How Floral Business Owners Can Prepare for the Holidays
The holidays are a stressful time of year even if you’re not running a floral business, but add all that extra business on top of everything else, and you’ve got a recipe for stress!
Over the years I’ve found some ways to prepare for holiday order season without losing my mind, and I’m happy to pass them on to you today.
Simplify everything you possibly can
The holidays are complicated, so my biggest recommendation is to find ways to simplify your business and enjoy the season for what it is. Outsource admin tasks, schedule your social media posts to send out automatically, and work on streamlining your business process so you can focus on the work you enjoy.
Know your priorities
For me, the holidays are about friends, family, and community, so I try to focus on those things that matter to me. I care about this so much that I made a free worksheet for clarifying my decision making to help my business run smoothly.
Whether your holiday goal is to make extra sales, upsell accessories, or meet new contacts and clients, know what you want before the holiday madness sets in and your only goal becomes survival.
Discount old stock
If you’re drowning in extra ribbon or surplus supplies, remove some of that headache by selling it down before the holidays. The end of the year is a great time to re-work some extra stock and get your space ready for the new year. While you’re at it, review your pricing! Holidays are great for discounts, but you should also be sure you’re charging enough for your work. Check out my bouquet pricing demo video for some good tips and tricks.
If you want to make your proposals easier, check out my library of floral sketches! You’ll get an instant library of designs you can use when making proposals so you can win the business with as little fuss as possible.
Get involved in the community
Speaking of priorities, a great way to build relationships in your area and drum up some special holiday business is to table at local community events. Holiday parades, tree lighting, volunteer events, and other activities are a great way to showcase your work and connect with the community. You might even have fun!
Communicate your goals to your team
While you’re setting priorities and being clear on your goals, be sure you extend that same focus to your team. Review scheduling, sales goals, store hours, and the game plan with your team so that everyone’s on the same page. If you have a rush of poinsettia or holiday orders, make sure everyone knows how to handle them and get them processed as quickly as possible.
Trust me, it pays to be upfront and early with this. Don’t forget your delivery drivers!
And above all? Try to take some time for yourself and actually enjoy the holiday. Tis the season, y’all!
