Dec. 1-7
CULTURE Launch a store tradition, like staff wearing red and green bowties, to reinforce the message that the holiday season is here.
MANAGEMENT Hold short morning meetings. To ensure they stay brief, insist everyone stand. Update staff on which items to suggest first, ads you’re running and what’s highlighted in your window cases and on social media.
Dec. 8-14
IN-STORE Review your store’s decompression zone, that first few feet inside the front door. Shoppers here are prone to distractions. Keep this area simple and uncluttered.
MARKETING Start posting photos of your bestselling pet gifts on Facebook each day. Post the first when you open, and the other around 3 p.m.
Dec. 15-21
MARKETING Only 10 days to go until Christmas: Highlight any extended hours on your website or Facebook page.
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SALESFLOOR Take some of the stress out of last-minute shopping by offering food, drink and good music.
Dec. 22-28
MANAGEMENT Before you close on Christmas Eve, thank every team member personally for their efforts this year.
INVENTORY Seasonal inventory needs to go. It’s post-Christmas sales time — certain customers have been waiting all year for this.
Dec. 29-Jan. 4
CRM Send thank-you cards to every customer, even those who bought nothing more than poop bags.
DECORATIONS Did you see a reindeer lawn ornament, but didn’t want to splurge? Or did a towering inflatable Santa strike your fancy? Buy next year’s decorations now … at a huge discount.
Jan. 5-11
WEATHER January typically sees the coldest days of the year. Have a plan in place should the weather get so severe that it interrupts business. Could you offer a 2 percent discount for every inch of snow that falls if customers are willing to brave the conditions to come in? Or could you boost online offerings?
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PLANNING Set yourself goals and then break them down into quarterly, monthly, weekly and even daily actions. Start planning at least two big events for the year.
Jan. 12-18
DISPLAY The last symbols of snow and cold weather should have been banished the day after Christmas. It may still be freezing outside, but inside you want your customers thinking of spring.
ADVERTISING Break down your monthly ad spending based on monthly store sales of the last three or four years. (If February accounts for 7 percent of your sales for the year, allocate 7 percent of your ad budget for that month.)
Jan. 19-25
OPERATIONS Start a new routine: A weekly email to all employees to keep everyone in the loop on what is happening in your business, within the industry, and being motivated.
FINANCES Meet with your accountant to go over your balance sheet and financial goals for the year. While you’ve got your books out, create a monthly cash-flow projection for the year.
Jan. 26-Feb. 1
CONTEST PREP The America’s Coolest Stores Contest honors the country’s most innovative pet businesses. Enter today at petsplusmag.com/ACS.