The same customers walk into your store all year, but what they want changes with the weather and the holidays. Stores that plan ahead catch those shifts early. Stores that wait end up ordering after demand has already peaked.
Use this guide to plan your general merchandise orders season by season. As a rule, place seasonal orders four to six weeks before you want the products on your counter.
| Season | Months | Push these products | Order by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | Jan to Feb | Batteries, phone chargers, beanies, Valentine’s gifts, watches | Early December |
| Spring | Mar to May | Sunglasses, caps, body spray, Mother’s Day gifts | Early February |
| Summer | Jun to Aug | Sunglasses, caps, car chargers, phone mounts, travel accessories | Early April |
| Fall | Sep to Oct | Phone accessories, batteries, Halloween novelties | Early August |
| Holiday | Nov to Dec | Watches, gift sets, novelty items, body spray, batteries | Early October |
Winter (January to February)
Cold weather drains phone batteries faster, and short days mean more flashlights and remotes in use. Keep chargers and batteries front and center. By late January, shift your counter toward Valentine’s Day with watches, watch-and-bracelet sets and small novelty gifts.
Spring (March to May)
As the sun comes back, so does demand for sunglasses and caps. Get your sunglass displays out early in March, before customers start asking. Body spray and small gift items also do well ahead of Mother’s Day and graduation season.
Summer (June to August)
Summer is road-trip season, which makes it prime time for gas stations. Sunglasses are your top seller, followed by caps, car chargers, phone mounts and air fresheners. Place these near the fuel counter and restock often, since summer displays can empty quickly.
Fall (September to October)
Back-to-school brings steady demand for earbuds, charging cables and batteries. In October, bring in Halloween novelty items and fun impulse products. As sunglass sales slow, move that counter space to phone accessories.
Holiday (November to December)
This is the biggest gifting season of the year, and last-minute shoppers are your best customers. Watches, gift sets, novelty items and body spray make easy stocking stuffers. Don’t forget batteries: every toy and gadget unwrapped on a holiday morning needs them.
Tips for seasonal success
- Order early. Popular seasonal items sell out at the wholesale level too.
- Change your counter with the calendar. Fresh displays give regular customers a reason to look again.
- Keep evergreen items stocked. Batteries and phone accessories sell every month, so never let them run out.
- Track last year’s sales. Your own numbers are the best guide to how much to order.
- Clear leftovers before the next season. Bundle or discount slow movers so they don’t take up prime space.
Plan your next season with Super Diamond Global
From sunglasses and caps for summer to watches and novelty gifts for the holidays, Super Diamond Global stocks seasonal and everyday merchandise in one wholesale catalog. Log in to your account to check live stock and place your seasonal order early.