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5 Lessons Christmas Teaches Small Business Owners about Planning Ahead
January 9, 2025
Although next Christmas may feel miles away, it’s never too early to start planning ahead…
For small business owners, Christmastime is a marathon of preparation, creativity, and sheer effort. More than two in five (44%) small business owners anticipate generating a quarter of their annual revenue during the holiday period. Amazingly, one in five (22%) predict that Christmas will account for more than half of their year’s takings.
To learn more about how to handle the festive frenzy, we spoke to three fab entrepreneurs of product-based-businesses: Nick from Hard Jelly, Ash from Sylt, and Esther from DeRoiste Natural Beauty. Their insights reveal challenges and triumphs, which we’ve turned into 5 lessons that can help you thrive during any busy period.
Plan Ahead for 2025: What You Can Do Now
If you’re looking to do big things with your small biz this year:
- Book a Demo: Explore how the Response Benchtop Filler can help your business stay efficient during busy periods.
- Ask-the-Expert Hour: Join our free sessions to get tailored advice on managing production
Lesson 1: Get to grips with how long things really take.
Christmas often brings a surge in demand, and with it, a host of challenges.
- Nick, the founder of Hard Jelly, says that orders come in thick and fast during the Christmas period. “We offer a free gift-wrapping service, but those extra minutes on each order really add up!”
- At Sylt Pickling, Ash notes the strain caused by unexpected growth after a new platform launches. “It’s a great challenge to have, but it’s still a challenge!”
- Esther of DeRoiste Natural Beauty, shares that unclear dates for before Christmas delivery on last-minute orders have been a major stressor.
Understanding how long your processes actually take is extremely important when the orders come flying in. Next time you’re doing a big order, time yourself! If you’re filling containers by hand, or with a portion dispenser, time will vary so do this more than once. Underestimating time can have knock-on effects such as taking on too many orders, losing track of orders, producing low quality fills, having outstanding deliveries and receiving poor feedback and reviews.
By investing in a small semi-automatic filling machine, like the Response Benchtop Filler, you automate – and therefore speed up – a small aspect of your process while allowing the rest to remain uniquely yours. This means that when another part of your business suddenly demands more attention, you’re covered by knowing filling your products will be taken care of.
Lesson 2: Tidy up!
Limited physical space is another shared concern.
- Nick describes how Hard Jelly’s small storage space creates logistical headaches. “There’s a lot of moving and stacking going on each day!”
- Esther takes a strategic approach, narrowing down her events to avoid resource strain and prioritising quality over quantity.
It may seem like the lesser of jobs but tidying up it the key to staying sane. Optimise your storage: Vertical stacking, proper labelling, and modular shelving can maximise limited space. If you find that you’re overrun every year with stock, consider partnering with local storage facilities. If you work from home, this can also ensure a healthier work-life balance. Last and not least, streamline your product range. Focus on top-performing products during peak seasons to free up space and improve efficiency.
Lesson 3: You can’t run on empty.
Despite the demands of the season, maintaining a work-life balance is essential.
- Nick keeps his work flexible, ensuring he can prioritise family time.
- Ash made the conscious decision to take Christmas off, even if some last-minute work still lingers.
- Esther ensures her family comes first by sticking to a structured diary.
Christmas can be a demanding time, testing the work-life balance many founders work hard to maintain. All three entrepreneurs highlighted the value of family support, which eases the workload and fosters shared success. However, it’s just as important to make time for non-work-related family moments.
Esther sets clear boundaries with tight scheduling, while Ash consciously steps away from work during Christmas. These approaches help combat founder loneliness, a common issue as entrepreneurs often face unique pressures alone. Leaning on personal networks and connecting with others can provide vital support. For more on addressing founder isolation, see our blog: “How Mentorship Empowers Makers.”
Lesson 4: Do what’s right for you and your business.
The earlier festive preparations begin, the more pressure small businesses feel to keep up – but this isn’t always a bad thing.
- Nick sees the Christmas Creep as an opportunity to introduce his products to new customers. “It gets me excited as I like to be busy!”
- Esther, however, approaches it cautiously. “You need a strategy to avoid simply following what others are doing.”
- Ash stays relaxed, focusing on limited seasonal recipes rather than festive-themed products.
For many businesses, introducing limited-edition holiday items or special packaging is a low-risk way to capitalise on the season without overcommitting. Start thinking about seasonal strategies early to stay ahead of competitors and manage stress. It can be tempting to try and pull off all your ideas but try not to overextend yourself. Follow your creativity cautiously: Limited-edition products or festive packaging can excite customers without adding unnecessary risk.
Lesson 5: It’s worth it
For every ounce of stress, there’s a pound of joy in knowing you’re making a difference.
- “I love knowing that our handmade jelly shots are going to light up a lot of faces on Christmas Day,” says Nick.
- Esther takes pride in helping customers find meaningful gifts, while Ash values the collaborative spirit of working alongside other small brands.
Not every aspect of running a business during the festive period will spark joy, but incorporating what you personally love about Christmas into your strategy can make a real difference. It helps create an authentic connection that customers will remember. By taking inspiration from these dynamic small businesses and applying it to your own vision, you’ll not only navigate the festive season successfully but also build a foundation for year-round success.
