2016 is proving to be a tough year for card sales in newsagencies regardless of the card company you are with. While I think there are some factors outside our businesses impacting this, there is more we can do to make our own situation better than average.
Performing above average starts with us being serious about cards. It is one thing to love the product and another entirely to be engaged. For too long we have relied on our suppliers to do work we ought to do.
The more we engage with our card department the better result for us as our customers.
Here are some tips that will lead to sales growth. The list is by no means complete. Consider it a starting point.
- Have your staff put out new card stock when it arrives. Knowledge drives sales.
- Have a card promotion at the entrance to the business, disrupting traffic. Change the range every few weeks.
- Have a loyalty offer than is different to what other card retailers nearby pitch.
- Feature a card of the week at the counter.
- Feature cards you love in your business Facebook page.
- Send cards to customers.
- Know your card sales by caption, comparing this year to last. Knowledge is power.
- Offer a deal to local community groups and businesses based on a volume purchase offer. For example, a local business sending cards to their customers is sure to want to save money. You seeing 100 cards in one go has to be worth a discount for them.
I think it is vital that your marketing of cards in-store and on social media reflects your business, that what you do is decided in your business and not corporately for corporate or national promotions serve one purpose, the points in this post are 100% about your business and its card pitch.