The seasons to level up your commercial game

The days are longer, the weather warmer. There is a general sense of optimism that comes from having more light in the day – perhaps the feeling that we somehow have more time on our hands. Summer days roll on, everyone is keen to shake off the dust of winter and to look forward to the cheerier days ahead.

The days are longer, the weather warmer. There is a general sense of optimism that comes from having more light in the day – perhaps the feeling that we somehow have more time on our hands. Summer days roll on, everyone is keen to shake off the dust of winter and to look forward to the cheerier days ahead.

But what does this have to do with trading and commerce in general?

Significantly! There is a mindset shift with the change of the weather, that pushes people outdoors and encourages them to try something different. This can come under a number of guises. The Winter months gave them ample opportunity to stay indoors and browse online. Now, they might be keen to shop new brands they discovered, connect with local artisans, be inspired to give a makeover either to themselves or their homes or office space. This optimism that we alluded to earlier is the boost they need to step outside their comfort zone and to test in real life what they spent months saving boards on Pinterest for. It’s the perfect consumeristic setting that every shop owner should get ready for.

Trends Rule

Year on year the same patterns are picked up. As people make plans to head to the beach, as wedding invites start streaming in, as proms and other events reach their peak in the summer months, people turn to the same items. Dresses, sandals and bathing suits are the most sought after, with other accessories like sun hats, beach bags, sunglasses and others following suit. There is a consumeristic drive that’s fuelled by Social Media influencers that gets people clicking more and earlier on in the warmer months, that should be used by shop owners to drive their own sales. And this doesn’t stop at clothing.

Bulkier items like outdoor furniture, BBQs, gardening tools and everything else you can think of to host the perfect outdoor party, are also more in demand. People are keener to commit to house projects, facilitated in their endeavours by discounts and sales given by businesses in the summer months. This makes bulk buying easier on their pockets – accentuated by cost-effective and efficient delivery services like the one offered by Miles Express.

The need to your business’s products may be time-sensitive and this needs to be honoured straight away, hence the requirement of a speedy delivery partner is crucial. With Miles Express, deliveries can be done on the same day or scheduled ahead, an extremely convenient feature, especially for the individuals who are able to anticipate the need for time sensitive products. Truly a solution for everyone.

With school out, shutdowns or just the lure of more favourable weather, people prefer to go on holiday during summer. This is the perfect opportunity for retailers to market their wares to the tourist – whose impulsive shopping streak might be easier to trigger because they’re more relaxed. Switch over to your local audience, and you have celebrations such as Father’s Day, events, weddings and other summer activities that drive purchases and should be appropriately catered for. And while for some, Summer is the perfect season to be out and about, others tend to look inward as well.

Home cleaning is a chore that most people engage in before as well as during summer months. Men and women look to their individual rooms to spruce them up a bit, and not just by making sure that windows gleam. New curtains are bought, duvet covers are changed, and lighter colours that reflect a lighter mood are preferred. DIY is suddenly more attractive because there is more time to indulge in it. Furniture is upscaled, plants are bought, entire rooms repainted and redecorated. Businesses would do well to capitalise on this appetite.

Tips on making the most of this shopping frenzy

It’s not hard to see that the desire to spend more is there – but how do you make sure people choose your business to spend on? There are a few factors you can start embracing now that will make you stand out.

Fashion is key…

The dreary quarantine days are long over, but people haven’t forgotten how they made them feel. Therefore, they will want to go that little bit extra, maybe opt for bolder colours, intriguing patterns, and accessories they might not have layered on before. Fashion is decidedly IN, with a small caveat.

… but make it sustainable

Many are looking away from fast fashion, preferring to source their garments in a more ethical way, whether this is done by finding out who is making their clothes, or by investing in pieces made by minority-owned businesses.

The future is local

It’s become almost a way of life, how some people scour the local market before falling back on the usual outlets like Amazon or eBay. There is a certain appeal in buying locally, in the care that is given to each hand-made product. Artisans are more in demand now than ever before, and some give deadlines and limits on orders to make sure shoppers are not disappointed with the quality.

Making it easy

When shoppers feel that the retail outlets care for them, that the process is simple – especially online – and that they are given value for their money, they are more likely to return. Offering free tips and advice, whether it’s about the kind of shoes that match or the colour of cushions to go with the new sofa, buyers will appreciate the effort and remain loyal.

It’s all about clever marketing

The winners are always the ones who stand out, in some way or another. It’s not always the loudest and boldest who clinch the throne. Sometimes it’s the sellers that have a soul, the ones who connect on a more meaningful level with their audience who walk away with higher profit margins. Consider adopting a more environmentally friendly approach to your business, and use campaigns that your audience can relate to on a human level. Never underestimate the power of colours and the way they are used to convey messages – and speaking of, focus on the imagery you’re conveying. Does it match your audience at this point in time? They’re looking to brighter days so steer away from dreary colours that might recall the winter we’ve just put behind us. Are the images playful, are they serious? It’s all about reading your audience well and sending messages that are in sync with how they feel.

How do we, at Miles Express, fit in?

If it hasn’t sunk in yet, a change in season very often means a change for the business. Change is a dynamic, exciting time but it can also be time-consuming as businesses juggle to research, plan a campaign and launch it in a timely manner. While more customers mean more profits, it can also put a strain on logistics and coordination. We don’t want you to compromise on your reputation, which is why, by letting us handle the influx and demands of customers, you’re guaranteed timely and efficient deliveries that your customers have come to expect. Put your focus where it’s most needed – on the fun, creative part of marketing the exciting changes in your business and let us take care of delivering your awesome products to your audience.

It’s a fast-paced business for sure. It only takes a couple of clicks for your potential customers to step away from your shop and into your competitors, at no excessive hassle for them. That’s why you need to stay on top of your customer’s shopping list, for you to become a household name for the product you’re selling. So that people think of you when they think of your products. Now’s the time to level up – people are outdoors, they’re happier and they’re more likely to buy if the message is sent at the right time, in the right place, and in the right way.

Go get your marketing groove on – and leave the logistics to us.