Winter is coming: 4 things your business should be preparing for now

Yikes, is it just me, or did summer fly by exceptionally quickly this year? It’s hard to believe that school is already back in, the days are getting shorter and shorter, and the winter holidays are right around the corner.

This is a critical time for your business. It’s the brief calm before the holiday storm. Use this time to prepare yourself and you can turn the chaos of holiday economics into a profitable time for your business.

Holiday marketing

That’s right, it’s almost that time of year again. Like it or not, Santa Claus is coming to town.

Nearly every advertisement you’ll see between Halloween and December 25th has some sort of Christmas, Hanukkah, or other winter holiday messaging. And there’s a reason for that: it works. Marketers both fuel and feed off of the holiday spirit, and consumer spending reaches its highest point during this time of year.

Plan now for your holiday marketing campaign. What will your theme be? What will you offer? How will you communicate your campaign to the public? Don’t wait until November 1st to start thinking about this. Remember, you’ll likely be as affected by holiday chaos as your clients will be, so do your best thinking now.

Need some inspiration? Check out our post on preparing your service business for the holidays to get you started.

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday encourages consumers to buy from smaller, local businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This is great news for you. Make sure your business has a special offer for SBS shoppers. For many people, class vouchers, merchandise, or a special one-on-one training session might just be the perfect gift.

In 2016 over 112 million shoppers participated in Small Business Saturday. That number will probably be even higher this year. Use this guide to crafting a holiday marketing strategy to make sure your business is ready.

The New Year’s rush

I know, I know, it seems way too early for this. But remember all of those class vouchers you sold in November and December? All of those new clients will be coming in to give your business a try. This is especially true if you’re a gym or fitness studio owner–it’s not called “sweaty january” for nothing.

Be ready for the rush by planning ahead. Brainstorm fun classes or challenges that will hook your new clients. Your goal is to make these clients want to keep coming back even after they’ve run out of vouchers. For some ideas, check our guide to acquiring new customers and keeping them.

Your stress levels

The holidays are stressful enough without owning a business. Remember to slow down and take care of yourself. One of the best ways to do that is to make sure your business isn’t another source of holiday stress. Plan your campaigns now, and have a very happy, and profitable, holiday.