May 01, 2018
6 Tips for Seasonal Business Owners That Are Preparing for Their Busy Season
In this post, we’ll list six tips that will help you prepare your business for the busy season ahead.
How You Can Prepare Your Seasonal Business For Busy Times
1. Reflect on Last Season
One of the best things you can do to achieve success is to reflect on your company’s history. We recommend researching what happened last year so that you can understand your future needs. For instance, if you know which days of the week were the busiest last year, you can ensure that your business is properly staffed during those times. It’s also essential to review last year’s sales to identify popular products and confirm that you have sufficient inventory to meet your customers' demands.2. Ensure That You’re Well-Staffed
As a small business owner, you’re likely aware that good talent can be hard to find. According to Learning English, many seasonal businesses have trouble finding staff due to the temporary nature of the work. Because of this, you should begin recruiting employees as soon as possible. In addition, you should contact former employees to see if they’re available again. If you discover that you have staffing gaps, start conducting interviews immediately so your new staff members are well-trained by the time you open your doors.3. Revise Your Budget
Reviewing your sales and expenses from your previous busy season will help you determine where you fell short so you can make the appropriate changes to your budget. For instance, if you over-purchased inventory last year, you should consider lowering your inventory expenses in your existing budget. Or, if you saw a dip in sales, you might spend more money on marketing costs so that you can reach more potential customers.4. Start Marketing Early
As a seasonal business, your marketing strategy will be different from companies that operate year-round. When marketing a seasonal business, it’s essential to advertise prior to your busy season. Marketing to your customers in advance of your opening day will help to build interest in your products or services, and ensure that people know about your business. Some great ways to reach out to previous patrons and potential customers include:- Social Media
- Email Marketing
- Consider Direct Mail