Who REALLY Sets Demand?

December 7, 2007

By Editor - A change in seasons brings about transition on store shelves as well as the types of produce and flowers that are available.

Retailers, florists and restaurants are industries that are affected by seasonal availability, but they also set into motion our seasonal buying patterns.

How many times have you said, or heard someone else say, “They keep putting Christmas out earlier every year!”? It’s because the retailers are thinking about it well before we are.

Earlier this year, on September 14th, my mind was eons away from Christmas decorating. Then I walked into a Target store.

As I glanced down the aisle, I wondered if my son would like that really cool orange and white UT stocking this year…. Wait a minute! It’s not even close to Christmas yet and we have plenty of stockings packed away….but THAT stocking might be sold out if I wait until later in the year to get it…

So goes the seasonal retail merry-go-round.

THEY (the seller) set the demand, not us (the buyer). I didn’t walk into Target demanding a new Christmas stocking, but I left there thinking about it - in September!

What demand can you set today? If you plan a year in advance, what types of natural patterns can you capitalize on, and what types can you create?

For instance, the home-based business industry has patterns. Those in the industry usually gear up for this time of year, knowing that people naturally start ventures at the beginning of the year as part of a new resolution.

Think about the patterns in your industry. If you don’t have any, create some. Target Stores do it all the time.