Gourmet Business November 2013

Punching Up Your Holiday Merchandising

A lot can be done in seven weeks, which is how long retailers have to spice

up their in-store merchandising and perhaps add a few last-minute gift ideas to their holiday impulse- buying lineup. Since most people don’t begin shopping for the holidays until Black Friday – and the next four weeks are a frenzied race to the finish line – retailers still have time to add new items and tweak displays to make them more alluring.

This issue of Gourmet Business was developed with all of these things in mind. Pay particular attention to our “Last-Minute Gift Ideas for Under $30” on page 16, which offers ways to stimulate impulse purchasing and makes some prognostications about revenues and foot traffic this holiday season. Kim Kristofer of KeHE Distributors also offers retailers valuable tips. One of the best pieces of advice is this: “ ... don’t let your stores get out of hand. Keep the displays maintained, consolidating them or adding to them as needed. And take notes on what worked and what didn’t ... ” Retailers can get so busy dur- ing the holidays that they may neglect to be flexible and adapt displays and merchandising based on what’s moving and working. Conversely, if something is not working, don’t be afraid to rework it, move it to another area of the store or eliminate it, making way for more successful ideas and products.

We also feature an array of other holiday- related and post-holiday ideas, including “Homemade Gift Ideas for the Gourmet and Crafty,” on page 23, and an overview of new roasting products and accessories on page 29. And if you’re looking to invigorate your holiday beverageware and products section, don’t miss “My Favorite Thing,” page 7, about unusual beverage flavor enhancers called Cocktail Shrubbs.

That’s one of many ideas we present to help punch up your holiday merchandising. We wish you all a happy and prosperous holiday selling season!

Maureen Azzato 

Managing Editor, Gourmet Business 

mazzato@gourmetbusiness.com