The 2019 Small Business Holiday Survival Guide

The holidays are just around the corner, and while at home it might mean time with family and friends or enjoying the season, it can be fairly stressful for small business owners. During the holidays, you’ll have to compete with larger businesses offering steep discounts as well as the massive rush of business from customers looking to take care of things before the end of the year. So how is a small business owner supposed to keep it together during this stressful time of year? Use these tips to help you and your small business survive the end of 2019 with your sanity and business intact.

Keep Your Space Safe

When your focus shifts to keeping up with a rush of customers and increasing competition, it can be easy to let other aspects of your business move to the back burner. Make sure that even when things are a bit hectic for your business that you’re keeping your work environment safe for you, your employees, and your customers. This can be as simple as making sure that you have signs to put up if you’ve just mopped recently. After all, over 20,000 workplace slip and fall injuries in 2015 were reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the state of California alone. Keeping your space safe can be easy, but will take a bit of extra focus when other tasks start piling up.

Know When You Need More Help

Small businesses are often operating on a shoestring budget, which can lead some entrepreneurs to cut costs by limiting employees. However, this can be a mistake during the holiday season. During 2016, U.S. retailers hired an extra 570,000 people for the holiday season, and for good reason. Having a few extra hands around, even if only temporarily, can help ease the stress that comes with holiday business. Don’t immediately rule out hiring temporary help during the holidays, even if money is tight – it could help you get through the season.

Focus On Customer Care

With other, larger businesses able to offer steeper discounts, how can you keep up during the holiday season? You might not have to cut into your profits as much as you think to drum up more business. Instead, focus on customer care as much as possible and emphasize the experience of shopping small during the holiday season. While larger businesses can offer low prices, you’re able to provide closer care and a better atmosphere due to the size of your business. Up to 70% of buying experiences are based on how the customer feels they are being treated, and you’ll be able to treat your customers better than your average retail store during the holidays.

Merchandising, Merchandising

Finally, the best way to not only survive but thrive during the holiday season is to beef up your marketing plans. Now is the best time to get your company’s name out into the world, especially if you largely rely on local business. Try some new tactics that you’ve been shying away from adding to your marketing plans during the rest of the year. For example, try offering customers free items with your company’s name on them; this works especially well with clothing. Not only is women’s apparel one of the top-selling items on the internet, but with clothing, your customers will turn into walking advertisements for your business. The more often they wear your giveaway clothes, the more people will see your company’s name. It’s a win-win; the customer gets a free product, and you get low-cost advertising.

Getting through the holidays as an entrepreneur with a small business can be stressful, but there are plenty of ways you can take advantage of the season to help your business thrive. Use these tips to set yourself up for success leading into the new decade.