Retail property management can get a bit more hectic in the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. Yes, it might seem completely ridiculous to begin worrying about the holiday season before August comes to a close, but there are plenty of reasons to do so now, notably the fact that the early bird will always get the worm, and proactive preparations will generally yield stronger performances at crunch time.
It also might seem as though the average retailer is doing the majority of its business on the Internet, or at least that this is the direction in which the industry is moving rapidly. Web-based sales are certainly becoming more important to these companies, but the storefront remains a critical aspect of brand management, prospect targeting, client retention and much more, as consumers still demand access to a brick-and-mortar location.
As Mainstreet Inc. once elucidated, retailers want to be able to see the actual display in real life, even if they ultimately choose to make a purchase online, and businesses must recognize that this is an important aspect of the modern omnichannel experience. So, we will ask again, have you started to make preparations for your facilities to get ready for the holiday shopping season? Retail property management software can help you get moving in the right direction.
A look at the holidays
Considering the fact that the holiday shopping season is the time in which retailers make the most money, the last thing that any of your clientele would want is an issue that sprouts up in mid-November. Take, for example, last November and December, during which the National Retail Federation reported that more than $602 billion in sales were made. When compared to the estimated $4.53 trillion in retail sales that took place last year, according to eMarketer, it is clear that those two months are critically important for annual revenue performances.
Regardless of whether a company does more of its business over the Internet or in the store, the brick-and-mortar location cannot be at risk of any type of disruption or outage should decision-makers want to maximize sales. It is not just a matter of November and December revenues, either, as these are the times at which companies will have the greatest level of potential to reach new prospects who can later become quality clientele.
It is all about making a good impression, and the physical storefront is one of the more perfect places to begin these relationships, especially when foot traffic is at its peak shortly after Thanksgiving.
There is plenty of more evidence to be had that these months should be a focus of retail property managers as early as September, and players in the industry should not have to look hard to find it.
What needs to be done?
The first step is to get a handle on all of the properties you are managing, paying specifically close attention to maintenance schedules and the current state of affairs in each facility. Are there major projects that are planned to start in October? When was the last time a full evaluation of the property was conducted? Are clients happy with the state of their properties at the moment, and will they be in a few months?
By leveraging retail property management software such as SKYLINE handled by Anton Systems, decision-makers will get a 360-degree view of their needs and performance. This can reduce the frequency of oversights that come from poor planning, ensuring that the opportunities of the holiday season are not missed out on by the retailers themselves.