There isn’t another time of year quite like the holidays. The non-stop, hustle and bustle as people move from one celebration to another, plan events, and attend social gatherings means they’re going to be on the move, and they’ll rely on you for your shelves to be stocked with their essential must-haves for holiday beverages. Here’s how to prepare!
Holidays are for Celebrating
In a study done last year, 69% of people said they most enjoy time with family and friends during the holidays. Naturally, that socialization is always accompanied by food and drink. People will be spending more time and more money preparing for these celebratory gatherings in the weeks leading up to the holidays. And, because people are generally in a rush to handle all the prep, it’s important for you to lay out your holiday drink offerings in ways that appeal to consumers and their list of to-dos.
Having displays dedicated to the holiday beverage items you’re promoting is the easiest way to make a concentrated effort. Think of the items people seemed to have in their shopping carts or baskets throughout the holiday season last year. What are your best sellers and most asked, where can I find the … items? Chances are, they’ll be the same items people are looking for this year, too. A big part of the holidays is tied to customs and tradition. Keep your store and offerings consistent.
What to Stock
While the holidays are supposed to be a time of joy and celebration, it often takes a little preparation and creates stress for the people behind the joyful planning. There are plenty of ways to take shortcuts and implement time savers when it comes to celebrating, and you can assist in this mission. One of the items you should keep in quantity on your shelves is pre-mixed beverages. Forget 10-step drink recipes, pre-mixed beverages. Offer a tried and true version of holiday beverages. A bottle of Master of Mixes cocktail mix ensures all holiday recipes will turn into one-step cocktails! Some popular flavors for the holidays include:
- Sweet n’ Sour
- Whiskey Sour
- Cosmopolitan
- Collins
- Old Fashioned
- Manhattan
- Red Sangria
- Sour Apple Martini
Another popular mixer that’s a must for holiday beverages is Bloody Mary mix. In addition to Master of Mixes offerings in Classic Bloody Mary mix and 5 Pepper Extra Spicy Bloody Mary mix, dedicate some shelf space to ZingZang Bloody Mary Mix – all that is needed is ice, vodka, and garnishes to complete the classic cocktail. Hair of the Dawg Drink Mixes offers a little word play when it comes to their pre-mixed drink options in Bloody Mary, Margarita, and Mojito. That way, when someone rushes into your store, and asks desperately for some direction on holiday planning, you can simply point to your well-stocked shelves of pre-mixed drinks and save their day!
Variety is the Spice of Life
During the holidays, people might be more apt to try new things alongside their sturdy traditions, especially if the new things are right in front of them. Keeping a wide variety of items stocked throughout the season for holiday beverages will increase the likelihood of customer loyalty and engagement.
At Bernick’s, we love the holidays and everything that comes along with this time of year- even the hustle and bustle. If you’re looking for new products to promote, or just aren’t sure what people are looking for this time of year, let us know. We can help you make the holidays happier for you and your customers.
