Thanksgiving Planning in October: Getting Ahead of the Holiday Rush

Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year, which is only about five weeks away. For a lot of small businesses, that date kicks off the busiest and most unpredictable stretch of the year. Customers want things done before family arrives, employees request time off and the calendar fills up with holiday events.

The owners who enjoy the season most are usually the ones who started planning in October. Here is how to get ahead.

Look at last year

Start by looking back. What happened in your business last November and December?

Did you get a rush of last-minute requests?
Were there slow weeks you did not expect?
Did you run short on staff, inventory or time?
What do you wish you had done earlier?

Your own history is the best predictor of what is coming.

Plan your schedule now

Holiday weeks are short weeks. Between Thanksgiving, travel and family plans, you may lose several working days.

A few things to settle now:

Your own time off. Block it on the calendar before it fills up.
Team availability. Ask employees about holiday plans and requests early.
Your cutoff dates. Decide when the last day is to book work that needs to be done before Thanksgiving, and tell customers.
Office hours. Know when you will be closed and update your website and Google listing.

Reach out to customers before they reach out to you

Many people will want something done before the holidays. A home service business might hear from customers who want their home ready for guests. A retailer might see early gift shoppers. A professional service might have clients who want to wrap up projects before year end.

Get in front of that demand:

Send a short email or text reminding customers to book early
Share your holiday schedule and cutoff dates
Offer a reason to act now, like better availability

Customers appreciate the heads-up, and you get a more even workload.

Prepare your marketing

If you plan to run holiday promotions, write them now. Draft your emails, schedule your social posts and order any printed materials. Printers and other vendors get busy this time of year too, so build in extra time.

This is a great place to use your network. If a fellow member does printing, marketing or promotional products, give them your order early. You will both be glad you did.

Think about gratitude

Thanksgiving is a natural time to thank the people who helped your business this year. Start your list now:

Clients who sent you repeat business
Referral partners who introduced you to new customers
Vendors and team members who made your work easier

A handwritten card, a small gift or simply a phone call can mean a lot. If you plan to send gifts, order now so they arrive on time.

In BNI, this fits right into the spirit of Givers Gain®. The relationships that help you grow deserve to be recognized.

Do not let networking slip

It is tempting to pause networking during the holidays. But the conversations you have in November and December often turn into January business, when people return with new budgets and fresh goals.

Keep showing up to your weekly meeting, keep booking one-to-ones and keep listening for referrals for others. People are making a lot of plans this time of year, which means lots of opportunities to connect them with the right business.

Enjoy the season

The West Valley in late October is about as good as it gets. The heat has finally broken, mornings are cool and patios are full again. Use this window to get organized, so when Thanksgiving week arrives you can spend it with family instead of scrambling.

Your October checklist

Review what happened last holiday season
Block your time off and confirm team schedules
Set and share your holiday cutoff dates
Update your hours online
Schedule holiday marketing
Make your thank-you list and order gifts
Keep your weekly networking on the calendar

Looking for referral partners to help you finish the year strong? BNI A1 Networkers meets every Thursday at 7:00 AM at Brothers Family Restaurant in Peoria. Plan your visit.