The C-Word is Only Four Months Away

The sun is shining, the days are long, and it feels like Summer has finally arrived in the UK. But while relaxing and enjoying your evening aperol spritz , there’s a little voice in your head reminding you that Christmas—the busiest time of the year for your small business—is just around the corner. In fact, this time in four months we will be sitting down to our turkey lunch. You know the festive season is make-or-break, but with everything going on, where do you even start?

Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered! With a bit of planning now, you can actually enjoy the Summer and still be ahead of the game come December. Here are the top tips to get your business ready for the Christmas rush without sacrificing your summer vibes.

Christmas Swim - Slim Aarons 1954

🎄 Review Last Year’s Performance

Before you dive into planning, take a moment to reflect on last year’s holiday season. What worked? What didn’t? Dig into the data and identify the campaigns, products, or services that brought in the most revenue. Were there any bottlenecks in your processes? Use these insights to guide your planning this year. Remember, learning from the past is the best way to boost your future success.

🎄 Plan Your Christmas Offering

Think about what products you will offer as Christmas gifts. Review last year’s sales data to see what worked well and consider your current top-performing products. Grouping products together to create beautiful gift sets is always a good idea. Not only does this make shopping easier for your customers, but it also boosts your average order value.

🎄 Collaborate with Other Small Businesses

Now is a great time to approach some small businesses you love that offer complementary products. Can you collaborate to sell each other’s products in your gift bundles? You have time to organise this now, and a well-thought-out partnership can expand your reach and attract new customers.

Santa Claus picking oranges in Florida, 1965 - Florida Memory/State Library and Archives of Florida

🎄 Get Your Product Images Ready

Need to hire a photographer to do some shots? Get them booked now! If you’re taking the photos yourself, do it before the festive rush. Dig through the Christmas box hiding away in the attic for some props, and start photographing your Christmas products. High-quality images can make all the difference in driving sales, especially when you’re competing with so many other businesses during the holiday season.

🎄 Get Your Website Holiday-Ready

Your website is your storefront, so it needs to be in top shape for the holidays. Start writing product descriptions now, and if you hire someone to help load your website content, book them in. Think about the customer journey. Get your mobile out and click through the process from Instagram to sale. Is it seamless and easy? If it’s clunky, you’ll lose sales. Make sure your website is ready to handle the festive traffic and that it offers a smooth, enjoyable shopping experience.

🎄 Key Dates Beyond Black Friday

While Black Friday is a significant event, it’s tough to stand out with all the noise. Instead, think more creatively about key dates in November and December. For instance, Small Business Saturday on December 7th and Make a Gift Day on December 3rd are perfect opportunities to engage your audience. Also, consider the period after Christmas, when customers are looking to spend their holiday money on Boxing Day. Map out the entire festive season and give the same amount of effort to each phase.

Santa Claus with presents in a boat, 1965 - Florida Memory/State Library and Archives of Florida

🎄 Organise Your Social Media Strategy

Social media is a powerful tool during the holiday season, so don’t leave it to the last minute. Plan out your holiday posts, stories, and ads now. Think about what platforms your audience uses the most and how you can engage them with festive content. A little planning now will save you from the December scramble.

🎄 Create Your Content for Social Media

Organise your content into a scheduling tool—your future self will thank you for this. This also applies to your blogs and newsletters—get them done now! Planning and scheduling your content in advance will save you a lot of stress later and ensure that you’re consistently engaging with your audience.

Ready to Brainstorm Your Christmas Campaign?

Hopefully, these tips have sparked some ideas for your Christmas planning. But if you need more help pulling together your campaign, book some time with us, and we can brainstorm and map it out together. We can also help deliver your Christmas campaign. After all, we love Christmas!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas... 🎶⁠