How to make the most of your seasonal business
Can you have a seasonal business?
Summer has arrived, and that means it's time to kick off seasonal businesses in full swing. It is indeed possible to run a business that only operates for a few months each year. Whether you're running an ice cream stand, renting out water sports equipment, or operating a pick-your-own venue, now is the time to get things moving so you can make the most of the few months your business can stay open.
How to start a seasonal business
How do you get off to a good start and achieve the greatest returns? And how do you keep everything under control when things get really busy? In this article, we share our best advice on how to successfully launch your seasonal business, focusing on marketing, inventory management, staffing, and much more.
Get the best start to the season
Start strong and prepare your business to make the most of this season. After being limited by COVID-19 for so long, with many restrictions easing or being completely lifted, now is the perfect time to attract customers as spending increases. We've highlighted some key areas that you should focus on to get things right when the season kicks off.
Inventory
As we approach the peak season and demand rises, it’s a good idea to invest in a sensible inventory. There's plenty of opportunity to boost revenue during the summer period, as long as you offer seasonal products that appeal to summer-hungry consumers. Inventory is a great place to start your preparations, and it can be helpful to look back at last year's sales if possible. This can serve as a good indicator of how many items should be ordered for stock.
Employees
As business picks up, it’s crucial to keep up, so it’s important to get the staffing in order so that the schedule aligns seamlessly. Create an overview of the employees you have available and how many hours they can allocate. As the rush increases for a period, it might be a good idea to hire seasonal staff to ensure your business is prepared to handle the pressure.
Marketing
Although your business naturally experiences higher demand during the peak season, there’s no excuse not to leverage marketing. Take the opportunity to reach even more people - this is when there’s maximum focus on and interest in your products, so why not capitalize on the potential? Whether you focus on marketing through social media, SEO optimization, website improvements, or perhaps a combination of all, it’s up to you. However, no doubt intensified marketing can have a significant impact on your business. Explore your options and try different approaches.
Maintain oversight amidst the rush
Once the temperature hits 20°C, the line at the ice cream stand is usually endless, and it can be hard to keep up with the pace when things really get busy. Fortunately, there are several tools that can help ease the rush.
Make inventory management part of your cash register system
It should be easy and clear to manage inventory when things get busy. With Shopbox’s POS system, you get a simple cash register solution with inventory management in one software, allowing you to easily handle and track your products. We highly recommend that most businesses use inventory management so that a more optimal flow between purchased and sold goods is achieved. With this solution, you can quickly and easily get an overview of what products you have in stock and when it’s time to restock, even amidst the rush. Learn more about how you can benefit from integrating your inventory management with your cash register system here.
Make your shift scheduling easier
Avoid spending too much time on practical and tedious tasks related to shift planning. With Planday, you can gather everything you need for managing your employees, including shift scheduling, communication, HR, time tracking, and reporting. If you're used to handling shift planning in a more traditional way with programs like Excel, you'll experience significant time savings by switching to an online solution. With Planday, you'll get an online shift scheduling system that helps you create schedules faster than you're used to, by taking into account your employees' availability, vacation, and wages. Learn more about how Planday can help lighten the load in your seasonal business here.