What do McDonald’s Value Meals and cars with both air conditioning and a sunroof have in common?  They’re both examples of bundling – putting together two or more things as a package deal at a promotional price. If you are featuring products this holiday season on your website for curbside pickup, or on social media in “live” events, bundling can help you move more products.

The idea of bundling is not quite the same as offering a gift with purchase – instead, the two items should be related and desirable.  An example would be a soap and matching soap dish sold together.  The soap alone doesn’t make as nice a gift as the two items bundled together – and it’s a plus if there is a savings when buying them together.

We plan to use some merchandise purchased on promotion to created bundles this season. One of our suppliers offered a cute child’s apron at half price, so we plan to put together a two-piece set of an apron and a kids’ cookbook.  Because the apron was purchased on sale, we can offer the bundle at less than it would cost normally to buy the items separately – and we’ll still make full markup.

Another way to use the concept of bundling is to think of a slow-moving item that you might otherwise put on clearance, and offer it together with a related popular item.  An example would be a  discontinued style of a mug put together with a package of hot cocoa mix.  If the mug was slated to go on sale anyway, offering the gift set at a promotional price will help you move both the clearance mug and the regularly priced cocoa.

Be sure to mention the regular retail value of your combined products so that shoppers realize that they’re getting a bargain.  This season it’s especially important to make customers feel happy that they’re getting a good deal while supporting a local business.

Happy Retailing,
Carol “Orange” Schroeder