How to Get Past the First-Quarter Blues With a new year, comes a new product cycle.
By Jason Lucash Edited by Dan Bova
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
So the crazy holiday season is over and first quarter is now in full swing. With the excitement and busyness of the fourth quarter wearing off, you are now stuck trying to successfully launch new products in hopes of dredging up sales during a time that is notoriously slow.
Here are a few key factors to consider to ensure your Q1 sales season is a successful one
Create opportunities to showcase your products
Your first priority in a new product launch is to make sure you have opportunities to showcase them to your clients. Whether through one-on-one meetings, emails blast, commercials, tradeshows or other inititatives. Get dialog going with your clients and gauge how your new products are going to be perceived. This will allow you to push the ones that seem to catch a lot of interest and think twice about products that do not seem to suit the market.
Related: 12 Ways to Increase Online Sales
Provide necessary and helpful new product information
Next, when creating your catalog or giving product information, make sure to offer all the necessary material your clients will need. This includes pricing, specs, functions and most importantly why this product is desirable to the consumer.
Make room for new products
While showcasing your new products, you should also think about how to move old product inventory. Before the busy season is over, strategically place a sale on an item that you want to make sure is gone to make room for your new products. This will increase sales and prepare your warehouse for new products.
Related: How Retailers Like Apple Mess With Our Senses to Boost Sales (Infographic)
Build up the hype
Lastly, create anticipation for your new products and give hints of what is to come. Give your top clients, PR writers and bloggers samples of the new products to get some hype started. This will allow people to get a glimpse of the hot new items soon to come.
If you plan in advance for the launch of your new products in quarter one with the steps above, you are guaranteed to have an exciting and successful first quarter.
