The holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for retail businesses, and it’s only getting busier. Commercial real estate owners and managers can play a vital role in helping their tenants succeed. By following these tips, you can create a festive and inviting atmosphere that will attract shoppers and boost sales.
Decorate your property
Holiday decorations are a great way to create a festive and inviting atmosphere for shoppers. Consider putting up lights, wreaths, and other decorations throughout your property, both inside and out. You can also create special displays and promotions that highlight your tenants’ holiday offerings.
For example, you could partner with a local museum or art gallery to create a holiday-themed exhibit, or work with your tenants to host a holiday market. You could also sponsor a local charity and decorate your property with their logo and colors.
Offer holiday amenities
Shoppers are more likely to spend time and money at properties that offer holiday amenities, such as gift wrapping stations, hot chocolate stands, and Santa Claus photos. You may also want to offer extended hours or special promotions during the holiday season.
Great ways to do this include offering free gift wrapping services for all purchases made at your property, or hosting a hot chocolate bar where shoppers can warm up and take a break from shopping. You could also partner with a local charity to offer Santa Claus photos for a donation.
Host holiday events
Hosting holiday events is a great way to attract shoppers to your property and build a sense of community. Consider hosting events such as tree lightings, caroling performances, and holiday markets. You can also partner with your tenants to host special events, such as sales, trunk shows, and meet-and-greets with local celebrities.
For example, you could host a tree lighting ceremony with live music and food trucks, or host a holiday market where local artisans can sell their wares. You could also partner with your tenants to host special events, such as a holiday fashion show or a toy drive for a local charity.
Make it easy for shoppers to find what they’re looking for
Shoppers are more likely to make a purchase if they can easily find what they’re looking for. Make sure your property is well-lit and well-organized, and that there are clear signs and directories to help shoppers navigate. You may also want to offer a concierge service or other assistance to shoppers who need help finding specific items.
One way to do this would be to create a holiday shopping guide that lists all of your tenants and their holiday offerings. You could also post maps and directories of your property on your website and social media pages. Additionally, you could train your staff to help shoppers find the products and services they’re looking for.
Promote your property
Let shoppers know about all the great things happening at your property during the holiday season. You can promote your holiday events and promotions on your website, social media, and in local media outlets. You may also want to create and distribute a holiday shopping guide that lists all of your tenants and their holiday offerings.
You could create a special holiday landing page on your website where shoppers can find information about all of your holiday events and promotions. You could also promote your holiday events and promotions on social media using relevant hashtags and geotags. Additionally, you could reach out to local media outlets to see if they would be interested in covering your holiday events.
If you are interested in a free broker opinion of value or just learning more about investing in commercial real estate in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington DC, please contact us. Avenue Real Estate is a leading full service commercial brokerage in the Baltimore and Washington DC areas and we would love to help you explore your options and make informed decisions about commercial real estate investments.