Who can forget last summer? It was grim enough for most of us, but even more so for the thousands of people who suffered as a result of the floods. According to the Met Office, the main feature of summer 2007 was the "high rainfall experienced in many regions especially during June and July". You can say that again, as it was the wettest summer for the whole of the UK since the Office's rainfall series data began in 1914.

Preparation is the key to having a successful festive season, according to Paul Lettice, trade communications manager at Procter & Gamble. "Retailers who are prepared to think in advance about their Christmas offering, point-of-sale requirements and stock-level needs are those that will benefit most significantly from the opportunities presented by this key selling time of year," he says.

It looks like we're in for another hot one as the latest seasonal forecast from the Met Office reveals that this summer is likely to be warmer than normal. Indeed seasonal forecasters say the chances of temperatures similar to those experienced in 2003 and 2006 are around one in eight. Sounds great but retailers need to be ready for it so keeping an eye on the weather forecasts is vital. The BBC website can give you a five-day forecast for your local area - handy for consumers planning picnics and for retailers planning stock levels.

Saint Valentine's Day: chocolates - check; heart-shaped novelties - check; red roses - check. Mother's Day: flowers - check; chocolates - check. Easter: eggs - check. If only it were as simple as that - make a list, buy the stock, display it and it sells itself. But with the grocery multiples cutting prices and promoting like crazy (especially on shell eggs), there's more to consider - principally getting your range right for your customers. But forecourts definitely shouldn't give up on Easter altogether.

Another year has whizzed by and Christmas will soon be upon us. For forecourt retailers the festive season is an opportunity to end on a high with some bumper sales.

The summer brings with it all sorts of sales opportunities. Hot days mean heavy demand for ice creams and cold drinks. Day trippers need to fill up their cars with fuel and their passengers with snacks, while holiday makers need to buy those last-minute items like batteries for the camera. Then there are the picnics and barbecues to cater for, and barbecues have become something of a national institution. Whatever the weather, if a summer barbecue's been planned you can bet it will still take place. According to the National BBQ Association, 100 million barbecues took place in the UK last year, making us Europe's biggest barbecue fanatics.

According to the bookies, England is second favourite to win the World Cup, after Brazil. It would be great if they won but even if they don't, you could win during this massive tournament. That's because of the UK's insatiable appetite for everything football. Up and down the country there will be millions of armchair fans screaming at their TV sets willing the players on. And of course they'll need to keep their energy up so they'll need snacks and plenty of beer to wash them all down. If you've got an off licence, the World Cup is an ideal opportunity to promote it. Make sure your customers know you're licensed to sell beer. And make sure you've got plenty of chilled, take-home packs in stock prior to kick-off.

On Valentine’s Day (February 14), while most romantics prefer to ‘say it with flowers’, chocolate is the second most popular gift. According to Giftrak data, Valentine’s sales increased by 9% in 2005, to reach £342m and average spend per gift was £25.42. For forecourt retailers wanting their piece of the action, convenience is the key as 91% of all Valentine’s Day gifts were bought at the last minute, in the seven days before the event. This means you need big, bold displays in the path from the door to the till or even right next to the till, to jog the consumer’s memory and get them to spend.

Okay, so you’ve been bombarded by Christmas sales bumpf since June, but now’s the time to get really focused – the final few weeks really can make a difference to the bottom line.

Think summer and you think sunshine, short sleeves, cool drinks, ice creams and holidays. Plus there are all those outdoor eating opportunities for picnics and barbecues.

Christmas comes but once a year, so the opportunity to cash in on extra sales in the lead up to Christmas is not to be missed. Whether it’s meeting the demands of shoppers on their way to a party with some chilled wine and beer, or keeping stocked up with snacks to satisfy customers’ needs for last-minute entertaining, opportunities for sales are aplenty in the festive season.

You can’t mention this summer without first mentioning last year’s. That’s because summer 2003 was such a success – summer how it ought to be. The days were sweltering and retailers’ tills were ringing as consumers clambered for cold drinks and ice lollies.

Christmas seems to come round quicker every year, and shoppers have been bombarded with festive displays in the High Street for some time. But if you’re unprepared for those extra sales in the lead up to Christmas and New Year, there’s still plenty of time.