Why the Holidays Are a Unique Challenge
The holiday season brings excitement, record-breaking sales, and chaos. Customers shop both online and offline, but their expectations skyrocket. They want accurate information, extended hours, in-store promos, and same-day pickup options.
For retailers, the challenge is keeping up. One mistake, like listing the wrong hours, can send a potential buyer straight to your competitor. A store locator keeps everything consistent and ensures customers can always find you.
Holiday Shoppers Behave Differently
According to GE Capital Retail Bank’s survey, 81% of consumers go online to find information and answer any questions about the product or service before heading out to the store to make a purchase. They want answers fast:
- Which location has this product?
- What time does this store close today?
- Does this store offer curbside pickup?
A store locator addresses all of these questions in one place.
How a Store Locator Helps During Christmas and New Year
1. Highlight Holiday Hours
Many retailers extend hours in December. Syncing your store locator with Google Business Profile ensures customers see the correct times.
👉 Learn more: How to Connect Your Store Locator with Google Business Profile.
2. Showcase In-Store Services
Custom fields let you add holiday-specific features like:
- Gift wrapping
- Extended return deadlines
- Holiday promotions
- Special product launches
3. Reduce Customer Service Overload
Instead of answering hundreds of calls asking “Are you open late tonight?”, your locator does the work for you.
4. Drive More In-Store Conversions
By showing directions, reviews, and store details, customers trust you more and are less likely to abandon the purchase.
Real-World Example: Purple Toad Winery
Purple Toad Winery, Kentucky’s largest winery, integrated Storemapper to manage retail visibility. Their store locator quickly became one of the most visited pages on their website, reducing customer inquiries and driving more foot traffic .
SEO Benefits During Holiday Searches
Holiday shoppers often search “stores near me open late” or “where to buy [product] near me.” By optimizing your locator with local SEO best practices (city names, holiday promos), your business can appear in those high-intent searches.
👉 Related Reading: How to Optimize Your Store Finder for Local SEO.
Get Holiday-Ready Today
A store locator isn’t just a map. It’s a customer experience tool that builds trust during the busiest time of the year. Don’t wait until December: prepare now.
👉 Create your free Storemapper account today and get holiday shoppers through your doors.
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