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Getting Ready for the Festive Season - Checklist Tick the 8 Boxes

festive Season

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 With the ‘silly’ season fast approaching and the Festive and traditional Christmas celebrations already in coffee conversations, and decorations, tinsel in shop windows, now is the time to start planning and preparing.  

If you are trading during this period now is the time to create and activate your Marketing Campaign.  

Importantly, Get your Business House in Order, Sales and Customer ready 

Checklist!  

Tick the 8 boxes below to see how ‘ready’ you are! 

  1. Be and stay organised:. If you are opening or closing during this period, don’t leave things to chance or memory. Make a Checklist/ Action Plan to ensure everything is covered and everyone is onboard. Examples such as advertised Trading hours, sales targets and payroll needs. Simple steps that help reduce stress and drama! 
  1. Check Inventory levels: Take stock of all goods, look at previous years and current demands to gauge needs. Identify your best sellers, popular items! Critically, speak with your Suppliers to make sure your orders are covered. Other companies will be in the same situation so get in early. 
  1. Staffing needs. Rosters, holiday leave, peak period coverage. Prepare asap. For example, do you need to train new staff, are experienced Team leaders available and do you have backup. This can be a stressful time. Take care of your employees with rewards, downtime and some festive activities to keep up morale. Who doesn't love Secret Santa! 
  1. Create your Marketing Campaign:  Consider a Festive focus and apply across Business operations.  Create the atmosphere Instore with decorations, stock festive food, and reward loyal customers with giveaways.  Get into the Festive spirit with a Ho! Ho! Ho!!  If your Business is pet friendly don't forget treats for those loyal pooches!  

         Share the spirit online! Social media is your best friend! Explore opportunities with personalized messages to regular customers, offer special promotions and enthusiastically             promote your Festive holiday catalogues.  

  1. Online Platforms: Check, test to make sure your systems are in working order. Click and Collect is it functioning. Technology can have glitches in peak times, and that's something you don't need. Review your website. Is it easy to use, is information up to date, check links and that contacts are current. Take the necessary steps to make the customer experience smooth and seamless!  
  1. Cashflow flow: Plan for the holiday season when disruptions can and do happen. Systems fail! Arrange backup to sufficient cash funds if needed. Prepare in advance to avoid being caught out.  
  1. Taking care of Business: Taking care of you.  You are on the final countdown; you have been planning and preparing for weeks! Well done but it can be exhausting! Take a break! Remember to take the time to take care of you too!  
  1. Going Forward: Congratulations if you are enjoying the rewards of running a successful Business. But as you are probably experiencing, with success comes extra pressure and demands. Sound familiar, you are time poor, stretched, particularly when it comes to juggling the paperwork and balancing the books. This is where Blackburn Accounting is the answer. We are your Family Business Specialists offering a broad range of services which include Family Business Management, Cashflow Management and Business Development. Act now, take the next step, contact us today to discuss your Business needs.