When you run your own business, Christmas is both an exciting and terrifying time of year!
There is nothing quite like the festive season to encourage a bit of joy.
Everyone is in a good mood, great weather is on the horizon and so is a well-earned summer break.
But, before you get to all of that, you need to survive until the end of the year!
With all the last minute madness of November and December, that can seem like a mission in itself.
So, here are our best tips for setting parameters for your customers and clients, being clear with your cut off dates, and making it through a busy period with your sanity in tact!
How To Get Your Business Christmas Ready
Setting Customer Parameters
People get a little manic in the lead up to Christmas. They are busy, they are trying to find the perfect gifts for everyone and survive the season also.
But, that does not mean that you need to buy into their manic-ness!
If you set clear parameters, then your customers know what to expect from you. They also know what you expect of them. It means transactions and client work can operate a lot smoother as everyone knows where they stand.
Remember that there are only so many hours left in the year to get everything done. Be clear on your schedule and your availability to avoid being stuck with jobs you can’t complete or deadlines you can’t meet.
Be Clear On Cut Off Dates
Depending on what kind of business you run, you will have different kinds of cut off dates. If you are a product based business, then these dates will often be driven by the ability to get your goods delivered.
December is one of the busiest months for package deliveries and courier drivers are often run off their feet. Make sure you align your cut off dates with the availability of your courier service.
Delivery dates are not the only things you should be mindful of. You also need to consider your own time and sanity. Think about these things when choosing when you will cut off for the year:
- Do I have to make/create anything to send the order and how long will it take me?
- How long will it take me to process each individual order?
- Do I have the stock on hand or do I need to wait for delivery?
- Am I reliant on any other parties to get the order completed?
Be very clear on all these points so that you can set a workable cut off date and ensure you won’t have disappointed customers.
Service businesses may choose to have a cut off date as well, so that you can take a break over the summer holidays. Even though you will not be reliant on a courier service, you still need to assess your capacity and ensure you have the services completed for when your clients need.
Survive The Silly Season
In many businesses, November and December will be your busiest (and most profitable) months of the year. But, many other businesses will be vying for the attentions of your prospective customers. For businesses that prepare well, there are lots of opportunities to seize good profits.
Here’s what to do:
Prevent Chaos: While Christmas comes at the same time every year, it has a habit of sneaking up on us. Plan for how you will get eyes on your business, foot or website traffic, and that you have enough stock and resources to cater for it all.
Have A Marketing Plan: While you can’t necessarily compete with the big marketing budgets of the chain stores, you can attract customers with great service and personal touches. Also, make the most of targetted advertising through Facebook and even Google Ads, and don’t forget about your existing connections through email and online groups.
Ensure Good Processes: The busier you are, the more important it is to have your processes nailed. Does your website work well, is it an easy process for customers to buy? Do you have enough staff rostered on in-store? Make sure your systems and processes are streamlined and up to date to make handling increased volume a breeze.
Acknowledge Stress: When you double your workload in one month, it can be stressful. Don’t try to battle through everything alone, ask for help where you can and try to outsource some tasks to free up your time. Take some time out for yourself, make sure you get good amounts of sleep and don’t push too hard. Remember, Christmas is meant to be time for a holiday with family and friends too!
Network NZ is a fabulous place to gain support over the Christmas period. Whether you are looking for a supportive ear, the hive mind of knowledge, or some other great businesses to outsource to, you can find it there. Join our free community group here if you have not already!
