The holiday season can be a very stressful time for small business owners across the country. From staffing issues to increases in foot traffic or online traffic, running a company during this season can be both rewarding and overwhelming. Far too many entrepreneurs attempt to take on this stress by wearing many hats, only tiring themselves out and failing at too many tasks. Being able to take advantage of extra spending is critical during the holiday, making strategy paramount in December.
Things like marketing, security, sales, and staffing are all extra important when November rolls around. In the spirit of having successful holiday sales, small business owners should keep the following tips in mind:
- Organize in October to avoid last minute, rushed decision-making
- Make a calendar shared by the entire workforce which includes not only work schedules, but also things like important deadlines, sales goals, and office reminders
- Create a detailed system for orders coming in prior to the busy months
- Encourage open communication with your employees
- Ask your customers about the experience and make notes to improve
- Find a way to stand out amongst the competition with new featured products/services and great promotional deals
- Stock up on extra inventory
- Set specific sales goals and communicate them to the team
- Make security a priority and ensure that the business as well as the software being used is secure
While the list could go on and on, the simple process of brainstorming ways to improve your business during the holiday season is fantastic. Hold a team meeting and encourage everyone to give suggestions. No matter what type of small business you own, planning is the key to a successful holiday season. Good luck!
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