The holidays are a double-edged sword for many small business owners. On one hand, the holidays can drive up sales for all types of small businesses, from hospitality to retail and beyond. On the other, the holidays present their own specific set of challenges and extra responsibilities.
Rather than wait until December arrives, take time right now to plan ahead. My Rich Band offers the following tips that small business owners should consider before the holiday season arrives:
1. Figure Out Your E-commerce Plan
Moving into the internet age is a good idea for a lot of small businesses who want to expand their customer base. One way to succeed if you’re new to this is to consider the dropshipping model in which you take orders, place those orders with a supplier, and have that supplier ship directly to your customers. This method is nice because you don’t have to stock a ton of inventory. Another thing to focus on this holiday season is making sure your website is in tip-top shape for your visitors (easy to use, clear, and fast). If your website could use a refresh, turn to professional services for a custom solution that fits your business needs.
2. Hire Your Seasonal Help
Some of the benefits of hiring seasonal employees (other than giving you the help you need through the busy holiday rush) include saving you money, giving you access to specific workers with specific skill sets, and a great deal of flexibility. As you’re hiring temporary help, remember this: You still need to treat these employees as you would long-term hires. That means using the interviewing process to find the most qualified candidates. If you haven’t met with a potential employee in a while, be sure to re-familiarize yourself with the job interview process first.
Additionally, you want to have a scheduling strategy in mind to ensure your regular staff get the time they need while still making sure shifts are covered. Scheduling your employee shifts doesn’t have to be a headache if you tap into QuickBooks scheduling software. Their platform makes scheduling simple, and you can easily create, repeat and publish schedules, in addition to being able to make changes right from your phone if you happen to be away from your store.
3. Plan Your Holiday Party
A holiday party is how you thank your employees for a great year. Remember that not everything has to be approached with the bottom line in mind. However, when you think about it, letting your employees know you care can boost loyalty and productivity in the long run. Throwing that holiday party may end up helping your bottom line, so try to make it a great one.
4. Don’t Forget to Decorate
Decorating your office and/or storefront doesn’t have to be expensive or too much of a hassle. Think classic. Have employees bring in stuff from home to help and make it a team effort. Be sure to allow any and all sorts of holiday celebrations. Your employees may come from all walks of life and celebrate the holidays in varying ways.
A festive store frequently sees more traffic. People want to shop at places that embrace the holiday season. If you really want to go above and beyond, consider offering holiday-themed snacks and/or giveaways. Sure, you’re decorating for the sheer fun of it, but never forget that everything is a marketing opportunity as well. To get the most bang for your buck, make social media a priority, and create a well-planned holiday social media campaign to improve your web presence and reach more customers. Use online tools like an Instagram post generator to quickly create content that will spread the word about holiday sales and events.
If you need help with digital marketing and branding, look no further than My Rich Brand. We can help with email marketing, blogging, and social media engagement to help enrich your brand and guide you toward the success you deserve.
5. Figure Out How to Give Back
The holidays present the perfect opportunity for you, as a small business owner, to give back to the community that supports your venture year-round. Small businesses are a vital part of the communities in which they reside, and it’s imperative that you and your team find a way to show your appreciation and dedication to your town.
There are plenty of ways to give back. Some ideas include encouraging your employees to volunteer during the holiday season, sponsoring local events, donating portions of proceeds to charities, and setting up a donation center in your actual store. Additionally, you could start a nonprofit organization to help the community with a specific issue or concern (click here for a comprehensive guide to starting your own nonprofit).
The holidays are an exciting time for small businesses. Rather than scramble once fall arrives, you can prepare and plan your to-do list now so you can have fun with the holidays. Your staff will appreciate your efforts and you’ll be better positioned to grab and keep more customers — it’s a win for all involved.
For all your branding and digital marketing needs this holiday season, contact My Rich Brand.
