The holiday season has finally arrived and it is the busiest time of the year for small and medium businesses. Though the volume of work is enormous, the proprietor also needs to dedicate some time to his family and friends in this season of merrymaking. So, the business owners need to balance their professional commitments and personal life and plan well in advance to make the holiday season a memorable one.
Track inventory
The holiday season is not only for merry making, but also an excellent opportunity to increase the sales and stay ahead of competition. Research on the latest trends and observe last year’s sales report to get an idea of the bestsellers for the season. Make a catalog of the holiday special items and fill the shelves of your store with the products that are in high demand. Let your customers know about the season’s specials. Get some brochures ready and circulate them in the neighborhood.
Manage back office with advanced technology
Small and medium businesses should take the advantage of different technological advancements to handle accounting, billing and storing customer data. The automated procedures can reduce the burden of the owners to track all the back-office work manually. In the season of high sales and extended working hours, owners can have more time for themselves and can focus on long-term business goals if they use technology to their aid.
New marketing strategies
The business owners also need to adopt some smart marketing strategies to entice the customers. Every business tries to lure the customers with attractive deals and offers during the holiday season. Send your loyal customers direct mailers and gift cards to acknowledge their constant patronage. You should also use social media to make your audience aware of the products and services. Select a holiday theme for your Facebook page and get some ad campaigns for your online customers.
Communicate your expectations to the crew
The businesses should also communicate their holiday season sales strategy to the employees. They should know how to manage the routine work and extra workload effectively. Adopt some fixed procedures to handle the pressure of the holiday season. Delegate the work effectively so that your employee meets your expectations and your customers get the best customer service.
Keep a backup plan
Peak season means a heavy flow of traffic on the website. The sudden increase of online transactions can make servers go down. Keep your servers and operations well-maintained. In a case of emergency, keep the troubleshooting tools handy.
Tell your customers
If you have made plans for a family vacation this season, let your customers know about it. Inform them who will oversee your business in your absence. Your customers are always your priority. So, make them comfortable and see if they are fine with the services of your store. If you need to close your store for a few days, inform them in advance.
Business owners also need some time to relax and enjoy the holiday season. It is definitely possible to go for a vacation with prior planning and come back with fresh ideas.
