…will you be as prepared as Best Buy? The consumer electronics retailer is rehearsing its staff to cope with the expected onslaught of shoppers. Great idea, and one that surely grabs media attention.

Smaller retails can only pray that they’ll have long lines and extra cashiers on hand for the three-day shopping surge after Thanksgiving. If you’ve done all the right merchandising and marketing, you’ll get your fair share of the in-store shoppers. Either way, have you taken the time work with your staff on how to handle holiday crowds?

Whatever your T-Day and beyond situation, take the time to work with your staff to discuss ways to accommodate holiday shoppers. Do some role-playing and set up some horror scenarios. A few minor changes like posts and ropes in front of the registers, better directional signs and clearer price tags can save everyone a lot of grief.
You’ll be surprised at how far a little preparation will go. Your employees will thank you for it–not to mention your customers.

Best of luck to you this Friday and the entire holiday shopping season. If you have any ideas to help make your fellow retailers jolly, I’d be glad to share them here.