Summer is right around the corner and is typically one of the slowest months for business. Don't worry, it's not just you.
Getting into a summer slump may feel unavoidable, but it doesn't mean that your summer sales need to come to a screeching halt.
Like I said – it's not just you. Most retailers and business owners experience a slump during the summer months.
Why?
During June and July, people are often spending their money and time elsewhere – like on vacations, concerts, sports events, fairs and so on.
But don't let negativity overwhelm you! There is still plenty you can do to hit your sales goals this summer.
It's important you don't stop working your business. You just need to decide to work it differently. This is why it's important to make sure you are always working your business in multiple ways to generate multiple streams of income. Even though the traditional party may be slower during this season, doesn't mean you can't ramp up the other areas of your business.
Check out these options below:
Upcoming Event and Celebration Packages. People use the summer to celebrate some of the biggest milestones in their life as well as get together with family and friends. The warmer weather means more BBQs, pool parties and outdoor events.
Be sure to look at all the different types of celebrations that happen during the summer months and reach out now to offer your products. This could be as a present for others or for their own personal use.
Here are some examples of celebrations and events: Father's Day, Teacher Gifts, Weddings, Anniversaries, Family BBQs and reunions, etc.
Show-on-the-Go. I'm going to dive deeper into this topic next month, but it's worth mentioning now. Your show-on-the-go is where you are always prepared for a mini show presentation. At your neighbourhood block party? Family reunion? Kid's baseball game? Be sure you always have your product on hand to demonstrate to potential customers.
In these situations, you will often get talking to people who could benefit from your product. And when you mention what you've been up to or what you do for work, you will mention your business. Don't miss the opportunity to share your products with them right there! Often times, people will want to learn more and all you'll have on hand is a business card. This means you will have to put in more work after the event to follow up and schedule a time for them to see the products firsthand.
Skip this step (and thus increase your chances of a sale), by packing a mini kit in your car to share on-the-go.
Like I said, next month I'll teach you how to do this.
Follow-Up. Just because your customers are away, doesn't mean they don't want to benefit from your products or replenish their stock.
Your summer sales depend on your follow-up. So get on the phone, text or Facebook message (whichever your customer prefers) your customers and ask them how they're doing. Also be sure to let them know about products they could benefit from this summer (new trends, items for the warm weather and so on).
Also let them know that if they are away in the Summer you can ship their products to their cottage!
Facebook Parties. Facebook parties are another great option for sales in the summer. The issue isn't necessarily people having time to sit down with you, it's that they're not all in the same location. You can still book Facebook Parties for an hour in an evening that works for your host and her customers. Reach out to your leads and past hosts and let them know summer is an exciting time to host because it is all online! It means it can work around their schedule, they don't have to be home and they can invite friends who don't live in their area.
Cottage Parties. Do you have a group of friends that you always see at the cottage or campground? Book parties with the women at your vacation spot! You can find hosts there or opt to host one yourself. Let the women in the area know you are hosting a ladies night at your cottage and they are welcome to come for drinks, appetizers and a fun shopping experience.
Create More Content. Do you know the most important thing you can do online to help generate more profit for your business? Creating content. This means videos, blog posts, demonstrations, tutorials and more. Get in the frame of mind to teach people more about what you do and offer them value. The more you share, the more interested they'll become in your products. Summer is the perfect time to start a blog, ramp up your VIP Group and create amazing content for your Business Page. Hello! Blogging by the pool? Sign me up!
Summer Fundraising. Like I mentioned earlier, it's important that you learn multiple ways to work your business and fundraising is one of them! Even if your company doesn't offer a fundraising program, you can still donate a portion of your commission to organizations. Doing this is a great way to not only increase your sales but find new customers that you can follow-up with.
You can help summer sports teams raise money for uniforms, jerseys, championships, summer workshops and more.
Markets and Vendor Events. I don't know about you but one of my favorite summer activities is visiting local fairs, markets and vendor events. Find local markets in your area and inquire about renting a table. This can be a great way to find new customers and leads for hosting or sponsoring.
Did you miss our video from this month? Be sure to check it out on our NEW YouTube page here.