Although December gets most of the attention, the January sales have become a strong trading period in their own right. Many customers wait until the new year to look for deals, value and fresh motivation to spend. This makes January a great opportunity for merchants to boost revenue, clear stock and reconnect with customers. A bit of preparation now can make a big difference to how successful the month becomes.
Reflecting on Christmas Performance
One of the best ways to prepare for January sales is to look back at how your business performed over Christmas. This is when you can spot useful patterns in customer behaviour and identify what worked well and what didn’t. Take a moment to think about which products or services were the most popular, when your busiest days were and whether your payment system kept up during peak times.
Understanding these details helps you plan ahead, for example if certain products sold out quickly or customers kept asking about particular services, it makes sense to stock up early for January. If queues formed or payments took a long time to go through, it might be worth looking at your current terminal or adding an extra one. These small improvements can make January smoother for both your team and your customers.
Planning Stock and Promotions Strategically
Once you’ve reviewed December, you can start planning your January offers in a more focused way. Customers expect discounts at this time of year, but that doesn’t mean lowering prices across everything. Many businesses use January to shift excess stock or seasonal items, which helps clear space without hurting profit margins.
You can also encourage customers to buy more by creating simple bundles or limited-time deals that feel easy to understand and genuinely useful. If you have a loyalty scheme, January is a great time to reach out to those customers with extra rewards or exclusive offers to bring them back in.
Ensuring Your Payment Systems Are Ready
With more customers likely to visit during the sales period, your payment system needs to be reliable and ready to handle busy spells. A smooth checkout experience plays a huge role in how customers feel about your business. Even small technical issues — like slow contactless payments or printed receipts misbehaving — can quickly lead to frustration.
Before January arrives, it’s worth checking that your terminal is updated, working quickly and performing as expected. If December felt hectic or you noticed queues forming, adding a second terminal can make things run much more efficiently. Some businesses choose temporary or mobile terminals if they plan to run special promotions or take part in events. January is also an ideal time to review your transaction fees, as many businesses find they’re paying more than they should. At BMS, we can help you look at this and find a setup that suits your needs and budget – on average, we tend to save merchants 35% on their bills!
Enhancing the Customer Experience
Customer experience should stay at the heart of your January plans. After the busy festive season, people appreciate simple, clear and convenient service. Reducing waiting times, keeping signage easy to follow and making sure gift vouchers are simple to redeem all contribute to a positive experience.
Offering a variety of payment methods — including contactless, mobile payments and digital wallets — also helps customers feel comfortable and confident. When shoppers have a smooth visit, they’re far more likely to return throughout the year.
Promoting Your January Offers Early
The earlier you get the word out about your January deals, the better. Updating your website, social media and booking systems during December helps customers know what to expect once the new year arrives. Email reminders and in-store posters can also build anticipation and give you a strong start to sales for the month.
Utilising an EPOS System
Alongside a reliable payment terminal, an EPOS system can tie everything together by giving you clear, data-driven insight into how your business is performing. EPOS systems don’t just process transactions — they show you which products sold well over Christmas, which didn’t, and when your peak times were. These analytics and insights make it much easier to plan stock, set meaningful promotions and forecast demand for January sales.
Many systems also include built-in loyalty features, making it simpler to reward returning customers, and they integrate seamlessly with your payment setup to speed up checkout times. By having all this information and functionality in one place, an EPOS system can help you make smarter decisions, reduce manual admin and start the new year with far more confidence.
The January sales are a brilliant chance for businesses to start the year on a positive note. By reviewing your Christmas performance, planning your stock and promotions, making sure your payment systems run smoothly and preparing your team for a busy period, you can take full advantage of the season. And if you need support reviewing your merchant services, exploring new terminal options or reducing your processing costs, BMS is here to help your business begin the new year with confidence.
