Hi. I’m Connie. As a serial “Grandmapreneur®”, I speak to retirees or soon-to-be retirees on the benefits of pursuing entrepreneurship in Retirement. This blog post will help you get your business ready for the holidays. 

6 Tips to Get Your Business Ready for the Holiday

The holiday season is almost here and as a small business owner, you need to be prepared. With the festive spirit in the air comes a huge demand for products. Hence, you must be ready to meet that demand and capitalize on the holiday season. Preparing your small business for the holiday season can seem stressful, but with the right strategies and a little planning, you can make the most of this time of year.

Tip to Get Your Business Ready #1: Order supplies.

Check last year’s orders to anticipate how many basic supplies you’ll need,. It might be getting more supplies and packaging or making gift cards for loyal customers and holiday shoppers. Make sure to order early to prevent markups in shipping fees. 

Tip to Get Your Business Ready #2: Make schedules.

This is the moment to decide on your holiday business hours. Are you going to be open later than normal? Will your company be closed for a few days? Make sure your employees are aware of the holiday hours and what is expected of them during this time. In order to arrange staff schedules appropriately, ask your team to submit any holiday time off requests by a certain date.

Tip to Get Your Business Ready #3: Stock extra inventory.

Anticipate holiday orders by manufacturing additional products or placing orders with your vendors. Your suppliers are under pressure, and they may have to order deadlines to get products in time for the holidays. 

Tip to Get Your Business Ready #4: Check your website.

Make sure your company website is up to date and prepared for the hectic Christmas season. Is the layout neat and simple to use? Is it simple for customers to locate your best-selling goods or services? Does your online store’s checkout process run well? If you spend the most time working on your website, assign this responsibility to a staff member or a reliable friend. They’ll be able to identify problems that you might overlook.

Tip to Get Your Business Ready #5: Decorate.

Prepare for Christmas demand by producing extra goods or putting orders in with your suppliers. Due to pressure to deliver goods to you in time for the holidays, your suppliers can have ordering deadlines. To ensure that you don’t miss any ordering deadlines, put these dates on a calendar that you can easily view.

Tip to Get Your Business Ready #6: Plan a new marketing campaign.

Why should people choose to visit your small business during the upcoming holidays? What distinguishes you? Ascertain the response and develop a marketing strategy centered on it. It might be the best selection in town for you. Perhaps people want your pumpkin spice treats all year round. Perhaps your customer service can help with any purchase dilemma. Focus your Christmas marketing on the unique qualities that set your company apart.

Conclusion

The holiday season is a busy time, but with a little preparation and the right strategies in place, your small business can see a boost in sales and customer engagement. Incorporating these tips above while implementing them into your business should ensure you can thrive during the festive period. Enjoy the holiday spirit and happy selling!

Disclaimer: The material and information contained in this article are for general information purposes only. You should check with a financial advisor before making any business, legal, or other decisions.

Do you want to be a second-act entrepreneur? My book might just be the answer. It’ll show you that it’s never too late to start your dream business. Check it out now!  Watch my TEDx talk here https://youtu.be/kZxFnEvcivs and learn how to pursue your passion regardless of your age Because… passion has no expiration date!

The post Tips to Get Your Business Ready for the Holiday appeared first on Connie Inukai.

The post Tips to Get Your Business Ready for the Holiday appeared first on Connie Inukai.

Connie Inukai Grandmapreneur

As a serial “Grandmapreneur®”, Inukai speaks to retirees or soon-to-be retirees on the benefits of pursuing entrepreneurship in retirement.

Retired from teaching Technical Writing at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University for four decades, Connie Inukai became an award-winning inventor at the age of 68.

Author of "How I got My Product on QVC, The Today Show, The View, and More...In Retirement", she helps others generate free publicity for their products.

She is the creator of Write Your Selfie®, where she inspires people to write their life stories in a fun and easy-to-read format.

Featured in Entrepreneur magazine, “6 Reasons to Pursue Entrepreneurship in Retirement,” Connie encourages Baby Boomers to have an active retirement through business or social entrepreneurship.
Because…

Passion has No Expiration Date!