Thanksgiving brings one of the biggest surges in retail traffic all year — but high footfall alone doesn’t guarantee higher revenue. Retailers need to understand how shoppers move, engage, and convert inside the store. Walkbase turns this seasonal rush into meaningful, measurable insights. These insights help retailers boost holiday performance and long-term ROI.
1. Understand Real Holiday Footfall
Door Counts Aren’t Enough
Simply knowing how many people entered your store isn’t enough. True insight comes from understanding behavior inside the store. Door counts don’t reveal which areas shoppers visit or which displays capture attention.
Identify New vs. Returning Holiday Visitors
Holiday shoppers are a mix of loyal customers and new faces. In-store analytics helps separate first-time visitors from returning ones. This distinction allows targeted promotions and better loyalty engagement.
Reveal Peak Traffic Periods
Not all shopping hours are created equal. Analytics uncover peak times and slow periods. Retailers can adjust staffing and marketing to match real demand.
Match Staffing & Promotions to Demand
With clear data on traffic flows and shopper types, stores can deploy staff strategically. Make sure promotions hit at the right time — when customers are showing interest and sales team members are there to help. Every minute of peak footfall becomes an opportunity to convert.
2. Track Dwell Time to Capture High-Intent Moments
Dwell Time Reveals Interest
Shoppers who linger are likely considering a purchase. Measuring dwell time highlights high-interest zones. This is especially critical during busy holiday weekends.
Identify High-Engagement Holiday Displays
Some displays capture attention better than others. Dwell time analytics not only pinpoint which setups attract shoppers but also highlight which displays need improvement.
Optimize Underperforming Zones in Real Time
Low-engagement areas aren’t wasted space. Insights allow retailers to adjust displays, messaging, or staff deployment immediately. Every square foot counts during the holiday rush.
3. Use Shopper Flow to Improve Store Navigation
Spot Bottlenecks & Dead Areas
Crowded aisles frustrate shoppers. Empty zones waste potential sales. Shopper flow analytics reveal bottlenecks and underutilized spaces.
Strengthen Pathways to Seasonal Promotions
Flow insights help guide customers toward high-priority products. Seasonal promotions reach more shoppers when paths are optimized with clear messaging.
Place High-Margin Items in High-Traffic Zones
Analytics show where customers naturally move. Retailers can position high-margin items in these areas to maximize revenue.
4. Measure Engagement with Holiday Content & Retail Media
Determine Which Holiday Displays Perform Best
Not all holiday messaging drives action. In-store analytics identifies top-performing displays for maximum impact.
Track Retail Media Exposure & Content Lift
Retail media networks thrive on measurable results. Tracking shopper exposure and engagement proves content effectiveness.
Prove Value to Brand Partners Using Real Data
Brands want measurable ROI. Analytics allow retailers to show clear performance data, building trust and repeat partnerships.
5. Tie Footfall to Conversion for Real Revenue Impact
Understand Conversion Behavior During Peak Days
Footfall only matters if it turns into sales. Conversion analytics show how many shoppers buy, what they buy, and when.
Identify Friction (Queues, Out-of-Stocks, Layout Gaps)
Long lines, stockouts, and confusing layouts can kill sales. Leverage real-time sensor data to highlight these issues so your store can fix them fast.
Build a Repeatable, Data-Backed Holiday Strategy
Each holiday season is an opportunity to refine strategy. Analytics reveal patterns that inform staffing, promotions, and layout for future peaks.
Turn Holiday Footfall into Revenue, Not Just Numbers
Thanksgiving traffic is an opportunity — but only if retailers understand what happens after shoppers walk through the door. Walkbase transforms footfall and dwell time into actionable insights. Retailers gain the knowledge to drive stronger seasonal performance and build a foundation for year-round retail success.
Explore how Walkbase TREQ turns in-store behavior into measurable retail performance.
