Get Serious About Planning, Upgrade Your Battery Counter and More To-Do’s for April

Mar. 30-Apr. 5

MARKETING Target those expected tax refunds. Advertise a “Tax Day Layaway” sale on April 16. Any layaway gets 10 percent off the ticket price.

MANAGEMENT April and May are key planning months. Take a vacation to relax and reflect on your goals. When you get back, review first quarter performance to adjust goals for the third and fourth quarters. Include staff to hammer out your marketing and inventory plans for the end-of-year holiday period. You’ll then be in a good position to create shopping lists and set appointments for the Las Vegas buying shows.

Apr. 5-12

MARKETING There are a string of mini selling dates coming up including prom season, communions and graduation. Draw up a schedule for case displays and email bulletins.

TEAM-BUILDING Set up a “Jar of Awesome” in the back room to help you and your team remember those small wins. The process is simple enough: Encourage everyone to write a quick note as soon as something positive happens in your store and drop the slip of paper into a jar. Once a month, read through them with your team to give everyone a motivational boost.

Apr. 13-19

MERCHANDISING The months of April to October are prime wedding season when couples are most likely to tie the knot. You’ll thus have many brides coming in for ring cleanings, wedding bands, and bridesmaid gifts. Merchandise a case specifically for these women that showcases bridesmaid gifts under $500.

SALES FLOOR The counter where you do battery changes is likely to be one of your store’s most heavily trafficked areas. Put some promotional material there (maybe a list of the bench services you offer) or some lower priced merchandise ($200-$500) to encourage impulse buying.

Apr. 20-26

INTERNET If you’ve been using your current router for three or more years, you may want to consider an upgrade, especially if you notice your internet speeds becoming a choke point in your business. Some ISPs will offer upgrades as part of your plan but typically not the latest models. For best in terms of speed, reach and security, buy your own equipment. Ensure it supports the latest standards (like DOCSIS 4.0 for cable Internet and Wi-Fi-6E).

SALES Create an education kit with rhinestones to provide guidance on how to buy a diamond.

Apr. 27-May 3

MARKETING Mother’s Day falls on May 11 this year. Curate a selection of possible mom’s gifts and get it up on your website now. Keep most of the offerings within a price range of $50 to $250 (although depending on your store, you may want to go as high as $1,000).