Getting a Headstart on January
Christmas is coming and this is a busy time for most businesses, especially if you offer seasonal goodies. However, that doesn´t mean you should leave off thinking ahead. January is very slow for the majority of businesses, so you need to start planning ahead now if you want business to continue as usual. Here are a few ideas to help you out:
- Offer special coupons with December purchases that are only good for January.
- Promote your gift certificates. Often people who receive a certificate for Christmas won´t use it until January . . . and then they will often spend over the amount, giving you extra income in a slow month.
- Promote a new product release that will occur in January. Include flyers with all purchases, to keep the idea of buying your special New Year product fresh in their minds.
- Get contact information. Since your sales will probably go up this time of year, why not take advantage of all the new customers to expand your mailing list? Whether you send by snail mail or an email newsletter, it´s a good idea to have a method of contacting previous buyers with new product information . . . especially during slower months.
- Give out holiday promo items. A Christmas ball with your name on it, will probably stay on the tree until the early New Year when decorations are being taken down. When the client takes that ball off the tree, she´ll be reminded of your business and might just make a return trip.
- Start promoting after-holiday sales now. Not too much, since you want people to buy now, but let them know that you will be giving discounts after the New Year. Since most folks are strapped for cash after the holiday season, this is the ideal time to offer them better deals.
What do you do to prepare your business for the January doldrums?
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What a great list of ideas to stimulate January business! You’re right, now is the time to start planning January sales and promotions. As a contractor, my business typically picks up a little in January since companies are getting their new budgets. For businesses that deal with consumers, I can see how there would be a slow-down.