How to Prepare Your Big Cartel Shop for the Holiday Season 2023

Holiday season is upon us, and while it might seem a little early to be prepping your shop, It’s important to stay ahead of the curve to ensure smooth holiday sales and big results for your Big Cartel shop. In short, WE WANT YOU TO THRIVE!

2022 was the largest ever holiday online shopping season with online sales exceeding $200 billion. The highest volume days were, you guessed it, from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday. With so much of holiday sales happening over such a short period, it’s critical that you’re ready to meet the holiday rush.

If you’re not sure where to get started prepping your Big Cartel shop for the holidays, you’re in the right place. In this article we will cover what you need to know to be prepared and a few tips on how to get the most out of the holiday selling season.

Consider upgrading your shop ahead of the holidays to list more products, add more photos, and take advantage of more advanced tools to grow your shop.

1. Keep these important holiday 2023 dates in mind:

Building a marketing calendar gives you a head-start on the holiday shopping frenzy and could be an important step to boosting your revenue. The holidays are the ultimate e-commerce revenue booster with so many opportunities to reach out and promote your products, discounts, and offers for your customers. Take advantage of that by having a solid holiday strategy.

• Thanksgiving:

  Thursday, November 23

• Black Friday:

  Friday, November 24

• Small Business Saturday:

  Saturday, November 25

• Cyber Monday:

  Monday, November 26

• St. Nick’s:

  Friday, December 6

• Hanukkah:

  Thursday, December 7th through Friday, December 15th

• Noche Buena

  : Sunday, December 24th

• Christmas:

  Monday, December 25

• Boxing Day:

  Tuesday, December 26

• Kwanzaa:

  Tuesday, December 26 through Monday, January 1, 2020

• New Year’s Eve:

  Sunday, December 31

PRO TIP: A lot of shops will make special drops for Halloween or Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). no matter what holiday you’re celebrating, there is always an opportunity to give a special discount or product drop to engage your customers. It’s never too early to start planning head.

2. Update the inventory in your Big Cartel shop

It’s hard enough to keep track of your inventory on a normal day - the chaos of the holiday shopping season can make it even harder. Take inventory of your products and make sure everything is correct in your Big Cartel shop.

It’s important to update your shop with new inventory, but it’s also helpful to take a look at what sold well last year to be sure you have enough supply to meet the demand.

Updating inventory can also be a good time to update product images and descriptions. A fresh image and a well written description can have a significant impact on your conversion.

Last but not least, consider print on demand providers like Printful to take some of the pressure off of buying inventory upfront.

3 . Make sure customers can find your Big Cartel shop

Unlock the full potential of your Big Cartel store by maximizing its online visibility! Start by optimizing your website for search engines with relevant keywords in product descriptions, titles, and meta tags. Checkout this primer on search engine optimization.

Leverage social media platforms to post a link to your shop and create engaging content that drives visits and encourages users to share your store and products. Utilize hashtags strategically to enhance discoverability. By implementing these strategies, you'll not only enhance your store's visibility but also create a compelling online presence that attracts and retains customers.

For more tips check out our article on how to drive traffic to your online store. Also, consider tagging Big Cartel in your posts for a chance to be featured in our feed.

4. Set up your holiday promotions and sales

Generate some excitement around your shop this holiday season with well timed discounts and promotions. Start by curating a festive collection of your best-selling products or unique holiday offerings. Create a sense of urgency by introducing limited-time promotions, like flash sales, product drops, or exclusive holiday bundles. Entice your audience with discounts, free shipping, or special holiday-themed discounts. Use social media and email marketing to announce and promote your holiday deals. Consider offering early bird promotions to reward loyal customers and attract new ones.

Need help adding a discount? We’ve got you covered - How to add discounts in your Big Cartel shop

5. Launch a newsletter and prepare some marketing emails

Did you know that you can add a newsletter sign-up to your store? Adding this feature will allow you to collect customer email address to build your mailing list. Imagine sending a list of your new holiday products and promotions to a big list of customers that already love you! Building an email list can be one of the most effective ways to build awareness and sales anytime of year but especially during the holidays.

Click here learn more about how to connect newsletter sign-up to your Big Cartel shop

6. Review your shipping and returns policy

It's crucial to ensure a smooth and stress-free shopping experience for your customers, especially during the holidays. Take a moment to review and update your shipping and return policies. Clearly communicate expected delivery times to manage customer expectations during the busy holiday period. Consider offering expedited shipping options for last-minute shoppers. Clearly outline your return and exchange policies, making them easily accessible on your website. Provide helpful information about holiday-specific considerations such as extended return windows. Transparency builds trust, so be explicit about any potential delays or disruptions that may occur. By proactively addressing these details, you not only enhance customer satisfaction but also demonstrate a commitment to their holiday shopping experience.

Quick wins to improve your shipping policies

Need help from a Big Cartel expert?

The Big Cartel customer success team is here to support you. We’re here to answer any questions regarding getting your shop and products ready for the holiday season, weather its updating your inventory, shipping deadlines, setting up discounts, or inventory tracking we’ve got your back.