Streamlining seasonal factors in your business

With Christmas appearing menacingly over the horizon this is probably a good time to return to that old chestnut – seasonal products and services. If you are a business offering solely seasonal products or services, then you need to ensure that the turnover you hope to receive during your high seasons are going to keep you in profits throughout the whole year.

Know your highs and lows

The first factor to understand about seasonal swings is they may well go unnoticed. Throughout the financial year there are likely to be little nuances and highs and lows triggered by various time periods. If you are not careful you may mistake these times as a reflection that your company is thriving significantly better than average – when in reality you are selling more pumpkins because it is the end of October.  Learn the cycles of demand within your industry and monitor them throughout the year.

A clear plan ahead through the dark times

Seasonal business management is going to call for insight and vision and a cool head. Practically you are going to need to be able to plan in the long term both in terms of logistics and your budget. You are going to need finances from the high months to see you through those slow months and facilitate systems whereby processes are not depleting the budget out of season.

Don’t waste your client base

The one great factor you have (hopefully) from the high season, is a robust client base. These are individuals and businesses you have presumably built up trust with already and can therefore approach again with other sales ideas. It may well be worth considering alternative income streams when work is low to take advantage of this precious commodity.

Cut costs with self-storage

During the slow months your costs need to be cut. You will therefore be considering employing at high seasons and increasing stocks only when you need to. However, there are some industries where there is a requirement to store stock out of season. This is when you may need to look to inexpensive self-storage outlets. If you are based in London it may be worth looking outside the city centre for reduced costs.

Keep in touch with your clients

Marketing for the up and coming high season should of course start early but that does not mean you should not keep in touch with your clients all round offering little tasters of what is to come, offers for if they get in early and news about those interesting side deals out of season. This way you strengthen your relationship with your client and increase the chances they will approach your brand for the product.

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