For very many businesses Christmas is a vital trading period – you need to consider marketing and advertising campaigns, stock management – and the business storage that the potential excessive stock will require to take full advantage of your Christmas trade.
It can be a hectic and stressful period at the best of times but, with the Covid pandemic having such a debilitating effect on business and trade in general, it is more important than ever to have properly prepared and established the right processes to trade successfully.
Here are a few things to consider when arranging effective business storage and preparing your business for Christmas:
A Covid Christmas
With the Covid pandemic businesses have had to adapt – some dramatically – to remain able to trade, so you may have to approach your Christmas business time differently this year. Consider the following:
Boost online presence
If your product or service lends itself to being marketed and/or delivered online, then this is the time to reinforce your online presence.
Customers are keener than ever to buy online so whether selling directly online or through other internet agents, you should be using your social media platforms and your business website to their fullest. Establish an online business page informing people of your Christmas trading hours and any festive offers.
Click and collect service
Where relevant, establish a click and collect service – being able to shop in this convenient manner may well be the difference in customers choosing to buy from you over other competitors not offering the same flexibility and safety.
‘No contact’ delivery
If your business lends itself to deliveries of your merchandise, then inform customers of this service. Payment online by card followed by an appointment day and time for delivery to suit your customers, offers a convenient, easy – and safe – shopping option.
Christmas storage
For many businesses Christmas time means having to make more stock available – and even in this strange Covid business environment there may well be a need for extra stock and storage space. Renting a business storage unit is a great option – you save space in your store or home and your goods are in a controlled, dry and safe environment, keeping all items in excellent condition.
Prepare and plan
It may seem a little obvious to suggest that you plan your business for the busy Christmas season but, this year more than ever, it is very important!
Identify how much time, effort and resource will be required to effectively deliver your products or services over this period – consider aspects such as manpower required, stock levels, your supplier operating hours as well as your own – and, as previously mentioned, how much storage you will need against what you actually have!
Promote your business
During this busy – and potentially lucrative – trading period, constantly promoting your business and your brand is very important.
Post festive newsletters, blogs and social media articles online informing potential customers of special offers, purchase and delivery options and offer gift wrapping services and such.
Consider advertising on media you may not have used before – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or Pinterest – these platforms allow for advertising and remarketing on platforms heavily accessed over this period.
Effective packing
There is more to packing than merely putting things in boxes or on shelves – for effective packing and to avoid potential damage to your precious items you should:
- Label everything clearly
- Use appropriate packing boxes and crates
- Pack larger, heavier items on the bottom to avoid damaging your goods
- Where necessary, consider reinforcing any boxes by using extra packing tape on the bottom
- Any fragile items should be carefully wrapped before being packed – use bubble wrap, newspaper or even towels and blankets to protect delicate items
- When organising your storage space, ensure that you leave aisles clear for easy access to your boxes stored at the back of the unit
- Itemise all your goods – make a ‘stock list’ of what items are packed away in which boxes
Business storage could not only save you time and money over this busy period, but substantially increase your trade volumes and effective customer service – a business storage unit will keep your valuable stock safe and in top condition!
Chelsea Self Storage
Chelsea Self Storage we have 30 years experience in providing the ideal storage solutions for businesses. We understand the optimal storage methods for archived documents and records and can help you calculate the right size of unit you’ll need to maximise your budget. With some of the lowest competitive rates in the capital, we’re convinced that we can offer a file management solution that’s just right for your business.
We are conveniently located near Kensington, a short walk from the Kings Road in Fulham, and have satisfied clients right across London who can testify to our capability and customer service.
If you need to reclaim valuable office storage space then contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you archive your records safely and securely.
