Getting the Most out of Summer for Your Business

For most people, summer is a time to slow down and relax. Kids are out of school, routines become more flexible, and warm weather invites vacations to far-off places.

For local businesses, however, summertime can be crazy or lazy, and your level of business activity will dictate how you manage through the hotter months. Are you anticipating a:

1. Summer Surge: These businesses tend to be located in destination hot spots. In addition to their regular customer base, they experience an influx of extra business from out-of-towners and locals who may just now be thinking about personal care needs for the summer months.

2. Summer Lull: These businesses are often in areas where locals go abroad for the summer and tourism is minimal. Appointment calendars tend to thin out and staff members may find themselves with a lot of free time on their hands.

If your business experiences a summer surge, you’re probably focused on figuring out how to:

• Adjust hours, scheduling, and staffing to accommodate more appointments.
• Market to out-of-town customers who may be returning to the area.
• Reach and serve first-time vacationers.
• Balance new business with regular clientele.

If your business experiences a summer lull, your goal may be to:

• Make the most of the extra time to assess and implement a summer business makeover.
• Upgrade or install a software platform that meets your business’s needs.
• Gear up for the upcoming holiday season.

The challenges and opportunities are very different, but whatever place your business finds itself, we’re here to help! Over the course of the next few weeks, we’ll be exploring how businesses in hot vacation spots can make the most of the summer travel season, and how businesses who experience a summer slowdown can use this time to perform a business makeover before the start of the next busy season.

Stay cool and stay tuned for the first installment in our Destination Profitability series next Wednesday.