Be Smart(er): 3 Tips for Small Businesses to Rock This Holiday Season
The holiday season is no longer fast approaching—in fact, it is already upon us. With Thanksgiving debuting next Thursday, December is only just around the corner.
While this time of year can bring with it much excitement, for some small business owners there can also be a significant level of stress. By following these three tips, you and your small business will be ready to rock and roll towards a highly profitable season. Keep cool and holiday on!
Welcome to the holiday season
For small businesses in the sectors of retail, restaurants, automobile repair, etc., the holiday season can bring with it a surge of business. In the excitement of gearing up for a profitable fourth quarter, it can be easy for small businesses to overlook basic elements to keep them soaring high. With a boost of window shoppers to a boost in restaurant sales to more and more people who will need more than just air in their car tires, having a plan will keep you focused and on your game this season.
Keep these 3 tips in mind to stay on top of your game and rising towards your highest potential this holiday season.
1. Offer a S-A-L-E.
Since people will already be flocking to your store, dining between engagements, and looking to tune-up their car before they hit the road for holiday travel, offering an incentive will certainly help keep them spending.
You know your market better than anyone else, so can you offer a dessert on the house? A buy one, get one free from the items in the sale section of your store? Could you offer a 10%, 15%, 20% discount if their order total hits a certain threshold?
A sale doesn’t always have to be conventional. What are the ways in which you could think outside of the box? What would it take to partner up with another business in your area and sweeten the deal for your customer? If you’re a restaurant, could you team up with a local theatre and offer a discount if they frequent you both? Have them bring along a receipt or a ticket stub. Is the mission of your business in line with supporting a charity this holiday season?
Opportunities for customers to see their dollars going further is a service you can bring into the marketplace. Since the holidays are all about connecting with others, spending quality time with the ones you love, and giving instead of always receiving, offering sales, specials, and incentives only adds to the joy of the season. While profits may not be the motive of your good intentions, chances are profits will find you.
2. Protect your merchandise. Protect yourself.
Once foot traffic starts to increase for the season, guarding against theft is crucial. Even with a variety of loss prevention factors implemented, keeping your eyes and ears open for suspicious behavior will be necessary. Install security cameras and share with your employees (yearly and seasonal) what conditions will be met if they are caught stealing in anyway. Have open conversations about loss prevention at staff meetings and alert employees on how to handle suspicious behavior.
If you do see someone who looks as if they are stealing, ask them if they need help carrying their merchandise to the register. Speaking to the individual face-to-face alerts them that their behavior hasn’t gone unnoticed.
While you may have less of a chance of being stolen yourself, protecting yourself means taking measures to guard against your own well-being. The holiday season can be full of long hours and working overtime to make sure everything unfolds smoothly. Take breaks when you need them. Don’t be afraid of taking time off. The holiday season only comes around once a year. Ensure you also have adequate time to spend time celebrating in the ways that matter most to you.
3. Evaluate the schedule. Make adjustments as necessary.
With higher profit margins this season, it may be tempting to keep a minimal number of employees on the schedule. You may want to re-configure this manner of thinking. Since more and more people will be coming in to shop, dine, and enjoy your services, use this as a chance to show them just what kind of customer service and products you can offer.
Don’t skimp on providing the best of the best. One great impression can keep a client coming back month after month and for years to come. In the end, offering top-notch service from the minute your customer steps inside to the moment your customer cashes out is a better investment in the long run than cutting corners with the schedule.
By implementing these 3 tips, your holiday season should be busy, merry, and bright. With that—we're sure—there will be much to celebrate!