It’s safe to say that most people are ready to put summer in the rearview mirror. Traditionally, it’s the slowest season of the year for most businesses, as customers and clients are off taking time off and new projects are often delayed until after the vacation season. Now, we’re preparing to begin the next season, which will bring plenty of new opportunities to help you make the most out of your small business.
When we think about fall, images of leaves changing colors and Halloween costumes flood our minds, but fall also brings the beginning of the third quarter. Many people are starting to focus more on their work in an attempt to reach their goals for the year, and your small business should be no different. If you want to serve your current customers best and make some new ones, it’s time to start asking how you can make your customers’ lives easier.
For many people, fall is a stressful time. The busy holiday season is right around the corner, and people are trying to get their homes ready for company and celebrations. This is the time of year when people are more likely to make big purchases or commit to home improvements so that their home can look its best when those out-of-town relatives show up at the door.
With the right strategy in hand, you can make the most out of people’s willingness to shop and make their fall more manageable in the process. It’s important that you have the right strategy in place though if you want to maximize your profits while also building relationships with your clientele in the process. If you’re unsure where to start, give some of these strategies a try!
Get Started On Your Holiday Sales.
The holiday season can make or break many businesses. Christmas is right around the corner, and you need to start planning out your holiday promotions before your customers have even begun to think about them. If you sell to retailers, pursue orders. Or if you sell to consumers, start creating unique holiday sales and merchandising. Themed sales usually do really well with clients and can help bring them back to your small business year after year. Promotions like 31% off products or services on Halloween or asking your clients to wear a costume for a small discount can be incredibly fun for them while also offering a unique experience. You can even do a Small-Business Saturday promotion, where customers who buy your products and post their purchase on social media (with the designated hashtag) receive $5 off their next purchase.
Attend Or Exhibit At Trade Shows.
Conventions and trade shows are back in full swing, and there are many to take advantage of this season. When you exhibit at a trade show, you’re getting the opportunity to put yourself in front of potential customers, some of whom could be life-changing for your company. The customers who attend trade shows are often looking for solutions to fix specific problems. Others may just be interested in learning more about different or new businesses. Either way, you get the chance to speak with customers who are already interested in your small business. If you’re unsure where to find information about upcoming trade shows, you can always visit the Trade Show News Network website (TSNN.com) to get started.
Don’t Take It Easy If You’re A Summer Small Business.
If your small business sees the bulk of your revenue coming in the summer, you can’t rest easy quite yet. There are plenty of things you can do during the slower months to ensure that your small business continues to see success. Start putting money away into two accounts: a reserve account for the slower months and a tax account for the IRS. Then, make sure you have a good CRM program and enter the information of all your summer customers. Make sure they hear from you a few times in the coming months, as you want them to return to you for your services or products when the summer season comes back around.
Communicate Regularly With Your Suppliers.
The upcoming months are not just busy for your small business but also for other small businesses across the country. That’s why it’s so important that you continue to regularly communicate with your suppliers. You don’t want your inventory to come up short, so, be kind and cordial with your vendors and suppliers. And make sure you pay your bills on time to ensure that there is no break in service. Without suppliers and vendors, it will be very difficult to have a profitable season.
Develop Your 2023 Small-Business and Marketing Plan.
It’s never too early to think about next year. You need to develop plans for next year so that your small business can continue to grow. If you wait until the new year has begun to create your plans and implement them, you will already be behind the curve. Your plan doesn’t have to be incredibly in-depth or answer every question, but you should reflect on a few specific areas. Figure out what your long- and short-term goals are while figuring out ways to accomplish them. If your goals have changed since last year, what new strategies are you putting in place to ensure that this year’s goals are met? Also, think about why you own a small business and what it means to you. It’s a great way to mine some inspiration for the new year.
Take Action.
Developing plans and creating goals are nice ways to get through the season, but if you don’t put them into action, they essentially amount to nothing. It doesn’t matter if you’re accomplishing small or large tasks, you need to find different ways to take action. Some examples include reconnecting with a new or old prospect, fixing a small-business issue that’s been nagging you for a while, or setting up a lunch date with a potential referral source. There’s no better time than the present to jump ahead. When you develop a strategy and put it into place, you are much more likely to see success within your small business. Sometimes your strategies won’t pan out, but that’s no reason to give up. Find ways to grow and develop your small business, and you will see success in no time.
