As the week before Christmas unfolds, now is a good time to
plan how you'll track important details during and after the holidays. Taking
note of what works and what doesn’t work can make next year’s holiday season
run more smoothly.
Questions to ask as a post-holiday recap may include:
- What
day of the week did the holiday fall on? This can affect
shopping patterns.
- How’s
the weather? Does it help or hurt sales?
- Which
sales or promotions did you offer? Pay attention to what
gets the best response.
- How’s
your inventory? Did you have too much of some products/supplies
or not enough of others?
- Was
staffing adequate for each day and time leading up to the holiday? Ensure
your team can handle pre-holiday surges.
Get your team involved, too. They often hear useful
feedback from customers that can help you plan better for next year. These
questions can be used to track and review all major holidays, including
Valentine’s Day, Easter, etc. RCI Members: Login to the
member site to download a comprehensive Holiday Sales Recap template within “Templates
and Tools” in the Business Tool Kit, under Member Resources.
By taking the time to track and review these things now,
you’ll have a clearer picture of what to adjust for the future—setting yourself
up for an even better holiday season next year.
Crave more? Click here to
subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight
to your email inbox. RCI's blog is just one of the many resources we offer
to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and
marketing practices. Follow
us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.
Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.
