It still feels like summer, but October means the holidays are right around the corner! Find some tips below on preparing your business for success this holiday season.
Stock Up and Plan Promotions
Review the sales from Q4 last year – what was most popular? Start stocking up on best sellers and any seasonal items your business offers. Create and share a written plan for any holiday promotions or bundles to ensure that your team is on the same page about what is being offered. Consider offering early bird discounts to incentivize customers; this can help with cash flow during a busy season!
Decorate!
Seasonal decorations can create a warm and inviting holiday atmosphere. Don’t wait until the last minute to buy holiday decorations; take advantage of the many pre-holiday sales on decor that are offered in October. Schedule a time in your calendar to decorate. If it fits with your business culture, invite some employees to assist – odds are, someone on your team loves the holidays and would be thrilled to assist with creating a festive mood for your customers.
Hire Holiday Staff
If you typically see increased foot traffic during the holidays, consider hiring a few extra helpers. Also consider if your existing staff will request time off during the holidays. You’ll want to give your new employees enough training time to ensure they can assist customers effectively, so this is a good process to start in October. Ensure that your whole team is aware of any special promotions you are running during the holidays!
Pre-plan your social media posts
We all have heard that a consistent online presence is a powerful marketing tool. But if you’re like most business owners, social media posting is the first thing to drop when you get busy. That’s ok! You’re juggling a lot! One way to keep your online presence active during the holidays is to pre-plan your posts. Spend a couple hours this month planning and creating your content for November and December and save all your work in one spot. Then you can simply plug-and-play each post on the day you’ve scheduled.
Spread the word about your holiday promotions!
Social media is a great way to create awareness but consider using additional ways to spread the word about your business’s holiday offerings. Collaborate with other local businesses for events or promotions, or host your own holiday-themed events, such as workshops or special sales nights. Offer referral rewards or discounts for local clients who send new customers your way. And finally, check out what your local chamber of commerce offers; for example, the Mobile Chamber creates an annual holiday gift guide featuring local businesses.
The holidays are a busy time, but they don’t have to sneak up on you! Follow these tips and you’ll be relishing your holiday success come January.
