The tourist season is drawing to a close at Lake of the Ozarks, school is back in session, and for most of us, we’re now on a fast-moving train heading toward the holiday season. Fall has come with pumpkins, Halloween, and wonderful baking smells starting to emanate from kitchens.
Then comes November, and we’re all focusing on the holidays. And one of the best things about the holiday season is spending time with family and friends.
From the Enchanted Village of Lights in Laurie, MO, to the annual Christmas Parade, Lake of the Ozarks is a great place to live or visit during the holidays.
However, it can also be a very busy time for small business owners. Here are a few tips for preparing for the holiday season:
1. Start planning early.
The sooner you start planning, the easier it will be to get everything done.
- Start by creating a holiday budget and setting aside money for each holiday you plan to celebrate.
- Next, start shopping for children’s gifts early to avoid crowds.
- When it comes to hosting a holiday party, start researching themes, dates, and decorations early to make sure you find the right one.
- Start signing up for other holiday activities, such as volunteering, as soon as the opportunities are announced.
- Lastly, set aside time to relax and enjoy the holidays.
2. Make a list of priorities.
What are the most important things you must do during the holiday season? Setting goals and prioritizing what you want to accomplish during the holidays will help you stay organized, focused, and stress-free.
So whether you want to spend more time with your family, grow in your faith, or give back to your community, having a list of goals will keep you on track and make sure you don’t forget something important.
3. Delegate tasks.
If you can’t do everything yourself, delegate tasks to your employees or family members. So if you have too much on your plate, this is one of the easiest ways to reduce stress and ensure that your responsibilities are completed.
Delegating tasks also helps employees (or younger family members) grow and learn new skills. Even if most of the work is done by you, there are likely still tasks that you could delegate to others.
4. Set a budget and stick to it.
The last thing you want is to go into debt during the holiday season. Setting a budget will allow you to make purchases without going broke.
If you’re a solopreneur, you can stay on track by monitoring your spending and only making purchases with cash. Stay away from credit cards if you are on a tight budget.
5. Make sure you have enough inventory.
You don’t want to run out of stock during the busiest time of the year. It is a good idea to order more inventory in advance to make sure you have enough to last through the busiest times.
You can also try to plan your purchases to arrive closer to the busiest times to make sure you have enough inventory on hand. It is a good idea to keep an eye on your inventory levels and reorder sooner if necessary.
6. Stay organized.
This will help ensure that everything runs smoothly during the holiday season. Start preparing early to avoid last-minute stress. Create a holiday to-do list and schedule time to complete each task. Setting aside a few hours each week will allow you to finish everything without feeling rushed.
You may also consider setting up an organizational system to keep things tidy throughout the season. Keeping your shop or office clean and tidy will reduce stress, make it easier to find things when needed, and make visitors and patrons feel more welcome.
7. Enjoy the Season!
Yes, the final months of the year can get pretty busy. However, they can also be a time of creating wonderful memories with friends and family at one of the best locations in the country. So whether you offer used boat lifts for sale or are building homes for people, we hope you will have a successful and stress-free holiday season at your small business at Lake of the Ozarks by following these tips.
Happy holidays!
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