With the lazy days of summer upon us, it can be easy to coast through these slower times as customers lengthen appoints, opt for a less-maintenance look, and you and your staff are day-dreaming of a beach day. Don't squander this summer slow down. Make the most of this slower time by planning your way to success for the last part of year!
Jump Start Promotion Planning
Remember that panicked feeling you get when you realize it is almost Halloween and you haven’t even started gearing up for the busy season? The holidays will be here before you know it. Use this down time to strategize on how to maximize sales. Review what offers and products moved last year. Knowing what worked and what didn’t will guide you to your game plan. Plot out a rough guess for your inventory needs. Don’t forget the gift set idea. Offer a variety of pre-packed ready-to-go gift sets. Create a variety of price points for all budgets. Work with your distributor now for discounts on pre-holiday orders or special payment terms to you can stretch out your cash flow. Poll your staff for their input on promotions or retail products that sell. If they feel a part of the planning process, they have more buy-in and will be more likely to whole-heartily participate and hence drive more sales.
Join a Cause
Partnering with a charity can not only makes you feel good, but also can encourage clients to get involved. It results in great PR and can increase sales. Pick a cause that is dear to your heart such as breast cancer awareness, heart health, or the environment. You can create promotions or events around these causes. An example is for October Breast Cancer Awareness Month offer a free awareness band with each purchase or donation. In November align with a food drive in your community to provide needy families a Thanksgiving meal. Give discounts to customers who bring in non-perishable food items. December partner with Toys For Tots and hold a toy drive. These events will provide great publicity for your business, plus you are helping these fabulous causes!
Get Social
By now you are probably swimming in information on how your business needs to be participating in social networking. This can be overwhelming since the social networks seems to change like the wind. Take this slower time to get acquainted with these new marketing tools. If needed, enlist the help of your younger staff to give you quick lessons or to assist in your posting efforts. Websites such as FaceBook and Twitter are free to set up and don’t take much to get up and running. Use these sites to highlight special offers, your cause marketing efforts, or even before and after customer pictures. It is all about building a community of your customers and having them share their experience with your business and brand. Once you get going, it will be easy to keep it up with just a few minutes a day.
These are just a few ideas to make the most of your down time. Be the worker ant and not the grasshopper this summer. With a little planning now, you will reap additional advertising, a less stressful busy season, and increased sales!
