Holiday Season Preparation Checklist for Retailers

The holiday season can make or break your annual revenue. Here's a comprehensive checklist to prepare.

4 Weeks Before

• Review last year's sales data to forecast demand
• Stock up on high-demand and giftable items
• Set seasonal pricing and promotions in your POS
• Schedule additional staff shifts

3 Weeks Before

• Run a full inventory count
• Test your POS under high load conditions
• Update your return policy (display at checkout)
• Order extra supplies (receipt paper, bags, packaging)
• Set up gift card options

2 Weeks Before

• Train seasonal staff on POS operations
• Create quick-reference guides for common transactions
• Test payment processors and card terminals
• Prepare promotional displays and signage

1 Week Before

• Communicate holiday hours to customers via email/SMS
• Stock and organize high-traffic areas
• Backup your POS data
• Brief the team on holiday procedures

During the Holidays

• Monitor inventory levels daily
• Process transactions quickly — queue management matters
• Offer loyalty bonuses for holiday shoppers
• Capture customer emails for post-holiday follow-up

Sign up for RetailCore to get holiday-ready with confidence.