The long summer months are fantastic for barbeques and spending time with friends and family. However, for running retail stores can be slow. So, if you want to know how to increase sales, you came to the right place. Our answer is to focus on sustainability, community, and creative in-store events. You don’t have to experience summer doldrums. Instead, the summer can be hot sales months!
Why Summer Retail Slows—and Why That’s Your Opening
During the summer, retail stores naturally experience a dip in foot traffic. After all, school is out, people are on vacation, and people want to be outdoors. But while many retailers experience a drop in July and August, it’s the perfect time to engage your community. Further, you can drive foot traffic with Trade-up and Trade-in programs, outdoor sustainability efforts, and cool events. Let’s explore a few creative approaches.
Launch a “Community Champion Wall”
One way to increase sales is to appreciate your customers. Aside from saying thanks and giving them shout-outs on social media, you can celebrate your shoppers on a Community Champion Wall. Create a champions wall with photos, brief bios, and QR codes linking to their affiliated organizations or businesses on a store wall. If you want more engagement, ask customers to submit nominations.
Who to Feature on Your Wall
- Marathon and road race runners
- Your best customers
- Community organization partners
- Kids from the local schools who do community work
- Fitness instructors and group leaders
Why it Works to Drive Sales
A Community Champion Wall works because people love being recognized. So, give shout-outs and show the love to your faves!
Give Back to Sustainability, Get Traffic
There’s something about summer that comes along with the weather…hurricanes and severe heatwaves. Unfortunately, as wonderful as the summer months are, the costs of climate change are still present. So, reminding people to focus on sustainability is another approach to getting people into your store. In short, it’s an opportunity to become a sneaker reuse location. Incentivize people to turn in sneakers for discounts.
How a Sneaker Drive Works
- Become a location for a sneaker reuse program where people can drop off their old kicks.
- Promote drop-off events, discounts, and activities in-store and online (more on that below).
- Collect sneakers during the summer and into the fall. (Tip: Collect sneakers during a 5K, 10K, or marathon in your community!).
- By being a social good player, you show your community your leadership and love for your town.
- Bonus: Download a FREE Canva resource to promote in-store. Print + Post = Foot Traffic
Why it Boosts Sales
When you participate in a sneaker reuse program and become a drop-off location, people come to your door! Further, your brand becomes connected with sustainability and eco-friendliness.
Host a “Trade In & Trade Up” Weekend
Who doesn’t love to get an incentive? Another way for how to increase sales is to create in-store and online “Trade In & Trade Up” events. In other words, give people more reasons to visit your store on a lazy summer afternoon. Summer discounts and rewards can go hand-in-hand.
Here’s How to Create a Fun Program
- Pick a couple of weekends in July and August for your Trade Up & Trade-In events.
- Promote your event weekends and get the word out there!
- Ask your community to bring in their old sneakers for sustainability.
- Offer discounts on new gear (and sustainable sneakers!)
- For an extra bit of buzz, get a fitness instructor to speak at your store, do a raffle, or product demos.
Why Does This Sales Approach Work?
Retail stores experience a drop in foot traffic, but if you’re creative, you can drive foot traffic. The Trade In & Trade Up program works because it incentivizes people to get good deals and fresh experiences.
Partner with a Local Yoga Studio for a Stretch Session
People want to stay in shape, but sometimes, running during the heat of summer is tough. Still, there are other opportunities. For one, you can invite people into your store or partner with a yoga studio to get your community to sweat, stretch, and shop. By partnering with a yoga studio, you’re giving people a chance to stay healthy but not overheat. For best results, consider inviting an instructor to your store in the mornings or after work.
How to Plan
- Find a great yoga studio and instructor.
- Invite your community and theirs to your store for a 30-minute guided stretch session.
- Target different audiences (e.g., senior mobility, women, kids, etc.) for more variety.
- Offer discounts and fun giveaways to attendees.
Why Yoga Boosts Sales
Yoga is an excellent approach to wellness, and it’s a forgiving practice that everyone can do. If you do some of the events at your store and the studio for a win/win), inevitably, you’ll get people looking at your store’s sales merchandise.
Turn the Heat into Heart
So, what’s the biggest takeaway for increasing sales during the hot summer months? Here it is: It’s not just about pushing products. It’s about creating experiences and giving people a way to have fun and do new things. In other words, your customers want to connect with others. Serve as the hub of activity for people to get to know others. Slow season? Nah. Not this year!
© 2025 Sneakers4Good. All Rights Reserved.