The weeks running up to Christmas Day are some of the busiest of the year for retailers, counting for a huge proportion of total annual sales. In the UK alone, it is estimated that £22 billion will be spent on presents, decorations and food for the festive season this year. As well as presenting retailers with a chance to generate large volumes of sales, the festive season also provides a golden opportunity for retailers to build real and lasting brand value.

For many people, the run up to Christmas can be a stressful time. With must-have gifts hard to find and stores gradually becoming busier as the final shopping days approach. Of course, this isn‘t news for retailers. They understand that Christmas can be a difficult time for customers and for decades they have tried to make things easier by opening longer, offering gift wrapping services and perhaps even adding a dash of Christmas cheer by offering warm mince pies and mulled wine.

With three quarters (74%) of shoppers in the UK now buying some or all of their Christmas shopping online, retailers must consider how they can delight and entertain customers through online, mobile and social channels, as well as in store.

Recreate the in store experience on the web

Retailers live and die by the customer service they provide, and while this is true throughout the year, it is especially important during the Christmas shopping season. Recognising this, many high street retailers will increase staffing levels and provide training on customer service best practice long in advance of December to ensure that shoppers encounter top quality service in store.

This emphasis on in-store customer service is one of the main reasons why many shoppers still prefer to do their shopping in person. According to Rakuten‘s latest E-Commerce Index, the ability to speak to a shop assistant is one of the top reasons why over a quarter (26%) of people in the UK shop on the high street, alongside the opportunity to touch and feel goods that they want to buy for themselves.

Retailers can try to recreate this experience on the web by offering shoppers instant access to shop assistants via a web chat facility or by offering real-time customer service support through social channels such as Facebook and Twitter. Almost half (42%) of consumers who complain on social media expect to receive a response from brands in 60 minutes or less, according to Edison Research. By increasing e-commerce support retailers can exceed expectations in the run up to Christmas.

Another way that retailers can impress shoppers on the web is to build a media-rich shopping environment. While nothing will ever be better than holding a product in your hands, high quality product photos and video, and the ability to ‘zoom in‘ on product details, can really help. It is also worth considering the importance of images and videos for consumers to share on social media sites, such as Pinterest and Instagram, which provide an opportunity for shoppers to discover your products.

It‘s also important to remember how much value many shoppers place on recommendations by friends, family and others. In the UK, over a quarter (26%) of shoppers regularly recommend or seek out recommendations of products on the web. Retailers should consider giving consumers the chance to recommend items through their store by sharing them socially or posting a short review.

Inspire shoppers with Christmas gifts suggestions

To drive shoppers in store and provide inspiration for gifts to buy, many retailers invest in producing attractive window displays that stand out on the high street. Online retailers can replicate this approach and generate similar results by updating the design and layout of their online store. Investing in a graphic designer to produce a festive storefront can help to put shoppers in the Christmas mood as soon as they enter your store, while