5 Ways Retailers Can Prepare for the Autumn Sales Period

As summer begins to wind down, now is a good time for independent retailers to start thinking ahead to autumn.

Changing weather, the return to school and work routines, Halloween and increased demand for hot food and drinks all create new opportunities. A few simple changes now can help make sure your store is ready.

1. Start Planning Your Seasonal Range

Halloween will quickly come around, so getting ahead with seasonal stock can help you make the most of the opportunity.

Confectionery, novelty products and toys can all work particularly well during the Halloween period. Consider creating a dedicated seasonal display to make these products easy for customers to spot and encourage impulse purchases.

Through Procuria, retailers can explore seasonal ranges from suppliers such as PMS International, LP Wholesale, and OTL, giving you plenty of options to introduce something different ahead of Halloween.

2. Give Your Food to Go Range an Autumn Refresh

As temperatures begin to drop, customers may start looking for something warmer on their way to work, during lunch or while travelling.

Coffee, hot food and bakery can help increase basket spend while giving customers another reason to visit your store regularly.

Procuria retailers can access Food to Go solutions from suppliers including Country Choice and Rollover, alongside a range of coffee solutions, making autumn a good opportunity to review whether your current Food to Go offering could be doing more.

3. Make More of Your Impulse Space

You don't need to completely change your range to give customers something new. Introducing a few carefully selected products can help freshen up your shelves and create additional impulse sales.

For retailers looking to try something new without a large initial commitment, Hot Nut Company is now available through Procuria. Its range includes convenience-friendly bag sizes, shelf-ready cases and a low £90 minimum order, making it easy to test new snacking lines in your store.

Look at counters, till points and other high-traffic areas and consider whether you're making the most of the space available.

4. Prepare for Changing Customer Routines

With the summer holidays ending, many customers will soon return to their usual school and work routines.

Think about what shoppers might need at different points throughout the day. Breakfast products and coffee can capture morning trade, while meal deals, snacks and drinks can help you make more of lunchtime and after-school visits.

Small changes to displays, product positioning and promotions can make it easier for customers to find what they need – while encouraging additional purchases.

5. Review Your Costs Before the Busier Months

Preparing for autumn isn't only about what you sell. It's also a good opportunity to look at what you're spending.

Reviewing regular business costs now could identify savings that make a difference throughout the rest of the year.

Services such as Procuria Payments can help retailers review their card processing costs, while Procuria Waste provides another opportunity to look at an essential business expense and see whether you're getting the right deal.

Get Ready for Autumn with Procuria

From seasonal products and everyday snacking to Food to Go and essential retail services, Procuria gives independent retailers access to a wide range of suppliers, products and services.

With autumn approaching, now is the perfect time to explore what's available, try something new and get your store ready for the months ahead.

Already a Procuria member? Log in to the customer portal to explore the latest suppliers, products and offers.