As the holiday season approaches, businesses are gearing up for what promises to be another busy year. While the surge in customers, orders, and credit card transactions is exciting, it can also bring challenges. To help you make the most of this holiday season, we’ve prepared a 2024 holiday prep checklist so your business can be ready for “the most wonderful time of the year.”
Did You Know?
The holiday shopping season continues to break records year after year. Here are some key insights from recent years:
- Black Friday & Cyber Monday: In 2023, Black Friday online sales hit a record $9.8 billion, while retail consumer spending in physical stores increased by 11%, despite inflation concerns.
- Cyber Monday: Cyber Monday remains the biggest online shopping day, with $12.1 billion spent in 2023 in the US alone.
- Average Daily Online Sales: On a regular day, US online sales range from $2.5 to $3.5 billion, meaning the holiday season brings in significantly higher volumes of transactions.
As consumer spending continues to rise, it’s essential to prepare your business for the increased demand this holiday season.
2024 Holiday Prep Checklist
To ensure your business thrives during this busy time, follow these key steps:
- Ensure Your Inventory Is Ready
Make sure your inventory is fully stocked to meet the increased demand. The last thing you want is to run out of popular products just as holiday sales are peaking.
- Train Seasonal Staff
If you’ve hired extra help for the holidays, make sure they are trained on your point-of-sale (POS) system, payment processes, and customer service protocols. Proper training ensures smooth transactions and happy customers.
- Update Your Store and Website
Give your online and physical store a festive update. Promote seasonal products, offer holiday deals, and make sure key information (like store hours and special promotions) is easy to find.
- Communicate Your Return Policy
Make sure your holiday return policy is clearly communicated to customers both in-store and online. This will help set expectations and minimize confusion after the holidays.
- Test Your Payment Processing Systems
Before the holiday rush, check your payment systems for any issues. Test your technology, including payment terminals, software, and backup systems, to ensure everything runs smoothly during peak times. Also, review your PCI compliance to safeguard customer data and avoid any security breaches.
- Offer Gift Cards
Gift cards are popular during the holidays and are a great way to drive future business. Consider offering both physical and digital gift cards to cater to all your customers’ needs.
- Prepare Backup Plans
In case of payment system failures, develop a backup plan. Having an alternative solution in place ensures you can continue processing transactions without interruptions, even if your main terminal goes down.
BC Solutions Is Here to Help
At BC Solutions, we understand that the holiday season can be both a time of opportunity and stress for businesses. We’re here to support you with seamless payment processing, security compliance, and innovative solutions to help your business run smoothly. Whether you need to update your systems, ensure PCI compliance, or prepare for high transaction volumes, we’ve got you covered.
Our goal is to help your business not just survive but thrive during the holiday season. With a commitment to a 5-star client experience, we’ll go the extra mile to ensure you’re fully prepared for a profitable and successful holiday rush.
Let’s get your business ready for the busiest shopping days of the year.
Contact BC Solutions today to learn how we can support your growth, increase profitability, and deliver a seamless holiday shopping experience for your customers.