For many business owners, preparing for the holiday season is an event unto itself. There’s a reason that many people refer to this time of year as “holiday season” rather than simply saying “Christmas time.” That’s because your Tampa business is going to see a completely different business pattern in the latter half of the year when compared to the first half.
Once Halloween is over, people shift their thoughts to Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving, it’s no-holds-barred madness as there are several major winter holidays that follow in quick succession. Retail establishments will see an influx of shoppers looking for Hanukkah and Christmas gifts.
Restaurants, as well as grocery and package stores, will see an uptick in patrons looking for good holiday meals and spirits. After all of the gifts are opened, it’s time to get ready for the New Year. So, as you can see, no matter what type of Tampa business you run, it’s time to brace for many more busy days to come.
Preparing Your Tampa Business For Holiday Madness
At this time of the season, your business has already seen many busy days. Thanksgiving and Black Friday have come and gone. Christmas is now just around the corner. You may think that it’s about time to let your guard down and return to business-as-usual. Don’t be fooled! Actually, the madness is about to kick into high gear.
That’s because last-minute Christmas shoppers are now rushing to check off their holiday to-do lists. What more can you do to prepare than you’ve already done? Hence, take a look at these tips to see where you and your business stand when it comes to holiday preparation.
Holiday Marketing
If you haven’t already, be sure to advertise special deals during the holiday season. Restaurants may choose to promote holiday catering options. That one is obvious, but other types of business may have to get a little more creative. For example, if your Tampa business is a cleaning service, you’ve got a wonderful opportunity before you.
You could run specials for after-party cleanup or pre-holiday gathering deep cleaning. There are more universal holiday marketing techniques, too. One example that works well is sending out holiday cards or postcards. For existing customers, you will want to thank them for their business and let them know that you appreciate them.
You could also send out marketing materials across a target geographic area. These “cold-call” types of notes should simply be fun holiday or New Year’s greetings. Don’t risk turning your recipients off by heavily trying to recruit people into your business who may not have any need for your services.
Increase Visibility
During the Christmas season and into the New Year, there will be tons of business events going on in the community. These could be anything from pop-up fairs to organized holiday parties. If you are able, sponsoring one of these Tampa events will shine a spotlight on your business. If you are unable to host an event on-site at your location, reach out to community event organizers to see if there are any events that are still accepting sponsors.
Even if you are not able to host or sponsor an event, your business can still make some sort of appearance. For example, you could send a few business representatives to set up a booth advertising your services. These representatives should also stick around to interact with the public during the event. This provides a great opportunity to put a face to your business.
When people see someone in the business that they can identify with, they are more likely to trust and use your Tampa business’s services. Don’t forget to bring some goodies to give away! Some popular options include pens, reusable water bottles, and can or bottle cozies. Just be sure that your freebies have your business’s name and contact info on them!
Service With A Smile
Serving your customer base takes on a whole new meaning during the holidays. Throughout the year, you always want to do your best to meet your clients’ and customers’ needs. However, these needs are a little different around Christmastime.
Keep in mind that this is the busiest time of the year, not just for your business but for individuals, too. As such, people may be behaving differently during this season. Tensions run high with heavy traffic on the roads. As Christmas gets closer, shoppers will only become more anxious as they stress over finding the perfect gifts for their loved ones. Even something so simple as the cooler temperatures can make some folks grumpy when they have to go outside.
As such, it is important to keep a level head at work. Be mindful that helping anxious or stressed out patrons will require much more patience and understanding. Your customers and clients are coming to you to acquire goods or services. The last thing that they want to see is someone who seems like they don’t want to be at work.
Employee Value
It is imperative that morale stay high, no matter whether you work in an office, a lab, a restaurant, or a retail establishment. When morale suffers, so does your business’s productivity. However, this isn’t just about profit.
Employees who feel valued are not just more productive. They are also happier and healthier in the long run. On the other hand, overworked employees have higher stress levels and are more likely to get sick. Therefore, it is in your company’s best interests to take care of its employees.
What does this mean, practice? There is a time for seriousness, but also time to have a little fun. Something as simple as allowing employees to break dress code for an Ugly Sweater Day makes a huge difference. Try to allow your employees a little extra time off during the holiday period. Remember, they also have families to spend time with and gift shopping to take care of, all while maintaining the same work hours.
If possible, considering closing up early some days. Market research has even shown that consumers view businesses that close on major holidays more favorably than those that don’t.
Holiday Travel With A Tampa Limo Service
One of the biggest issues during the holidays is traveling. It’s not just major travel plans that get hectic. While the weather may ground flights, it can also make the roads more dangerous. Don’t think that just because you run a Tampa business that you are immune from winter weather woes.
For example, consider your incoming product or supply shipments. Icy roads or grounded flights can delay your shipment if your cargo is in one of the delayed vehicles. For locations, like Tampa, that don’t see much winter weather, there is still the matter of increased road traffic. People are traveling into and out of town to visit family and friends.
Limo Service Tampa
With more visitors in town, keep in mind that there are now many people on the roads that are unfamiliar with the area. This accounts for many accidents around the holidays. At Network Transportation, we have the perfect luxury vehicles to fit your needs. If you have friends or family flying into town, send our TPA Airport Shuttle services to collect your visitors and bring them safely to you.
Sometimes business travel is necessary during the holidays. Forget the hassles of driving yourself. When you hire a professional chauffeur, you don’t have to worry about traffic, parking, or even watching the road. Plus, booking your reservation early will give you the peace of mind that comes with marking something off on your to-do list.
Furthermore, when you book a limousine or black car service from Network Transportation, you’re also supporting a local business. We are proud to serve the Tampa Bay area and provide our neighbors with safe, reliable luxury ground transportation services.
