Before you
know it Christmas will be here.
Preparations for your startup to capitalize on the season’s
opportunities should already be in high gear.
These tips therefore should serve as a checklist to help those in the
process of preparing; and for the unprepared, it should move the business owner
into action, as despite the economic challenges, Christmas inevitably brings
additional disposable income to purchase gifts, prepare the family feast and
undertake home repair projects; among many other activities.
For many
startups, particularly those involved in Trading; i.e. sale of goods and
services Christmas is the busiest time of the year. Businesses rely on among other things, the festive
spirit of the season, the increased goodwill and the general buzz of excitement
surrounding giving and sharing particularly with friends, family, colleagues
and social giving.
For a
business Christmas is all about preparation; it is peak time for everyone and
businesses must be prepared well in advance to take advantage of the
opportunities to earn a profit. Here is
a list of tips that will help to make your business a success this holiday
season.
Manage
stock levels – The last thing that should happen
is that your business runs out of stock during Christmas. If you start early, you can decide what to
stock. Look at sales trends; stock up on
what sold well last Christmas, and stock up on ‘in style’ items as well. Forecast Christmas sales to make sure enough
stock is ordered to cater for the rush.
Review the stock management processes to maximize stock accuracy and
adequacy. You can also have a
pre-Christmas sale to get rid of old stock that is no longer relevant. This will free up space and make room for the
additional stock. Be careful however not
to over stock to a point where your cash flow and resources are stretched too
far.
Get
into the Holiday spirit – Whether you are prepared or not,
Christmas is coming. It will be here
sooner, rather than later, so get into the holiday spirit. And get your business into the spirit too;
dress up your staff in Christmas gear, put up the Christmas decorations and the
Christmas tree, and turn up the holiday music.
These actions will send your customers two main messages; Christmas is
coming and you are ready for it. Your
holiday spirit can also lure them in to your business place. Consider offering
gift wrapping services or sending gifts "From Santa”; it will boost their
spirits as well.
Adjust
your marketing programme – Both your online and
offline marketing should soon begin to reflect the spirit of the season. Roll out the Christmas ads and commercials,
announce your Christmas campaign and integrate your online and offline portals
to ensure that it is sending one strong, solid message. Use up all available marketing platforms to
keep your customers informed. Create a
feedback system that will help you to evaluate the success of the programme as
well prepares the business to understand what the customer wants and delivers
those wants in a timely and efficient manner.
Offer
Promotions and Holiday Sales – Make
the most of your marketing programme by offering promotions and holiday
sales. Most of the marketing around this
time of year deals with specials and sales for the holiday season. Shoppers are
looking for the best deal for their holiday shopping, so offer incentives to
get them in your store. Sales and promotions will help bring in more customers
and possibly more sales.
Christmas is a critical time for
businesses to capitalize on sales but it is also important to plan ahead for
January. Your Christmas promotions
should be so good that it boosts post-holiday traffic, generate new customer
interest and improve your bottom line in the coming months. Consider offering post-holiday sales and
discounts to get rid of excess stock and keep interest in your business.
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