The holidays may still be a few weeks away, but it’s the perfect time of year to prep your business for the holiday season. The last thing you want to do is wait until the last minute! By planning now, you’ll know what type of capital you’ll need to get through the next few months. If you need a business loan, consider one from AFN.
Ask Your Staff for Their Input
Meet with your staff to get their ideas. If several staff members have been with you through holiday seasons already, they’ll probably have some ideas about how to make it even better this time around. Ask everyone what they noticed during last year’s holiday season. This is also a good time to talk about holiday schedules so that you know exactly who will be on hand during your busiest days.
Stay Organized From the Beginning
If you have a physical shop, do a deep cleaning and make sure that your inventory is well-stocked. Order holiday decorations now so that you have them ready to go when it’s time to start decorating. Order additional office supplies, too. If you have an online portion to your business, check out new automation tools that can help streamline your processes. You’re going to need as much spare time as possible once orders start pouring in.
Review Your Company Policies and Strategies
Make sure that your customer service processes are effective and efficient. Decide if you’re going to participate in Free Shipping Day, a retail promotion that customers love taking advantage of. Decide what Black Friday sales you’re going to offer this year. Ultimately, give all of your policies and strategies a good going-over so that everything is clearly stated and decided upon before it’s too late.
Add to Your Marketing Strategy
Odds are that you already have a marketing strategy that you rely on, but during the holiday season, it’s good to add a bit of creativity to your normal campaign. Consider sending a handwritten “thank you” note to your best clients or adding a bit of holiday cheer to your social media pages. Make sure to schedule posts that wish everyone happy holidays from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, too.
With the right amount of preparation, you’ll set your business up to be able to take full advantage of the most profitable time of year.
