The holidays are make-or-break time for small businesses, and you need to be prepared for the influx of holiday shoppers. From decorating your storefront to hiring seasonal staff, there's a lot to do to get ready for the holiday rush. But don't worry, we've got you covered. Here's a handy checklist from the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council of everything you need to do to get your small business ready for the holidays.

1. Attract Shoppers with Storefront Decor

First impressions matter, so make sure your storefront is festive and inviting. Put up some holiday lights, put out a holiday wreath, and make sure your windows are clean. You want your store to stand out from the rest, so potential customers can see that you're open for business and ready to help them find the perfect gifts.

2. Stock Up for the Holiday Rush

The holidays are the busiest time of year, so make sure you're prepared for an influx of customers. Stock up on supplies, restock your shelves, and train your employees on how to handle the holiday rush. If you're not prepared, it will show, and potential customers will take their business elsewhere.

3. Add Seasonal Staff for Extra Help

The holidays are also a great time to hire some seasonal staff to help with the increased customer traffic. Seasonal employees can help with everything from stocking shelves to ringing up customers. This extra help will free up your regular employees so they can focus on providing excellent customer service.

4. Create Gift Guides for Shopping Ease

People love giving gifts during the holidays, but sometimes they need a little inspiration. Create a gift guide of items that are available at your store to help give people ideas of what to buy for their loved ones. Include items for everyone on their list, from kids to grandparents.

5. Advertise Your Holiday Cheer

The holidays are a great time to update your marketing materials with festive images and holiday messaging. Make sure your website and social media channels are updated with holiday content so potential customers know you're open for business and ready to help them with all their holiday shopping needs.

6. Use PDFs for Holiday Promotions

Everyone loves a good deal, so use PDFs to create promotional offers that you can share online and in-store. Offer discounts on popular items or bundle several items together at a discounted price. Just make sure your offers are clear and easy to understand so potential customers can take advantage of them without any hassle. You can create your promos in one file, then just split them into separate PDFs. This makes them easy to distribute throughout the holiday season.

7. Make it Easy for Last-Minute Shoppers

The holidays always bring out last-minute shoppers looking for that perfect gift at the last minute. Make sure you're prepared for them by having plenty of stock on hand and easy-to-understand signage throughout your store indicating where popular items are located. You don't want last-minute shoppers leaving empty-handed because they couldn't find what they were looking for!

8. Keep Your Community in Mind

The holidays are also a great time to give back to the community that supports your small business year-round. Host a food drive, donate toys to local children in need, or volunteer at a local soup kitchen or shelter. There are endless ways to give back, so find one that resonates with you and your employees and get involved!

The holidays are a crucial time for small businesses, so it's important to be prepared for the influx of holiday shoppers. By decorating your storefront, preparing for the holiday rush, hiring seasonal staff, creating a gift guide, updating your marketing materials, creating promotional offers using PDFs, attracting last-minute shoppers, and giving back to the community, you can make this holiday season a success!

Join the Lake Wales Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council to connect with local entrepreneurs and resources that can help your business grow.