How to use ExpertVoice promotions to move seasonal inventory

Discounting is a necessary tool, especially for moving seasonal or aging inventory. But when markdowns reach audiences at the wrong time, they can send the wrong message—one that chips away at the brand equity you’ve worked so hard to build. What if there was a better way to discount — one that protects your value and fuels growth?

That’s where ExpertVoice comes in. As a closed, credentialed platform, it offers a unique environment where discounts are offered strategically — not to attract bargain hunters, but to equip product experts and trusted advocates. These are the retail associates, certified professionals and enthusiasts who influence purchasing decisions and drive real-world recommendations. And when they believe in your product, others follow.

Instead of relying on broad, brand-eroding discounts, ExpertVoice lets you tailor promotions based on where your product is in its lifecycle — from pre-launch buzz to sell-through support. Let’s walk through how it works.

1. Market Development: Planting the seeds

When you’re prepping for a new product launch or next season’s rollout, your strategy should be about insight and seeding. ExpertVoice Surveys & Insights can help you gather direct feedback from key audiences to shape your messaging. Then, use Product Sampling to get your gear into the hands of the right people, building excitement and generating early user-generated content and expert reviews.

2. Building momentum: Driving adoption

Once you’re ready to go to market, visibility is critical. A Flash Deal can give your product a spotlight moment — a high-impact, one-week promo paired with premium placements like homepage banners, emails and push notifications. These deals are proven to drive results: brands see a 302% average lift in sales, and 63% of Flash Deal orders come from first-time buyers of the brand.

To go even bigger, layer in promotional media placements to boost visibility across the site. This helps accelerate discovery, drive conversions and build long-term loyalty.

3. Peak Season: Staying relevant

Even during a product’s maturity phase, there are strategic ways to stay top-of-mind. Participating in key shopping events like Expert Deal Days — which coincide with peak ecommerce shopping traffic moments like Prime Day — helps you maintain relevance when consumer intent is highest. Push notifications and brand-dedicated emails can re-engage existing experts while drawing attention to your top SKUs.

Notably, brands see a 42% median lift in non-promoted product sales during Flash Deal weeks, proving that timely, well-positioned discounts can drive halo effects across your catalog.

4. End of Season: Moving product while protecting value 

At the end of the product lifecycle, the goal is to clear excess inventory without damaging brand equity. The ExpertVoice Outlet lets you quietly list past-season products at a discount, targeting your most loyal insiders rather than broadcasting markdowns to the public.

If you want to create urgency, you can opt for a limited-time Flash Deal. Banners and push notifications help support these clearance efforts, all while keeping your brand story intact.

High-impact promos, smartly deployed

• Flash Deals: Drive urgency and discovery with weeklong sales backed by premium placement. Brands see an average 397% lift in orders.
• The Drop: A new one-day sale format that focuses on steep discounts on bestselling products. 
• Outlet: Offload past-season gear in a gated environment without overexposure.
• Friends & Family Events: Let experts share access with their network, amplifying reach and conversions. Brands saw a 34% average increase in GMV YoY.

Make every promotion work harder

Media placements amplify the impact of any campaign. Homepage banners, brand-dedicated emails, push notifications, newsletter inclusions and site feed cards all work together to increase awareness, engagement and conversions.

In 2024, brands saw measurable lifts in both sales and lesson engagement when pairing promotions with these placements, averaging an 8.35X return on investment.

Let’s build your custom plan

Whether you’re clearing shelves, launching a new line or prepping for peak season, ExpertVoice can help tailor a strategy that supports your goals without compromising your brand.

Contact your Account Executive to get started with a custom promotional package.

Because moving inventory shouldn’t mean moving backwards on brand value. And with ExpertVoice, it doesn’t have to.