Online Merchandising Hacks to Boost Fall Sales and Profits

We know that billions of dollars’ worth of sales are up for grabs toward the end of the fall season. $222+ billion (including November sales), to be exact. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strategize specifically for the earlier months. 

Fall-related shopping starts in early September and holiday shopping begins in early October. Last year, as many as 40% of US shoppers reported they were already gift-buying. 

You can also expect substantial demand shifts for specific niches starting in September. Apparel, for instance: fashion sales on major platforms saw a 17% year-over-year growth during the fall of 2023. 

The trick to cashing in on this fall shopping trend is anticipating which products your potential customers will be actively searching for and then presenting the suitable options that align with your retail KPIs and inventory metrics. In other words, it’s time to upgrade your fall online merchandising strategies. 

How? 

By following these five detailed fall merchandising hacks. 

Let’s dive in. 

Fall Merchandising Hack #1: Create "Cozy Night In" Bundles to Drive Early Fall Sales

We know that bundling seasonal products into themed groups can be very effective. This means focusing on season-specific themes and trends such as comfort, warmth, and softness for fall. The key is going as detailed as possible with your themes. 

One such theme worth testing is “Cozy Night In” bundles that appeal to potential shoppers' needs for a cozier home as summer ends and the weather cools. To do this, you would: 

• First, analyze last year’s data to find best-selling fall items — like pumpkin spice candles, flannel shirts, and autumn-themed kitchenware — to find your core products for your bundles. 
• Then, create theme bundles that resonate with cozy trends and include various product types. For the “cozy night in” theme, this could include a book, a soft blanket, a scented candle, and a hot cocoa mix.

Ideally, no matter which fall themes you focus on, you should also factor in 1:1 personalization. This means leveraging customer data to dynamically suggest the product types in your bundles. For instance, if a customer previously bought athleisure, you could present them with a “cozy night in” bundle with comfy, at-home athleisure wear essentials. 

You can even integrate these into your holiday gift-buying strategy or collaborate with other brands for a bundle collaboration or competition. Here’s an example from Williams-Sonoma, who teamed up with Pottery Barn to give away the ultimate “cozy night in” gift basket. 

Actionable Tip: Use your cart cross-sell prompts to suggest these bundles at checkout. For example, if a potential shopper adds a fall-themed mug to their cart, you could offer a "Cozy Night In" bundle that includes that mug at a special discount — offering them more “cozy” for less spend. 

Fall Merchandising Hack #2: Use Weather-Triggered Promotions to Boost Pre-Holiday Sales

No matter what strategy you implement this fall, adapting to changing market conditions and seasonal trends is essential. This means strategically using automation to adapt in real-time. 

A great example of this is implementing a weather-responsive online merchandising strategy later in the fall season. This not only capitalizes on search trends to boost conversions but offers a great way to drive urgency before the holiday sales season starts. 

To implement this fall merchandising hack: 

• You must first connect your Shopify store to a weather API to monitor local temperatures and conditions. This will enable you to factor in weather into your product merchandising. For example, if a cold front is detected, you could automatically promote products like wool coats, thermal wear, and electric blankets in that area.
• Next, you want to launch weather-specific campaigns that take advantage of up-to-the-minute weather conditions. For instance, as temperatures drop below a certain threshold you’ve set, you could offer a limited-time discount on essentials like heavy jackets, scarves, and gloves to get potential shoppers ready for the coming winter. 

An online gardening retailer, for example, could use weather data to promote planting kits and garden maintenance tools when the first frost warnings are detected in certain regions. The idea is to encourage customers to prepare their gardens for the colder months (providing free value) and then include timely discounts on items like fall bulbs, leaf blowers, and compost bins, tapping into the seasonal shift to drive sales before peak shopping days. 

Burton has had a lot of success with this strategy. They saw an 11.6% increase in website conversions when they linked live weather data to their related products. 

Actionable Tip: Combine weather-triggered promotions with loyalty programs. To do this, you can offer additional discounts to repeat customers when they purchase during a weather event. For example, if a shopper who frequently buys winter gear from your store is in an area expecting heavy snowfall, send them a personalized offer with a deeper discount.

Fall Merchandising Hack #3: Launch Limited-Edition Fall Collections to Spark Urgency Before the Holidays

Don’t wait for the big shopping days to generate product excitement! Instead, test limited-edition fall collections that cater to the seasonal shift and create a sense of urgency.  

To do this, you must think ahead and source products themed explicitly for the late fall, such as: 

• Limited-edition cookware
• Fall foliage-inspired apparel
• Thanksgiving tableware
• Maple-flavored treats
• Fall-themed stationery 
• Rustic outdoor accessories 
• Cozy pajama sets

You want products that reflect the season's colors, themes, and traditions.  

You then need to market these items as limited-edition, available only until a specific date or “while supplies last,” to create urgency and scarcity. Think Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte or Bath and Body Works Fall Fragrance Collection.

You want to launch these product collections by mid to late fall. This will help you exploit early gift-buying and seasonal decorating, aligning with the consumer mindset as they transition into the holiday season. 

Additionally, partner with influencers to benefit from their reach and engagement. This could be a simple unboxing video of limited-edition products with exclusive discount codes for their followers.

Actionable Tip: Enhance the sense of exclusivity by offering early access to your most loyal shoppers or email subscribers. Giving your top-tier loyalty members a 24-hour head start to shop the collection before it’s available to the general public also helps push brand recognition reminders before the big shopping days. And don't forget your aftersales marketing: By using tools like Arka you can create fall-themed packaging for your promotions which improve long-term loyalty and retention.

Fall Merchandising Hack #4: Trigger Automated Flash Sales to Clear Seasonal Inventory

The fourth quarter is the best time to clear inventory. But it’s not just about knowing when to push which sales to drive results through the whole period that’s the trick. You also need to know what products need pushing. 

An excellent way to do this is with automated flash sales. Ones triggered by specific inventory thresholds enable you to maximize revenue continuously throughout the season. To implement this strategy, you need to: 

• Set specific stock levels for seasonal items that automatically trigger a flash sale to quickly move the remaining stock
• Schedule these flash sales to coincide with your store’s peak shopping times 
• Factor in predictive analytics and customer behavior (1:1 personalization) to tailor sales to each shopper and/or trend 
• Use the Kimonix collection manager to sort and prioritize products based on a variety of parameters 

When done right, flash sales not only help move inventory but can increase conversion rates by over 30% (as compared to regular promotions). More specifically, Fender has utilized flash sales in the fall to offer $50 off guitars, specifically targeting shoppers preparing for the holiday season and encouraging early purchases.

Fall Merchandising Hack #5: Optimize Product Sorting with Inventory and Demand Forecasting

Lastly, there is still time to set yourself up for your best fourth quarter ever. You can increase product visibility and sales by implementing advanced sorting techniques that prioritize items based on marketing objectives, retail KPIs, and demand forecasts. 

But to do this, you need a multi-parameter approach that enables you to effectively balance inventory while showcasing high-demand products as the fall season progresses. Here’s how you could implement this strategy: 

• Analyze historical sales data and current trends to predict which products will be in high demand during the fall 
• Factor in inventory levels to determine product placement on your site
• Use dynamic sorting to adjust product rankings in real-time, based on factors like consumer trends, stock velocity, and sales performance  
• Combine sorting algorithms with personalized product recommendations to boost relevance  
• Use A/B testing to continuously determine the most effective product placements and adjust your strategy to maximize sales and inventory turnover 

Yes, you could do all of this manually. Or, you can use the only holistic merchandising tool designed to do just this! 

Kimonix can help you reach your fall sales potential and drive long-term profits. 

Actionable Tip: Still not sure this strategy is right for you? Book a free demo today ---> https://calendly.com/kimonix/30min

Wrap Up

There is no doubt that the fall season is vital for yearly revenue. However, many retailers overlook the fall potential despite these opportunities to capture early shoppers and clear seasonal inventory before the holiday rush. 

By implementing these five detailed online merchandising hacks, you can strategically align your product offerings with customer demand and market conditions and capitalize on the benefits of early-fall marketing. 

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