It’s the month of March and the holiday season is truly done and dusted. Shoppers who have overspent are in saving mode and those who have stuck to their budgets are unlikely to splurge when there’s no special reason to do so. But as a business owner, you need to stay afloat and keep going all year round. We put on our thinking caps (so you don’t have to!) and came up with some ideas to help you through a sales slump.
Tip #1: Create something new
You don‘t need an occasion to have a limited edition product. Refresh an existing product line or tweak one of your best-selling items with special features to entice shoppers who may otherwise scroll past your product.
Tip in action
myBurgerLab created a new burger, “The Ultraman Tiga” aka Salted Egg Yolk Burger specially for the month of March! Put on your bib and start drooling here
Tip #2: Enhance your website
Take advantage of the slow season to do some digital housekeeping. It could be giving your product photos a different treatment, or optimising your website with faster loading time, better keywords, mobile-friendly features etc). So when the shopping season comes round again, you’re all set to capture the add-to-cart crowd.
Tip in action
Fashion Valet added a quick view tool to enlarge photos for close-ups
Tip #3: Get social
By social, we mean going beyond social media. While it is great to throw a little giveaway campaign on Facebook or host a hashtag contest on Instagram, sometimes you just have to socialise with actual humans. Look out for upcoming markets and book a spot to showcase your business. If you really can’t find a physical market near you, consider joining an online market community like Shoppertise Marketplace to reach a wider crowd.
Tip in action
There are a few markets coming up. Here’s a good place to start.
Tip #4: Mix it up
Collaborate with other businesses and give each other a shout out. By tapping onto a ready community of entrepreneurs, you’ll reach new followers and contribute to the overall growth of the online business landscape. Customers also love it when they see their favourite stores offering exclusive tie-ups/deals alongside other interesting brands. It’s a win-win for all involved.
Tip in action
In conjunction with Kinokuniya’s 15th Anniversary in KL, Mossery created a series of exclusive stationery sets. Get inspired here.
Tip #5: Analyse and prioritise
Take a step back and identify the roadblocks in your business. List down the tasks that take up most of your time and identify cost-effective ways to automate or outsource them. For example, if design work is driving you nuts, try engaging a virtual designer on Supahands or use easy platforms like Canva. Or if managing your inventory is the most time consuming task, use an app like Pocketbook to help you track your orders in real time and on-the-go.
Tip in action
Tip #6: Take a productive break
We hear you asking, “How can a break be productive-ah?”. Well, when you’re relaxed and not thinking about your business, you may find that your creative juices actually start flowing better! Many creative people take sabbaticals every now and then to be inspired for their next creation or product line. Grab a sketchbook and book a stay in the countryside for a few days. It may be just the thing you need to see your business in a whole new light. Furthermore, travelling during the off-peak season could save you some precious ringgits too!
Tip in action
Imagine lazing on a hammock in Langkawi, generating inspirations for your next creation.
If you have other ideas on how to rock the slow season, leave a comment on Facebook and share it with the community! Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter here to get more useful tips and tricks delivered straight to your inbox.
As a business owner, you need to stay afloat and keep going all year round. We put on our thinking caps (so you don’t…
Posted by Shoppertise on Thursday, March 24, 2016