh merchandise.



2. Repurpose items for promotions later in the year.

   Depending on the type of products, consumers may be able to gift them at other times during the year. Post-holiday events, such as a New Year’s party, may call for a small “thank you” token for hosts. Valentine’s Day is within a few weeks of Christmas and is another popular holiday that people shop for, as well as Mother’s Day. With a little creativity, some items ― such as jewelry, tableware, candles and food ― could serve as great gifts to share with friends and family on special days.



3. Create gift baskets or grab bags that include related items.

   If you have a supply of similar items, package them into grab bags or gift bags. Lotions, bath salts, and eye masks and scented soaps become “spa-day” baskets when sold together. You can also deconstruct prepackaged sets with higher price points and sell the items individually to make them more affordable.