CPM | UK Blog

How to prevent seasonal sales losses using real-time retail data and predictive insights

Written by CPM UK | Apr 23, 2025 11:47:20 AM

 

Peak trading periods come with pressure. Promotions are planned, displays are designed, stock is forecasted – but as every Sales Director, Category Manager or NAM knows, real-world seasonal retail execution rarely follows the plan.

Stock delays. Missing SELs. POS that never makes it to the shop floor. In-store execution gaps like these cost brands dearly – especially during seasonal peaks when performance is under a microscope. And more often than not, by the time you notice a problem, it’s already too late.

But what if you could see the signs earlier? What if your retail data insights didn’t just report the issue – but predicted it? And what if those insights triggered fast, targeted interventions to fix things before sales take a hit?

That’s where CPM's real-time retail data, predictive analytics and agile field deployment come into their own.

 

Why seasonal retail execution still breaks down

Brands across FMCG, healthcare, consumer electronics and hardware pour huge effort into planning for seasonal trading peaks – whether that’s Easter, summer, Back to School or the all-consuming Q4 golden quarter.

But while the plan may look flawless in a deck, retail execution conditions are more unpredictable than ever. Retailer teams are stretched. Replenishment cycles are slower. Store compliance is inconsistent. Also  local factors – from weather to regional events – can shift demand overnight.

Execution suffers. Stock ends up in the back. Displays go up late and promotion compliance slips. Without the right visibility, brands are often slow to react – missing the sales spike they’ve invested so much to capture.

 

From data to insight: turning retail problems into performance triggers

The good news? Brands now have access to more data than ever (or if they don’t have it themselves – we do)

  • EPOS sales data
  • Call files and visit reports
  • Stock availability scans
  • Compliance audits
  • GPS and mobile data
  • Weather and event data
  • Photo capture from the field
  • Data direct from apps that incentivise and reward retailers (our unique unrivalled *shopt app)

Used right, this data can do more than just tell you what happened. It can help you predict what’s likely to go wrong – and where.

Imagine:

  • A drop in sales rate in top stores
  • SELs missing in specific store groups
  • POS not deployed on day one
  • Secondary space not delivering uplift as forecasted

With predictive retail analytics layered over these insights, we can flag stores at risk, spot trends before they spiral, and build intervention triggers/alerts that go straight to the front line. We can determine what is the best way to make an intervention for the best ROI or what to prioritise to achieve your specific commercial focus – whether that’s purely sales, brand awareness, brand reputation or your profit margin.

 

Predictive analytics + field execution = peak protection

Here’s how it works in practice:

  • EPOS and call file data identify a dip in sales in selected stores
  • Compliance records show a pattern – POS is under-deployed
  • An execution alert is generated
  • Field teams are deployed within 48 hours
  • Displays are built, stock is replenished, and compliance is restored
  • Performance is tracked. It’s fed back into our Data Warehouse and future activity is refined.

That’s not reactive – that’s retail performance protection.

Ideally you don’t wait for a problem to be reported. You act before it impacts your seasonal sales.

 

Preventing issues before they hit sales

This approach shifts your seasonal and peak activation strategy from firefighting to foresight.

  • Better prioritisation: Focus field teams where they’ll have the biggest impact
  • Faster intervention: Fix issues early to avoid compounding losses
  • Smarter planning: Use historical and live retail data to strengthen future peak performance
  • Continuous improvement: A closed loop between data, deployment, and decision-making

     

When every day of seasonal or peak trading counts, that difference is everything.

 

What this means for FMCG, healthcare, CE and hardware brands

While the pain points may differ, the challenge is the same across sectors:

  • FMCG: Fast-paced, highly promotional – one missed day can derail performance
  • Healthcare: OTC and pharmacy must respond fast to unexpected surges (cold season, allergy spikes)
  • Consumer electronics and hardware: Limited-time offers and seasonal gifting demand flawless in-store display execution and stock availability and often targeted customer demos and support

Whatever the product, the stakes are high when peak moments arrive. Brands need more than a plan – they need precision execution, real-time visibility, and agility on the ground.

 

Ready to take your seasonal or peak trading execution to the next level?

With our Liquid approach we help brands move from reactive to predictive – combining live retail insights, smart analytics and agile field marketing deployment to make sure your strategy lands where it matters most.

Let’s turn your data into action.

There’s a better way. Let us show you how.