For many of us, winter is already here, meaning fewer people will be willing to make the trek to visit your local shop. On top of that, some building systems might not operate as well in the colder weather. That means you should learn the best ways to winterize your small business. That way, your sales won’t suffer due to the slower season.
Give Customers a Reason To Come In
This might be a loose interpretation of the term “winterize,” but if the biggest problem you face in the winter is a lack of people coming in, you need to make some changes that will fix that. The best way to do this is to entice people with sales. Around the holiday season, this is pretty easy to do since people will be shopping more actively to find presents for their loved ones. Winter doesn’t end with the new year, though. You’ll still need to run sales or give out coupons to get customers to come back during the colder winter months.
Sometimes, a company will struggle due to its product line during this time of year. When this is the case, you need to find a way to diversify your offerings. For example, a shoe store will usually have more boots in stock for the winter, but it can also offer hats and gloves as a way to increase its sales potential. Most businesses will have something they can offer that will provide more value during this colder time of the year.
Take Safety Precautions
Once people have a reason to visit your establishment, you must ensure they’re safe while on your premises. The best thing you can do is salt the sidewalks leading up to your front door to ensure no one slips. On top of that, you should also plow and salt the parking lot. Cars are just as likely to slide on the ice as people. It’s vital to cover all your bases here.
Be sure to remove other potential hazards as well. Ice forming on your roof could fall on customers, so you’ll want to break down ice dams in your gutters and remove icicles hanging down over walkways. Also, be sure to put down plenty of carpeting near your entrance so that people don’t slip on your hard floors after coming in.
Make Sure Your Building Is Ready
The final thing you need to do to winterize your small business is to focus on the building itself. Just like people do with their homes, you need to check your heating, plumbing, and electrical systems. Both wires and pipes are prone to freezing and water damage. If you’ve never winterized these items before, now is the time.
Of course, this applies to equipment outside your establishment as well. For example, you’ll need to know how to store your canopy tents for the winter if you have them. You’ll need to bring in any other pieces of equipment you have outside that can’t hold up in the cold as well. That way, they won’t be in a ruined state come spring.
