Winter: it’s the most wonderful time of the year, apparently. However, as a business owner, there are challenges ahead, and it’s necessary to prepare for them. Take a look below, and insulate your business from some of the more common winter risks business owners encounter at this time of year.
Risk #1: Slips and Trips
Legal action and compensation claims await the unprepared business owner. With icy parking lots and floors wet with melted snow ice and snow, the risk to staff and customers is high. Health and safety need to be a priority, and this means having enough salt to melt your frosted exterior, and a cleanup team ready to mop the floors of your business interior.
Risk #2: Chilly Staff and Customers
Your business interior should offer solace from the winter cold, but if there is a problem with your heating, then your staff and customers are going to have a miserable time. Be prepared for the worst, stocking up on gas oil, or whatever fuel your business utilizes. Be sure to get your heating system checked by a professional. The alternative is an unproductive staff team, unable to work because of the cold. Furthermore, your customers are sure to flee your store for the warmer interior of your nearest competitor.
Risk #3: A Lack of Staff
Unless you run a business like Ebenezer Scrooge, your staff will be asking for a few days off over the Christmas period. They might also come down with a winter illness, so those sickly phone calls are to be expected in this most chilly of seasons. To prepare your business, ensure there is a rotation in place so you have a handle on your team’s availability. You may also want to have a temp agency on speed dial should you need staff in an emergency.
Risk #4: Too Many | Too Few Customers
Can you ever have too many customers? The answer is yes, especially considering our last point. You need staff on hand to deal with the influx of Christmas shoppers, so follow the advice we have already given you, and perhaps hire part-time holiday staff to alleviate the extra workload. Then there’s the issue of too few customers! Many shoppers will prefer the luxury of ordering online, rather than braving the winter cold, so do what you can to attract them into your store, perhaps with a holiday promotion to celebrate the Christmas season.
Risk #5: A Tighter Budget
Your business will hopefully see an upturn in profits over the winter, especially if your service is tailored to the needs of spend-easy Christmas shoppers. However, considering the various expenses that are common at this time of year – heating bills, staff bonuses, paying for extra staff, charity donations – your business might start to feel the pinch. The best way to deal with this is to prepare for it early. Start to make savings across your business, and set money aside to deal with any shortfall.
The winter season can be dark and gloomy, and you may feel the same if your business takes a knock. However, follow these tips, and hopefully, you will be able to raise a glass to business profits rather than face the woe of financial losses.
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