January is a key month for many online stores: shoppers have gift cards and money to spend, and stores need to clear seasonal stock before new collections. Well-planned January sales bring revenue and new customers at a time when acquisition costs are often lower.
Define the goal
- Clear stock: deeper discounts on seasonal items.
- Welcome gift card spenders: highlight full-price new arrivals too.
- Win new customers: a good entry offer for first orders.
Schedule prices
Use WooCommerce scheduled sale prices so discounts start and end automatically, see how to schedule a sale. In some countries, sales periods and reference prices are regulated: check your local rules.
Make it visible
- A “Sales” category and a link in the main menu.
- An announcement bar with the end date.
- A countdown on sale products.
Second markdowns
Many stores apply a deeper discount halfway through the sales. Announce it to your list: it brings back visitors who hesitated.
Stock and sizes
Remaining sizes are scattered in January. Show stock clearly, keep sold-out variations with a back in stock form if they return, and use filters by size.
Returns from Christmas
January is also return season. Make exchanges easy and suggest sale items when customers return gifts, see reducing returns.
Retain new customers
Customers acquired during Black Friday and Christmas can be invited back with a January offer, see turning buyers into repeat customers.
The countdown, announcement bar and back in stock alerts are in the WooCommerce Plugin Bundle.
Common mistakes
- Discounting new arrivals that would sell at full price.
- Forgetting to end the sale on time.
- Reference prices that were never charged.
- Sale pages full of sold-out sizes with no filters.
Checklist
- Products and discounts chosen per goal.
- Scheduled sale prices.
- Sales category and menu link.
- Announcement bar and countdown.
- Second markdown planned.
- Email to the list and to recent customers.
Frequently asked questions
Are January sales regulated?
In some countries, yes: dates and reference prices are regulated. Check your local rules.
Should I discount everything?
Focus on seasonal stock and keep new arrivals at full price for gift card spenders.
How long should January sales last?
Usually a few weeks, with an optional second markdown halfway through.