With household budgets tightening and retail confidence dipping, Australia’s End of Financial Year (EOFY) sales season is shaping up to be more competitive than ever. For small businesses, especially those with physical stores, standing out has never been more important.
While traditional tactics like window posters and email blasts still have a place, one tool is quickly becoming essential: digital signage. Whether you’re running a boutique retail store or a bustling café, digital displays can drive foot traffic and significantly boost sales.
Mandoe Media’s data shows that businesses using digital signage for EOFY can see in-store sales lift by 5–20%, foot traffic increase by up to 25%, and dwell time rise by as much as 30%.
So, what makes digital signage so effective during EOFY, and how can small businesses harness it?
1. Create urgency that converts
EOFY is all about deadlines, tax-time incentives, and ‘last chance’ offers. Digital signage lets you tap into that urgency with real-time updates, animated price drops, and live countdowns. A static poster can’t change once it’s printed, but digital signage can be updated in minutes to reflect inventory changes, new deals, or even customer demand throughout the day.
You can also integrate QR codes that link to exclusive offers, loyalty programs, or online payment options – bridging the gap between in-store engagement and digital conversion.
2. Stand out without slashing prices
In a market where many retailers are reluctant to discount too deeply, digital signage offers another way to capture attention, without compromising margins. Bright, dynamic screens near your entrance or checkout can elevate the perceived value of your products and help customers discover items they might have overlooked.
You don’t need a big marketing team to make this work. Next-gen digital signage offerings will let you drag-and-drop your way to professional, branded content in minutes, even using AI to generate EOFY-specific graphics and copy.
3. Drive impulse buys where it counts
EOFY sales are a perfect storm for spontaneous shopping. Shoppers are actively hunting for bargains, and digital signage placed near POS areas can prompt last-minute add-ons or bundled deals. Think: ‘Buy one, get one 50% off’ or ‘Add a tax-deductible purchase for your business before June 30.’
4. Save time and stay nimble
Printing new signs for every promo is both slow and environmentally wasteful. Digital signage eliminates the need for constant reprints and allows you to schedule or update content in real-time. Need to switch your lunchtime offer or highlight a new best-seller? Done in seconds.
This flexibility also means you can test different messages and product pairings and use the data to optimise future campaigns. For small businesses, this kind of agile marketing approach can offer a real competitive edge.
5. Level the playing field
You don’t need a national footprint to act like a big brand. With the right tools, small businesses can run sophisticated campaigns that rival the majors. Digital signage empowers smaller operators to schedule promotions, personalise content by store or location, and tailor messaging based on time of day or even the weather.
And because most shoppers (around 82%, according to PayPal) are still planning to shop EOFY sales in-store, now’s the time to ensure your physical presence is as sharp and engaging as your online one.
Digital signage is no longer a luxury reserved for the big end of town. It’s accessible, affordable, and incredibly effective for small businesses wanting to stand out when it matters most. If you’re not yet using digital signage, EOFY is the perfect time to start.
Contributed by Jay Parkinson, Group Sales Director at Mandoe Media