7 Ways to Prepare Your Business for the Holidays

There is so much to look forward to throughout the holiday season – especially if you are a business owner prepping for higher sales and demand, such as during the weeks leading up to Christmas, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday (for those business owners with an online site). You know just how important it is to prepare for the busiest days of the season by taking the initiative to work with your team, train new members, and ensure your inventory is substantial enough to withstand the crowds.

And after a successful holiday season, be sure to thank your team by offerings gifts for employees so they truly know how crucial they are to your business.

Here are our tips for the best way to prepare your business for the holidays.

1. Be Prepared for Crowds

Every year, millions of people can be found shopping the best Black Friday deals and doorbusters. Your team should have a clear plan of action for Black Friday, including a detailed schedule of employee shifts and set roles for each staff member. In addition, your store should have an efficient layout so that the holiday deals are easily accessible.

You should also consider easy ways for your team members to be identified. They could wear custom business clothes to stand out. This could be as simple as custom T-shirts for work, or even custom-made hats that everyone in your store will recognize.

2. Market to Your Local Community

Marketing is key, particularly during the holiday season. Tell your local community about your sales and deals by creating a marketing strategy that includes social media and e-marketing to let people know what deals they can expect when visiting your store. You may consider arranging a giveaway to entice people to stop by your store. This doesn’t have to be an expensive or drastic prize; instead, you can offer promotional products as giveaways.

3. Be Prepared to Extend Your Deals

Another great way to build on the buzz around the holidays is to extend your deals and specials. Tell customers in advance, or simply extend any special deals as the holidays pass as a response to demand, which will make your customers feel extra special and excited as you interact with them. If you intend to prolong your deals throughout the holidays, you'll want to schedule them accordingly and order enough inventory.

4. Offer Last-Minute Deals

A fun way to excite your local community is by offering last-minute deals and specials. Many companies do this by hosting specials such as “The 12 Specials of Christmas,” a series of time-sensitive last-minute deals throughout the holidays. These unique, short-lived deals are perfect for generating some extra enthusiasm and attracting interest in your business.

5. Prepare Your Team

Because the holidays attract large swarms of shoppers, you’ll want to fully prepare your store and team. This includes everything from rearranging the store and items so that deal items are front and center. Schedule an adequate workforce to handle the additional influx of customers. To prevent staff shortages due to sudden call-outs if employees become sick, schedule more people than needed. Hold additional training sessions leading up to the holiday season so that all team members understand the store's specials and sales. This will also help enhance customer service during the holidays.

6. Stock Up On Inventory

With all of these specials scheduled, your marketing efforts in full effect, and your employees trained and up-to-speed, it’s important to stock up on inventory to meet customer demands. Be sure to order two to three times the amount of your average inventory for special items. If you are worried that the items won’t sell out, and you are over-ordering, you can simply extend your sales and specials to ensure your inventory sells.

7. Thank Your Customers

Your customers have come out to your store for special deals and sales, but they have also chosen to support your business. Show your appreciation for them with a warm thank you, and even include some freebies. These promotional products can come in the form of coupons for future purchases, or even something as small as custom logo pens. A simple notion or gesture thanking customers for their loyalty can make a grand difference.