Business seems to drop, slow or even stop during the winter months. As tourist traffic slows or stops during the winter months so does the incomes of many local business owners. The first step in overcoming this problem begins in your brain (don't they all?)
To begin with, don't see these slow months as a dead time. See them for what they are , a time to build customer relationships and prepare for the busy season to come. There are a few things that you might try to cushion the slow season. Below you'll find a list of strategies that just might work for your business.
1. Hold a class or Informational seminar-- Invite all your customers to come in for an educational session. Make sure that you have some nice deals for them on related items so that they can spend some money with you. It may well be worth considering doing the class for free. (gasp!) Some of the types of things that come to mind are Fishing, crafts, investments, flower arranging, interior decorating, travel tips, Information about certain surgerys, back pain relief, parenting, writing workshops and on and on??
2. Work up package deals that will be available during the "on" season but sell them now=get money now. Remember that money now is always worth more than money later! Here's a great idea for a resort. Pay us $250 now and we'll give you a two night stay and a boat rental (with 4 hours guided) and a picnic lunch. Just make your reservation any time in the year 2004. I've seen this exact package sell over 20%! If you offered this to 1000 prospects and sold 200 You would gross $50,000! Could $50,000 now tide you over for a few weeks?
3. Tune up your advertising. Start using benefits and offers to get up to 500% more return on investment from your advertising. I'll show you how for free if you call me. 870 213-7032
4. Learn to use word of mouth to up your sales. Call me.
5. Send press releases
6. Run a contest
7. Distribute Coupons
8. Use give aways to generate traffic and be prepared to sell. (give aways could consist of informational materials)
9. Pre-promote an "On" season special or event (ok this one is not going to get you winter dollars but it will be a productive use of your time
10. Don't forget the locals! Find something they'd like to invest in. This is the Thursday before Valentine's Day and I have not seen any resorts or hotels doing the "Romantic Getaway" deal
There are dozens of tips and strategies that will increase your winter dollars. You just have to implement some of them to profit. OH! Want to know an awesome secret? You can do the above all year long! Cool. Very cool.
Any Questions?
John M. Satterfield
870-213-7032
www.hypnosisucanuse.com
Marketing Coordinator Long Term Care White River Health System and Small Business Consultant
About The Author
John M. Satterfield C.Ht is a certified hypnotherapist and a corporate marketing director. He lives in Mountain View Arkansas wife is Mary Gale, Cocker Spaniel is Sir Lancelot
cleaning team near Mundelein ..Most companies that are worthy of raising venture capital have... Read More
Many companies are reluctant to dive into outsourcing ocean because... Read More
Business seems to drop, slow or even stop during the... Read More
"Bozo" ? A clown with a forlorn look, always finding... Read More
What gets measured gets done.How do you keep your business... Read More
Business planning is widely acknowledged as one of the keys... Read More
Conventional wisdom has it that there are only three ways... Read More
Cassy was an employee of a nonprofit who had been... Read More
How are you feeling today? Good, not so good, great?... Read More
In 1989, Sony founded its Institute of Wisdom at the... Read More
There is a story, about a business owner who wasn't... Read More
Diversify - to make diverse, give variety, to balance, to... Read More
1. Largest Selection -One way that you can make your... Read More
All investors greatly desire and are motivated by a clear... Read More
One of the key challenges for any business is to... Read More
As a franchisor it is imperative that you seek, find... Read More
Growth through acquisition should not be considered an option reserved... Read More
Is there really anything as a problem? Does chaos or... Read More
Here's a really simple way to make sure your plans... Read More
I'm not talking about posting the HBO schedule on your... Read More
When developing the competition section of your business plan, companies... Read More
The foundation of any business transaction is the promise of... Read More
If you own a pressure washing business one of the... Read More
You have heard that there is extra money on the... Read More
Imagine an office without a desk, or lights, a computer,... Read More
move out cleaning service Park Ridge ..Ask a small business owner about their strategic plan and... Read More
I. INTRODUCTIONThe term resilience, which is of frequent use in... Read More
If you are a successful franchise of a large franchise... Read More
This will make some people angry as hell, but it's... Read More
Business plan financial projections seem daunting because they are so... Read More
Why do so many companies languish and watch as their... Read More
Succession planning, like any business acumen, is both an art... Read More
If you are a manufacturer wanting to use your business... Read More
"Begin with the end in mind," says Stephen Covey in... Read More
Note to Northwest Airlines ? It's not about fuel costsFor... Read More
The goal of almost every business owner is to generate... Read More
With the help of balanced scorecard strategy map, it is... Read More
Business seems to drop, slow or even stop during the... Read More
How important is a vision statement to your company or... Read More
Obviously, there will never be an actual water shortage since... Read More
If ever there were an industry where we want zero... Read More
Diversify - to make diverse, give variety, to balance, to... Read More
When developing the competition section of your business plan, companies... Read More
I've either been involved with or held a process-related role... Read More
One Research Scientist at the Hewlett-Packard (HP) Imaging Systems laboratory... Read More
Making money doesn't make your reputation... your reputation makes you... Read More
Remember reading "Alice in Wonderland?"She asks the Cheshire Cat, "which... Read More
Canada's lean leaders need to look beyond the horizon and... Read More
From time to time there seems to be a flurry... Read More
People often ask "What makes a good business plan? Or,... Read More
Strategic Planning |