Help your business thrive in the festive season

As a small business owner, you’re busy all year – but for many, December and January can take things to a new level. With some thoughtful planning, you can navigate this period more smoothly:

• Closure dates: do you have a physical storefront offering products or services, and will you be closing for the festive period or staying open? Make sure you let your customers know if you will be closed so that they can plan ahead for their purchases.
  
  
• Inventory management: Analyse sales data from previous years to predict which products will be in high demand. Stock up on popular items and consider offering special holiday promotions to move inventory.
  
  
• Staffing: Assess your staffing needs during peak times and look to hire temporary help if necessary. Ensure that your existing employees are aware of their schedules and any leave policies for the festive period.
  
  
• Marketing strategy: Consider a holiday-specific marketing plan that includes email campaigns, social media promotions, and any special events or sales you'll be hosting. Plan to create engaging and festive content and have some fun with it!
  
  
• Website and online store: If you have an online presence, optimise your website for holiday shoppers by ensuring that it's mobile-friendly and easy to navigate.
  
  
• Payment processing: Ensure that your payment processing systems can handle increased transactions and are secure against potential fraud.
  
  
• Shipping and delivery: Partner with reliable shipping carriers and establish clear delivery timelines for customers. Communicate any shipping deadlines and cut-off dates for holiday delivery.
  
  
• Customer support: Prepare your customer support team for an increase in inquiries and orders. Consider an FAQ section on your website, or chatbots or automated responses to help you save time by responding to common questions.
  
  
• Holiday decorations: Getting into the spirit and decorating your physical store or website can create a festive atmosphere which resonates with your customers.

As the festive season winds down, use the following tips to prepare your small business for a successful start to the new year:

• Reflection: take some time to look at the year that was, did you achieve your business goals? What worked for you, or what didn’t? How can this information help you succeed in the new year?
  
  
• Goal setting: Use what you discovered during your reflection and set specific business goals for the new year as well as the strategies to achieve them.
  
  
• Inventory clearance: Are you able to offer post-holiday sales and promotions? This can help you clear out excess inventory.
  
  
• Financial review: Conduct a thorough financial review of the past year and set clear financial goals and budgets for the year ahead.
  
  
• Employee feedback: Seek input from your employees on what went well during the holiday season and where improvements can be made.
  
  
• Customer feedback: Gather feedback from customers about their holiday shopping experience and use it to enhance your business.
  
  
• Marketing strategy: Look back at your marketing for the previous year and start looking at some activity for the coming months. Is there something that worked well which you’d like to try again? Consider any seasonal events or trends that may impact your business.
  
  
• Technology update: Consider any technology upgrades or improvements that could streamline your operations or enhance customer experience.