Here's something independent businesses don't talk about enough. Day-to-day business can be slow after the hectic flurry of Christmas orders. 

We like to be transparent here at Uberstar. We’ve been proudly independent for over 13 years and our small business has gone from strength to strength during that time, but that doesn't mean we’re always expanding. There can be very quiet days, weeks and months as an online retailer, particularly after such a big gifting holiday like Christmas. Progress isn’t linear and it’s important to be honest about the ups and downs in this crazy industry.

We've put together some of our top tips to get through those quieter months and utilize the downtime to remain productive and boost sales.

Our top tips for utilizing down-time after Christmas as a small business

Tip 1 - Attend trade shows 

Whether you're an exhibitor or a buyer representing your business. Attending those spring time trade shows whilst business is slow keeps you productive when you don't have lots of orders to distribute. Plus, you're actively drumming up sales by taking orders in person or you're buying new and exciting stock for your customers. Tease what you’ve found on social media and encourage customers to visit your store when the new stock is out.

Tip 2 - Prioritise marketing

If you’re a small team, marketing may not always be at the top of your priority list. However, now is the best time to plan future content and set up some campaigns. 

Use this time to shoot some content for social media. You can create a bank of photos and videos to store on your computer, ready for when you just don’t have the time to create something new later on. We also recommend scheduling content in advance. Platforms such as Sprout Social, Later, Hubspot and many more are really useful for getting ahead of your content calendar. Try to schedule at least two or three posts per week a month in advance. Then, you can post more content closer to the time to make sure you’re staying on top of the latest trends.

Tip 3 - Customer outreach

Check in with the customers that made purchases over Christmas. Ask them for real, honest feedback, use this to fuel your product innovation process. And whilst you’re at it, encourage these customers to leave reviews on Google, TrustPilot and your own website. One of the most powerful tools for any retail business is social proof, and reviews can be the final deciding factor when it comes to somebody purchasing something from a brand they’ve not heard of before.

Tip 4 - Brainstorm new product ideas

Use this time to get inspiration for your newest products. Take a trip to a new country, city, museum, exhibit, or store to see what’s trending and what colours, styles and textures get your heart going. Involve your team, family or friends to bounce ideas off, and take on board the crazy ideas, even if you think they’re a bit far fetched at the time, you may never know where it will take you.

Tip 5 - Never stop learning

Use this time to attend industry-relevant talks, workshops or webinars to expand your knowledge. There are lots of free resources supplied by industry experts on LinkedIn as well as lots of advice on running a business. If you find you don’t have a lot of time to fit this into your day, we would also recommend listening to podcasts on Spotify, Youtube and BBC Sounds for inspiration, these are great as you can listen to them in the car, at the gym or whilst you’re packing lots of orders in your warehouse or studio.

Tip 6 - Have a tidy up

Yep. Clean your office, your warehouse, your studio, whatever you need to do to have a clean, safe working environment for yourself and your employees. Now’s the best time for renovations, a clear-out and possibly a move around if you’ve been thinking about switching things up in your space for a while. Think what’s the most efficient way your workspace can be laid out and make that a reality.

Don’t just clean up physically. You also need to tidy your online space. Make sure your stock inventory is up to date, your web pages are correct (no typos or buttons with broken links!) and your SEO is up to date. Brush up on those trending keywords and don’t forget to keep on top of your homepage. We recommend adding something different every month, whether it be a product spotlight, a new collection for a particular gifting holiday or a new offer. This helps to keep your website fresh and inform new customers that your storefront is current and thriving.

Tip 7 - Tease new products

It’s a new year and people want to see new products, particularly in homeware and lifestyle. Everyone’s doing a spring clean or a clear out which oftentimes makes way for new products. Even if your new additions aren’t quite ready yet, show the process of the product from ideation to reality. This will really amp up the excitement, ready for when your newest product is ready to launch.

Tip 8 - Reward your most loyal customers

Check your order history and compile a list of your top 10, 50 or 100 customers. Reach out to them to thank them for their continued support and offer them something in return. Whether that be a discount code, voucher, or a free sample. There are people out there who have continued to remain loyal to your business and that should be appreciated. The more you nourish your loyal fanbase and create a community of followers, the closer you are to achieving brand longevity. 

Keep an eye on our blog page for more small business tips and support. Why not follow us on Instagram to check out the latest new products in barware and gifting.