Creative Commons David Porter
We know that Pumpkin Spice Lattes just hit Starbucks but it’s already time to start thinking about the holidays if you’re a small business. Careful planning now can mean a less stressful and more productive holiday season for your business.
The fourth quarter is always the busiest at On Time Logistics because we are called on for multiple services including courier deliveries and last-mile deliveries for Christmas gifts. We’ve learned from our own experience and from our clients how a business can have a more successful holiday season.
Inventory management
Over purchasing inventory often forces retailers to offer deep discounts to get rid of the overstock.
(Creative Commons Daniel Oines)
Last year, we talked about inventory control management and our advice still holds true. To best forecast your holiday sales, you need to:
- Consider the economic times
- Analyze your inventory
- Know your profit centers
- Use technology for frequently updated information.
Inventory management around the holidays will differ from the rest of the year for most businesses because Christmas gifts create a different and increased demand.
E-Commerce and deliveries
Flickr user Maria Elena
The popularity of e-commerce increases every year and that means the need for last-mile services increases. It also means that companies who offer e-commerce need to make sure they are on their game.
Having inventory ready to ship and getting it shipped on time is vital to customer satisfaction. Do you have your supply chain established? Have you planned for contingencies?
Local deliveries are another consideration. Hiring a courier service to deliver client gifts will streamline the process and reduce load on you or your employees. We can create a route that would get all your client gifts delivered on time and on the same day.
Does your business offer delivery service? Consider hiring a courier service during the holidays to help pick up the extra work.
Ensure Your Holiday Sales Team is Well-TrainedHuman resources
Making sure your holiday sales team is well-trained BEFORE the rush is vital to success. (Creative Commons zenjazzygeek)
Does your business have enough people to work during the holidays? Are they well-trained? It’s both unfair to your customers and employees if you hire temporary help then wait until the week of Thanksgiving to train them.
It’s also important to establish a holiday work schedule that takes into account vacation time. Depending on your company’s policies, you might have a large number of people trying to take off for both the holidays and to use vacation days before they expire. Make sure you won’t be short-handed.
What other ways are you preparing your business for a successful holiday season?