Are you ready for Christmas? Usually this question comes up much closer to the winter holidays, but there are some good reasons to start thinking about the yuletide season during the dog days of summer.
Whether it’s providing winter-preparation services, offering discounts, or promoting relaxation during the holiday months, there are plenty of ways to plan for the Christmas season before the holiday rush begins. We have some Christmas in July business ideas to help you prepare for the busiest (and most wonderful) time of the year, no matter what type of business you own.
Retail
The busy season for many retailers is usually months away, but July and August can be a great time to blend some of the energy and excitement of the holidays with the easy living and vacation vibes of summer.
In true Christmas fashion, consider starting with a list. While customers love a bargain, they’re likely looking more for everyday items than special gifts at this time of year. Here are some suggestions to capitalize on that:
Clearance sales:
Offer significant discounts on summer merchandise to make way for holiday inventory.
BOGO deals:
Implement buy-one, get-one offers on select items to incentivize purchases.
Gift Card Bonuses:
Similar to BOGO deals, offering a bonus gift card with a gift card purchase can help drive future sales.
For some owners, Christmas in July is the perfect opportunity to re-introduce their business to the community. Full Moon Vintage Village in Hampton, New Hampshire, did just that after they recently moved locations. This retail shop offers a mix of antiques, collectibles, vintage toys, and a vast record collection.
“We wanted to get our name out there to our new local community and help support local vendors,” said Bob Pace, one of the two owners at Full Moon Vintage Village. “So we decided to host a Christmas in July event to welcome new local clients and offer discounts on our merchandise.”
In addition to attracting new business, the owners also invited local vendors to set up stations at their location during the event, to sell their own merchandise.
“It was a true community building event for us,” said Bob.
Tradespeople
If you work in the trades industry, be prepared for the influx of work that comes with the changing season. For instance, if you own a landscaping business, ensure you’re adequately staffed to handle fall clean-ups and snow removal.
Contacting your customers now can be a great time to book appointments and contracts before the winter season rush. It’s also a way for them to avoid the stress of being left out when the rest of the world rushes to book your services.
The holidays are busy, so it’s good to position your services as a way to help simplify your customers’ lives. For example, if you own a handyman business, you could offer a special promotion, including setting up wreaths and Christmas lights for homeowners, vendors, or store managers.
Remember, marketing efforts take time, so planning your advertising, emails, and social media posts in July and August ensures your promotions will be ready to “go live” before the season begins. This guide can help you get started.
Need more help with your marketing? We’ve put together a collection of resources for you right here.
Professional Services
For many professionals, Christmas in July may be the perfect time to strategize and prepare for the upcoming end-of-year. Consultants can reach out to their clients to set up time to look ahead and plan for the new year. Similarly, real estate agents can use July to start planning and actively promoting their listings ahead of the next-year spring selling season.
Christmas in July gives restaurant owners and other food service businesses the perfect head start to brainstorm and create their winter menus. And for photographers, it’s a great time to put some thought into boosting business.
Lifestyle Businesses
For lifestyle businesses such as massage therapists, yoga instructors, and life coaches, the holiday season can be a stressful time of the year — not just for your clients, but for you as well!
Christmas in July gives you time to prepare for the months ahead, ensuring everyone a more relaxed holiday season. Beauticians and cosmetologists can put together their holiday wellness and beauty packages so clients are party-ready, and ecommerce sellers can plan for promotions and sales.
For small business owners, Christmas in July is a chance to incorporate the holiday spirit into your business plan. Consider collaborating with other small businesses to make the most of the season. By joining forces, you can create promotions and events to attract more customers and spread holiday cheer.
Give Yourself an Early Present
While Christmas and the holidays can come with joy, wonder, and magic, they also can bring a sleigh-full of stress, worry, and concern. We can help take some of that off your list.
If you plan on expanding services, adding more inventory, or bringing on seasonal help, we can help you update your coverage now so you’re ready for the season. Best of all, you can do it all online in just minutes so that you can enjoy the rest of July and the summer.
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Baby, It’s Warm Outside
It may be July, but it’s never too soon to deck the halls. As a small business owner, you can make the most of Christmas in July by brainstorming, strategizing, and planning for the upcoming holiday season. Start now, and December can be smooth sledding.
In the spirit of (early) giving, we’d like to share these helpful resources with you:
How to Use Digital Marketing to Grow Your Business’s Digital Footprint