1. Communicate Your Holiday Shutdown to Customers

Don’t assume customers know when you’ll be closed. Send out a clear notification via email, SMS, or social media, outlining your holiday closure dates. If applicable, provide emergency contact details or assign a team member to handle urgent matters.
For e-commerce businesses, ensure your online store remains functional by appointing a responsible team member to oversee operations. Brief your staff in advance to prepare for customer inquiries and plan accordingly.

2. Organise a Skeleton Crew for Business Continuity

December is a peak time for employees to take leave, which can result in operational gaps. To maintain essential functions, ensure you have enough staff available to handle:

✔ Urgent customer inquiries
✔ Social media management
✔ Order fulfillment
✔ General business oversight

Consider offering incentives such as a bonus leave day or small gifts for employees working during this period to show appreciation.

3. Settle All Outstanding Accounts Before the Holidays

Avoid unnecessary late fees and service interruptions by ensuring timely payments of:

  • VAT and tax obligations
  • Municipal accounts
  • Telephone and internet bills

This proactive approach prevents financial disruptions and sets you up for a smooth start in the new year.

4. Plan for a Productive New Year

January often brings a surge in business activity. To ease the transition:

  • Assign an employee to manage administrative tasks while you focus on business growth
  • Prepare for possible employee loan requests and establish a clear policy in advance
  • Follow up with clients and businesses that owe you payments to maintain healthy cash flow
  • If necessary, speak to your bank about an overdraft to cover seasonal cash flow shortages

5. Focus on Value Over Discounts

While discounts dominate the holiday shopping season, standing out doesn’t require bigger markdowns—just a better value proposition. Offer customers something unique, such as exclusive bundles, loyalty rewards, or limited-time offers, instead of relying solely on price cuts.

6. Allocate & Stick to an Advertising Budget

Many businesses see increased sales during the holidays but struggle with profitability due to excessive marketing spend. To avoid this:

  • Create a detailed marketing budget with projected expenses
  • Consult with your accountant or bookkeeper to align advertising costs with expected revenue
  • Focus on high-ROI marketing channels to maximize impact without overspending

7. Prepare Marketing Materials in Advance

Once you finalize your holiday marketing strategy, ensure all promotional assets—such as graphics, ads, and email templates—are designed well in advance. Last-minute design work can lead to rushed quality, delays, or expensive expedited service fees.

✔ Identify key marketing channels (email, social media, paid ads)
✔ Prepare and organise graphics and copy for quick deployment
✔ Avoid holiday season stress by having everything ready to go

8. Kickstart the New Year with a Strong Offer

Re-engage your customers by sending out a New Year mailer announcing your return and any special promotions. Consider running:

  • Opening sales to attract new and returning customers
  • Clearance events to offload unsold stock from the holiday season
  • Loyalty rewards to encourage repeat business

A well-planned New Year campaign can boost post-holiday sales and strengthen customer relationships.