It may feel like you\u2019ve just put away the tinsel but it won\u2019t be long before Maria Carey is playing in the local shopping centres.<\/p>\n
Some say it\u2019s the most wonderful time of year, yet it can often be busy, stressful and overwhelming for business owners. That\u2019s particularly true if you leave your to-do list until December.<\/p>\n
To help you out, here are our 4 tips for getting a head start on your planning for the holidays:<\/p>\n
You want to approach the holidays ready to relax and enjoy family time rather than feeling completely burnt out.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how to get organised and skip the last-minute scramble:<\/p>\n
Your previous sales data and performance can help you make informed decisions for the upcoming holiday season. Analyse which products or services performed well and identify any patterns or trends, define your sales targets or customer acquisition goals for the holiday period and create a budget based on those goals. Don\u2019t forget to include marketing and inventory costs, additional staffing and other relevant expenses.<\/p>\n
Christmas inventory probably looks different from the rest of the year \u2013 some products may be more popular at this time than others. To help plan, review levels from the previous year and order additional stock well in advance to ensure you have sufficient quantities.<\/p>\n
Our postage and shipping systems are under enormous pressure over the holiday period. You should anticipate an increase in demand and allow extra time for orders to arrive to customers or be delivered to you. A reliable shipping partner and clear processes for order fulfilment, tracking and customer support will help efficiency.<\/p>\n
Keen to bring in those all-important Christmas dollars? You need a smart pre-season marketing plan.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how to get your marketing ducks in a row:<\/p>\n
In the modern day, a good website is crucial for business success. With more online traffic leading up to the holidays, use this time to ensure your website is optimised for mobile devices, easy to navigate and visually appealing. Optimise your product descriptions, images and overall website content and consider offering online-exclusive deals or bundles to attract customers.<\/p>\n
Online and offline marketing strategies are both beneficial \u2013 especially around the social holiday period. Consider running paid search ads<\/a>, email marketing campaigns, social media promotions and influencer partnerships. It\u2019s also a good idea to plan your content calendar and schedule posts to maintain consistent engagement with your audience.<\/p>\n These are important for engaging with your existing customers and encouraging repeat business. People love a deal, and that\u2019s particularly true around the expensive festive season. Consider implementing a loyalty program, offering exclusive discounts or early access to holiday promotions and sending personalised holiday greetings.<\/p>\n Explore partnerships with complementary businesses and cross-promote products or services to expand your reach and attract new customers.<\/p>\n RELATED: <\/strong>3 content marketing tips every small business owner needs to know.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The Christmas\/New Year break is a perfect time to close the office doors so everyone can rejuvenate and return refreshed in the new year. Here\u2019s how to plan for that:<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve decided if and when you\u2019re closing and reopening, you need to inform employees with clear instructions on when they are expected to return to work after the break. The closure will take a bit of adjusting \u2013 review work schedules and deadlines to ensure tasks and projects are completed before the closure period and communicate revised timelines to your team and clients if applicable.<\/p>\n If you forget to inform customers of your closure, you\u2019ll risk losing their loyalty and business. Choose how you want to notify them \u2013 by email newsletter, social media posts or a banner on your website \u2013 and note the last day for placing orders and a date for your reopening.<\/p>\n Now\u2019s a good time to create automated email responses, voicemail greetings and social media auto-replies to inform customers and suppliers about the closure and when they can expect a response. Provide alternative contact information, if applicable, such as an emergency contact number or an email for urgent matters.<\/p>\n\n
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3. Plan your shutdown.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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