Commentary From Our Chairman / CEO
IT’S BEEN A LONG WINTER, BUT SPRING IS HERE AND SUMMER IS NOT FAR BEHIND!
Michael D. Sleeper, Chief Executive Officer, Imperial Distributors, Inc.
We can all agree that this winter was one of the coldest, and most unpredictable we’ve had in a long time. Ready for a change?? I am pleased to report that spring has arrived and summer will be with us soon.
Spring and summer represent a great time for supermarkets to merchandise and sell seasonal non-food products.
The spring/summer season has the longest selling period as compared to other traditional holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Shoppers, eager to enjoy warm weather, outdoor cooking and home entertaining gravitate to purchasing many related summer non-food products.
One of the best parts of summer is taking out the grill for backyard barbeques. Today supermarkets offer a variety of grills, outdoor cooking accessories, and summer tableware and patio furniture, all available at competitive retails for eager shoppers.
Beach chairs, umbrellas and toys are a big draw for enjoying hot summer destinations. With sun shining bright, protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays is critical and demand for sun/skin care products reach an all-time high. Whether at the beach, sports events, picnics, or camping, coolers (soft and hard sided) are essential to keep summer snacks and beverages cool and fresh. And let’s not forget the freezer packs, air conditioners and fans which also increase dramatically and should be prominently displayed.
Impulse seasonal sales are also a great cross merchandising opportunity: like corn holders with fresh corn, ice cream scoops with ice cream, barbeque tools with meat, citronella candles with repellents, and picnic table covers and napkins with party goods.
The key to assuring successful seasonal selling events is to plan and start early. Leave the winter behind and plant the seeds now for the summer selling season. It will go a long way in meeting seasonal demand, drive the related non-food categories and yes, it’s guaranteed to blossom. It’s been a long and cold winter, but Spring is here, and Summer is not far behind!!!
For comments or questions, contact us by phone at 508-756-5156, or e-mail: msleeper@imperialdistributors.com