Oct. 5-11
HOLIDAY PREP We can’t leave these tasks off any seasonal to-do list: Pick your dates for holiday events, book photographers and decide on characters (traditional or naughty Santa, we don’t judge), order any last-minute product, get ahead on expiration-date checks, schedule promotions, assess decorations and shop for new, etc. We know you know all this, but won’t it feel good to easily check off these tasks?
STAFFING Reach out to seasonal employees returning from college. Jodi Etienne of Razzle Dazzle Doggie Bow-Tique in Bradley, IL, says, “We get them scheduled as soon as we know when they will be around. The main staff members appreciate the extra days off for their family events.”
Oct. 12-18
OPERATIONS Groomers, look at 2026 now. Erin Paitrick of Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming in Summerville, SC, shares, “October is when we plan the next year’s grooming schedule. I make sure what groomers are doing still works and discuss potential changes. We open the full calendar for the following year. Many of our clients are trained to schedule for a full year.” Boarding facilities can take the same approach, as clients who plan vacations around school schedules don’t want to miss out on reservations.
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Oct. 19-25
MARKETING When planning your Small Business Saturday promotions, hand out branded stickers. How cute are these above from Buzz n’ B’s Aquarium & Pet Shop? Kids love stickers, and you can encourage parents to snap a pic for their socials and tag your business. They can show off their cute kids and their support for shopping small.
MAINTENANCE Schedule any maintenance for before the busy holiday season. Roxane Cann of The Dapper Hound in Mount Airy, NC, tackles a big project each October. “Our building is an old historic bank, and our wood floors are beautiful,” she says. “We have them professionally cleaned after an annual festival due to the heavy foot and paw traffic. Furniture, displays, rugs, etc. are all moved so the floors can sparkle.” Cann negotiated a trade with a local renovations company whose owners are customers. “They clean our floors, and we give product for their service! It’s a total win-win!”
Oct. 26-Nov. 1
MARKETING Instagram delivers less traffic to low-engagement accounts. If you have a ton of inactive followers, you are being penalized. Start cleaning up your follower list. Go to your profile on the phone app, tap “Followers” and manually remove the inactive accounts. “Then spend time engaging with your community, responding to their comments and putting the social back in social media,” marketing expert Andrea Hill recommends.
Nov. 2-8
MAINTENANCE Speaking of additional foot and paw traffic, you may want to increase the frequency of cleaning tasks through December. Like “Taking things apart: the dehumidifier, fans and outlets, to suck out the dog hair,” Aimee Ranard of Good Karma Dog Spa in Duvall, WA, points out, adding. “Did you know there’s a full Husky behind each outlet plate!? It’s crazy!”
SELF-CARE In addition to stocking the breakroom with snacks and drinks for all, bring in multiple reusable bottles for yourself and place them strategically throughout your business. Julie Johannes of Happy Hounds Pet Supply, Bigfork, MT, says, “I keep water everywhere. Staying hydrated during this time is critical. There’s a lot of talking and extra work, which can add to the stress level. I often forget to drink water, so having a reminder in more than one place is essential.”
Nov. 9-15
RETURNS Extend your normal return policy for holiday purchases and communicate the change to customers. That way, early shoppers won’t need to worry about buying a gift that can’t be exchanged.
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Nov. 16-22
MARKETING Pull your top 5% of loyalty program members, based on dollars spent, then send a gift certificate with a handwritten personal note. They’ll appreciate the gesture and surely reaffirm their commitment to you for 2026.
Nov. 23-29
SELF-CARE When we asked the PETS+ Brain Squad to share tips for the busy holiday season, many more than a few emphasized the importance of self-care. Pam Alerine of Style Mutt in Cleveland, OH, says: “I make sure I exercise, eat right and get a good night’s sleep. At 70, I’m still working over 60 hours per week.” Amy Schiek of Lucky Dogs in Skaneateles, NY, recommends: “Take time for yourself every day, even if it’s for 15 minutes. On our busiest days, I eat my lunch in the car and listen to a podcast or my favorite songs. It’s a great way to re-energize myself before going back to work.” And Jennifer Larsen of Firehouse Pet Shop in Wenatchee, WA, advises: “Try to sneak in a vacation before the holiday rush. If you can’t, schedule one for right after so you have something to look forward to. Makes it easier if you know you have a nice relaxing vacay around the corner. Even if just a weekend away unplugged.”
