Black Friday…Are you ready?

Each year, we read stories about the throngs of shoppers who flock to stores to shop on Black Friday for the holiday season.  Last year, Broadway started off quietly but by 11am the sidewalks were full of shoppers and visitors.  This year, we can expect much of the same.

Here are some tips to make sure your store is ready for Black Friday:

 

• Staff Up In Store:  Make sure your team is fully staffed, briefed on Black Friday events and ready to go.  Think about over-staffing in case someone is out sick after eating Aunt Mabel’s  candied yams at Thanksgiving dinner.

 

• Crowd Control:  If your store is opening early for special promotions or deals, have crowd control measures in place both in the store and outside the store.  If you anticipate pre-opening crowds, bring on additional security staff to cue the line of shoppers and manage access to the store.

 

• In Store Security:  Brief in store security personnel on planned promotions and make sure they are deployed near the entrance to deter shop lifters.

 

• Have Fun:  This is a great time of year.  By being prepared, you will help your staff and your shoppers have a great start to the Holiday Season!