From late November, markets across Ghana get busier every week. People are buying gifts, new clothes, phones, home items and food for the festive season, and many sellers make a large share of their year’s sales in the six weeks before Christmas. The sellers who do best are the ones who prepare in November rather than react in December. Here is a checklist to get ready.
1. Know what will sell
Look back at what moved fastest last December and what customers asked for that you did not have. Electronics, phones and accessories, clothing and fabrics, home appliances, kitchenware, toys and gifts all see more demand around the holidays. Stock up on your proven sellers first, then add a few seasonal lines rather than gambling on many new ones.
2. Get your stock and supply sorted early
Suppliers and transport get stretched in December. Place orders early, confirm delivery dates in writing and keep a small buffer of your best-selling items. Running out of stock in the second week of December is the most expensive mistake a seller can make.
3. Put your best items online now
Buyers start searching weeks before they buy. Listing in November means your items are already showing up when they start looking. On FeelyFeely Market, posting is free, so list your full range, not just a few items. Our guide to writing a listing that sells walks you through titles, photos and descriptions.
4. Price for the season, not the moment
December buyers compare prices more, not less. FeelyFeely’s price check shows how your asking price compares with similar listings, so you can stay competitive without underselling. If you plan festive discounts, decide them in advance and apply them consistently.
5. Make it easy to reach you
Turn on direct messages and calls on your listings, and allow offers if you are open to negotiation. In December, buyers often contact several sellers at once and go with the first one who answers clearly.
6. Plan collection and delivery
Traffic in Accra and Kumasi gets heavy in December. Be clear in each listing about where buyers can collect, when you are available and whether you deliver. Confirm meeting points before buyers set out.
7. Build trust before the rush
New buyers come out in December, and many are cautious. Get verified now so the badge is on your profile and listings before the busiest weeks. Verified sellers stand out when buyers are choosing between several similar offers.
8. Consider promoting your best items
If you want more visibility for key products, FeelyFeely promotions can place your listings in highlighted spots across the site. Promote the items with the best stock and margins, not everything.
Start today: list your festive stock and be ready before the buyers arrive.
Photo: Qulat96, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
_carrying_load_of_items_in_Tamale_market.jpg){kind=link}