Holiday store fixtures not only improve the mood in your shop, but can actually entice customers to spend more money. For the majority of retail stores, the "season" begins right after Thanksgiving and lasts well into January.

Planning your fixtures and decor well in advance will help your employees prepare for what's ahead. The busiest time of the year can be stressful for employees and managers alike, so if you get your holiday fixtures in place ahead of time, that's one less thing for everyone to worry about.

1. Get your customers in the mood to spend by hanging retail store holiday decorations--the "Christmas spirit" may make them more prone to open their wallets wide.

2. Set up retail store holiday displays that are in keeping with the atmosphere your shop provides. You'll want to use these displays to further brand your company.

3. Utilize holiday window signs to attract potential customers to your store. You can put up simple static clings of snowflakes or go full-scale with large custom-printed banners advertising sales.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Liven up your store with holiday decorations

Nothing gets people in the holiday spirit like seeing decorations that represent the season. You can put all sorts of lights, swags, wreaths and other fixtures around your store to get people in the mood to shop.

I recommend: Adorn your product displays with the lighted decorations at Creative Displays. Or decorate your store with pre-lit evergreen wreaths from the All American Christmas Company.

Set the tone with retail holiday displays

The displays you set up in your store should reflect your company's brand. For example, a mom-and-pop Christian bookstore might just want to set up a simple nativity display, while an elegant day spa would want to spend a bit more money and set up something more elaborate to stay with the feeling of luxury the owners have already created for their brand.

I recommend: Contact National Equipment to design a great seasonal display for your store. Four Seasons Images specializes in commercial holiday displays.

Put on the finishing touches with holiday window signs and in-store signs

Holiday signs range from smaller window clings to large-format signs custom-made for your store. Take into consideration the size of your windows and the amount of foot traffic in the area before you make a decision.

I recommend: Check out the huge selection of templates for custom window and in-store signs at MakeStoreSigns.com. Browse the holiday sign kits at Deluxe Enterprise Operations. Use the bulletin sign holders from Manne-King for your holiday signage; you can stand these holders around the store or in view of your front window.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider buying holiday decorations for stores in bulk. You may be able to find a supplier that can include decorations for each holiday of the year, from Valentine's Day to Halloween to Thanksgiving.
• •  To stay politically correct, you may want to include decorations that encompass all of the December holidays. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Yule all take place in this month, and some customers may get offended if you acknowledge one holiday and not all of them. Sticking with signs that say 'Happy Holidays' or 'Winter Sale' may be your best bet.