The holiday season may feel like the finish line, but for those Amazon FBA sellers who know the real deal, it’s just the start of another lucrative opportunity: after Christmas sales deals.
Some shoppers will be flooding online marketplaces in search of deals during the post-holiday sales period. And, if you have the right strategy in place, you can be there to sell them what they were looking for.
Below, we will tell you everything you need to know about post-holiday sales, so you can make the most out of them.
Does Amazon Go on Sale After Christmas?
Yes. It’s a shopping trend that has been going around for a while. According to think with google, 45% of consumers say they enjoy shopping during the time after Christmas.
Amazon sees a significant uptick in sales activity even when the holiday season has finished, as shoppers look to capitalize on post-holiday deals.
This period is often marked by steep discounts, flash sales, and clearance events, making it a magnet for bargain hunters. Categories such as electronics, holiday-themed items, and home goods typically see the most aggressive markdowns.
For sellers, this means more than just an increase in sales volume—it’s an opportunity to clear out seasonal inventory and attract a wave of new customers.
For example, holiday decorations, gift sets, and winter apparel may move quickly as consumers prepare for the next season. In other cases, users just take advantage of discounted pricing to get some things they couldn’t get before the holidays.
Why After Christmas Sales Are Critical for FBA Sellers
The after Christmas sales season provides a unique opportunity to achieve three main goals:
- Liquidate seasonal inventory. Many holiday-themed items won’t sell well after January. A post-Christmas strategy can help you avoid dead stock.
- Attract bargain-hunters. Customers look for steep discounts after the holidays, making it a prime time for clearing out stock while boosting your sales volume.
- Prep for the New Year. Reducing unsold stock now ensures your business is leaner and ready to focus on upcoming trends.
How To Make the Most Out of After Christmas Sales
The hustle doesn’t end when the holiday season is done. The real question is: how can you make sure you get as many customers as you can right after Christmas?
Analyze Inventory With a Post-Holiday Audit
Before diving into after-Christmas sales, check your inventory to identify opportunities and challenges. The best way to approach this is to make sure you categorize any remaining stock into:
- Fast-moving items. These are your consistent performers. Ensure you have enough stock to continue meeting demand, but avoid steep discounts to protect your profit margins.
- Slow-moving and seasonal Items. These should be the focus of your clearance strategy. Consider listing them on Amazon Outlet, which is designed to help you clear excess inventory at discounted rates.
- Unsellable Inventory. Items that didn’t perform during the holidays may need rebranding or repurposing. For example, reframe “holiday gift baskets” as “New Year celebration sets” to extend their appeal.
Optimize Listings for Post-Holiday Visibility
Updating your product listings for post-holiday shoppers is essential to stay competitive. Ensure your titles, descriptions, and bullet points reflect seasonal keywords such as “after-Christmas deals” or “holiday clearance.”
This adjustment not only increases visibility but also aligns your listings with what shoppers are actively searching for during this time.
Visuals also play a significant role in driving sales. Exchange holiday-themed images with more neutral ones that emphasize the product’s versatility. Replacing images of Christmas-themed packaging with close-ups of the product can make it more appealing.
Additionally, consider using Amazon A+ Content if available, as it allows you to highlight the benefits of discounted items in a more engaging format.
Craft Promotions That Convert
Post-holiday shoppers expect deep discounts and value-packed offers. Instead of just slashing prices, think about bundling products together to increase their value. For example, if you’re selling coffee mugs, bundle them with coasters or a bag of gourmet coffee.
Flash sales can also work wonders. They create a sense of urgency, pushing shoppers to buy before the deal disappears. Adding coupons is another simple way to grab attention and drive more sales.
And don’t forget about seller promos like buy-one-get-one deals or extra discounts for bulk purchases.
Boost Reach With Advertising
Amazon’s advertising tools are invaluable for after Christmas sales. By targeting high-intent shoppers, you can maximize your return on investment. Some of the ways you can use Amazon advertising in this stage are:
- Sponsored Products. Focus on keywords like “holiday clearance” and “Amazon Christmas deals” to reach customers searching for specific offers.
- Sponsored Brands. If you have multiple items to promote, use these ads to showcase a curated landing page featuring your best after-Christmas sales deals.
- Sponsored Display. Chances are that many customers didn’t complete their purchases. Use these ads to retarget shoppers with offers on products they’ve viewed.
Related content: Drive Repeat Users with Tailored Marketing
Drive Off-Amazon Traffic
While Amazon’s ecosystem offers vast opportunities, expanding your reach through off-Amazon traffic can set you apart. Social media platforms are ideal for promoting your after Christmas deals.
Create engaging posts or ads that showcase your products, emphasizing their value and timeliness. Collaborating with influencers can also amplify your message, as their endorsements often carry significant weight with their followers.
Email marketing remains one of the most cost-effective ways to engage your audience. A targeted campaign that highlights your post-holiday deals and includes direct links to your Amazon storefront can drive high-quality traffic.
Manage Pricing Strategically
Pricing your after Christmas sales requires careful planning to attract buyers without sacrificing profitability.
Pricing Best Practices
- Monitor competitors. Keep an eye on competing listings to ensure your prices are competitive.
- Experiment with tiers. Offer tiered discounts based on inventory levels. Discount seasonal items while keeping year-round products at moderate price reductions.
- Use Amazon’s resources. Take advantage of the Automated Pricing tool to adjust your prices dynamically while safeguarding your profit margins.
Avoid Dead Stock With Proactive Inventory Planning
The last thing you want is unsold inventory piling up in your warehouse. Use tools like Amazon’s Warehouse Deals or removal orders to clear out items that just aren’t moving. Not only does it take up space, but you’ll also end up paying extra fees.
Another trick is to reframe how you market your products. For example, holiday-themed tableware can become “event essentials” or “winter entertaining must-haves.” A little creativity can go a long way in helping you sell leftover stock.
Plan for the New Year
Once the after Christmas sales wrap up, take a step back and review your performance. What sold well? What didn’t? Use this information to restock your best-sellers and avoid over-ordering products that didn’t do as well.
Look at upcoming trends and think about what customers might want in the new year. By staying ahead of the curve, you can keep your momentum going and avoid getting stuck with outdated products.
Mistakes to Avoid During After Christmas Sales
There are some details that can break all your efforts to increase your revenue during and after Christmas, including:
Not Planning Your Inventory Correctly
One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is poor inventory management.
If you overstock, you risk tying up valuable capital and potentially dealing with dead stock. On the other hand, understocking can lead to missed sales opportunities, especially for high-demand items shoppers are eager to grab during post-holiday deals.
Take advantage of Amazon’s Inventory Performance Index (IPI). This tool helps you evaluate your stock levels, so you can order enough of your popular items without going overboard. Pair it with sales data from the holiday season to forecast demand more accurately.
Neglecting to Optimize Product Listings
Your product listings might have been perfect for the holiday rush, but failing to update them for the post-holiday period can hurt your visibility and sales. Listings with outdated language or poor images will struggle to compete when shoppers are hunting for deals.
Refresh your product listings with phrases like “after Christmas sales” or “holiday clearance.” Make sure your photos highlight year-round use or value, especially if the product was originally marketed as seasonal.
A+ Content can also help your listings stand out by providing more detailed product info and visuals.
Offering Discounts That Miss the Mark
Getting your discounts right is a balancing act. Discounts that are too small may not entice bargain-hunting shoppers, while steep price cuts can eat into your profits, leaving you with slim margins.
Use tools like Helium 10 or Jungle Scout to see what similar products are priced at during this time. Set your discounts in a sweet spot where they’re attractive to customers but still profitable for you.
Bundling products can also add value without requiring massive price cuts.
Ignoring Post-Holiday Consumer Behavior
Failing to understand what customers are looking for after Christmas can result in missed opportunities. After the holidays, many shoppers shift their focus to practical items, self-care products, and organizing tools as they prepare for the new year.
You need to make sure you are not targeting the same needs you were targeting during the holiday season. That’s not appealing enough to get people to buy from you. Highlight products that cater to New Year’s resolutions, like fitness gear or self-improvement items.
Missing the Power of Time-Sensitive Campaigns
Post-holiday shoppers are motivated by urgency, but if your sales lack a time limit, they may hesitate to hit the “Buy Now” button. Without a clear deadline, you risk losing potential buyers to competitors offering flashier, time-sensitive deals.
Run campaigns like flash sales, “deal of the day,” or countdown promotions to create urgency. When shoppers know a deal is about to end, they’re more likely to act quickly. Highlight these time-limited offers in your product titles and ads to make them hard to miss.
Profit With Your After Christmas Sale Strategy
The after Christmas sales period offers tremendous potential for Amazon FBA sellers to boost revenue and optimize inventory.
By analyzing your stock, crafting targeted promotions, leveraging ads, and driving off-Amazon traffic, you can turn this post-holiday season into a profitable opportunity that gives you a fresh start to the new year.
Remember that, no matter how desperate people are to buy some post-holiday deals, you need to prepare for it. There are a lot of sellers trying to reach those same customers, so don’t rely solely on demand.
Have you tried this and still find it difficult to unlock your full potential on Amazon during the holiday season? Our Accelerator program is designed to increase growth on Amazon for existing stores that need a boost.
