Ten Business Tips for Slow Summer Months

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Posted in: Everything Else
June 29, 2009 by Amanda | Comments (0)

Warm weather doesn’t have to mean a meltdown for your profit margin. Check out 10 suggestions via buyerzone.com to help keep your business productive during the summer months.

Bargain hunting
If you’ve been waiting to purchase new office copiers or cubicles, the summer is a great time to shop around. Suppliers may offer good deals to generate summer business Plus, with the tax breaks available through the economic stimulus plan, you can get even more value for your money during the summer.

Research your purchases
A slow summer provides ample time to perform due diligence on major purchasing decisions, even if you don’t plan to buy for months.

Get organized
Even in the summer, it doesn’t hurt to do some “spring cleaning:” start shredding old documents you no longer need. And clean up isn’t restricted to just physical documents — deleting old emails and programs you no longer use can help boost your PC’s performance.

Hire summer help
Local universities and professional staffing companies are great sources for finding young professionals looking for internships or part-time work for the summer. The extra help allows you to hand off mundane tasks like general office duties or data compilation, allowing you to focus on growing your business.

Revisit old ideas
Use your extra time to go back to ideas or projects you put on the back burner earlier in the year. Did you want to redesign your web site? Laying the foundation for new concepts during the slow summer months could help put your company in a better position when business picks up.

Advertising opportunities
While you may tighten your purse strings during the summer, it’s actually a great opportunity to pursue advertising vehicles that weren’t in your original plans. A lack of holidays between Independence Day and Labor Day means fewer retail sales promotions to compete with. Media companies sometimes offer discounted radio or television ad spots to allow you to reach a broader audience.

Schedule business trips
Do you have an opportunity to sign a customer residing in a hot climate? States like Nevada, California, and Florida rely heavily on winter tourism and usually experience a significant drop in visitors during the summer. If you’re willing to brave the summer heat, you can typically find discounted rates on flights to these destinations.

Get reacquainted with your customers
Make sure your customers keep your business in mind, even if they’re not working with you at the time. Use the summer lull to develop email offers, newsletters, and direct mail campaigns to generate interest in your products and services for when customers are ready to buy.

Celebrate your staff
Don’t overlook one of your most valuable resources: your employees. Something as simple as a free lunch or company outing during the summer can go a long way to raise employee morale and show your appreciation for all their hard work.

Take time off
If business is slow because customers are taking vacation time, why not follow suit? After working hard all year to make your business flourish, relax and spend time with friends and family. Besides, abandoning your Blackberry and laptop for a while can help recharge your batteries and make you more productive when you return to work.

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