Whichever way you look at it there's oodles of time to make sure that you are ready and raring to go for Christmas 2014 which, according to Stars for Europe, officially kicks off for garden centres on Friday December 12 - International Poinsettia Day.
That's the day consumers will really start thinking about their green gift purchases and why Stars for Europe want to make sure you have every idea going to help you capture every sale in those all-important last 12 days.
And that's where the Poinsettia comes in. They're your secret weapon to increased profitability. These days they're funky, long lasting and available in a gorgeous range of colours to suit every age, home and packet
Stars for Europe have put together ten top tips for pimping those Poinsettia sales to help you make the most out of the festive season. We'll bring you five this week and five next, so stay tuned!
1. Stock all the colours! Red may be traditional but younger buyers like the whites and salmon pink varieties and the bi-colours appeal to all ages. Be different and bold when ordering and show that there is a colour for everyone!
2. Put them in pots. Not every customer has the right sized pot and it gives you an extra add-on line. Buy some low-priced ones and tart them up yourself for more individuality. Look at the videos featured here for ideas.
3. Look after them. Keep them away from draughts and cold and make sure they are wrapped up well when taken home. Make sure all your staff know why they need extra TLC to avoid losses and pass the information onto the customer. Again we've got it covered with free downloadable artwork for plants, display stands and trolleys as well as care advice videos on this site
4. Show them off. Too many consumers still think the Poinsettia is boring. Show them all the possibilities with a special 'Pimp the Poinsettia' demonstration or display area. If you don't have an in-house florist ask one of your local florist shops to host a mini demonstration or create a display of design ideas for you...shared effort for selling Poinsettia plants and bouquets.
5. Pump up the display. To maximise sales get display savvy rather than just putting them in boring rows. Go to the Stars for Europe website for brilliant ideas on how to display your range and add value. This one is 4 minutes 53 seconds of pure inspiration!!
Click here to log on to the special site for industry professionals who want to make the most of Poinsettia.
Here you'll find advice for making press work easy, a quality campaign for taking good care of your stock, specialist videos and more.
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