Page 36 - FINAL PEAK PERIOD PLANNER 2018

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As the holidays approach, you begin prepping for the anticipated boost in business that the months of November and December typically bring. While an increase in sales is most welcome, dealing with a steady barrage of customers can leave you feeling a little frazzled at the end of the day. Having a plan for staying organized is essential to keep your store running smoothly. Here are some things you can do both in front of and behind the scenes to maintain order in the midst of the holiday rush.
A well-plManAnReKdYOscUhRedCuAleLEcNaDnAbRe your best friend during the holidays. Let these tips help you avoid being overwhelmed by your to-do list:
• Pencil in Black Friday and Cyber Monday first so you can begin planning your promotions for these events early.
• Jot down when you’ll be running sales or hosting in-store events.
• Take note of inventory delivery dates so you know when new stock will arrive.
• Coordinate with your employees to plan out your seasonal schedule.
• Mark off any days you’ll be closed, as well as days when you plan to close early or extend hours.
• Keep track of key dates.
PLANNING AHEAD MEANS YOU CAN WORRY LESS ABOUT UNEXPECTED SURPRISES AND IT’S EASIER TO MAKE CHANGES IF NECESSARY.
CREATE A HOUSEKEEPING SCHEDULE
At the end of a long shopping day, your store could easily look like a tornado passed through it. Using a simple maintenance list can keep the chaos to a minimum.
• Assign your employees to specific zones in the store for which they are responsible.
• Schedule regular sweeps throughout the day for tidying up displays and restocking merchandise.
• Delegate opening and closing clean-up tasks, such as sweeping, cleaning windows, taking out the trash, vacuuming, etc.
• Schedule one day a week to review sales and order inventory.
Assigning essential tasks to a specific day of the week ensures that you’re getting the most important things done without feeling overwhelmed.