1 One of the advantages small businesses have over their bigger competitors is the genuine connections the owners can establish with customers. This month, give your newsletter a personal touch by sharing an anecdote from your family’s HOLIDAY TRADITIONS that will also get them excited for what you have planned this year.
4 On EXTRAORDINARY WORK TEAM RECOGNITION DAY, treat the staff to a power breakfast at a local diner. Get everyone thinking teamwork. Go over your turnover procedures, your double-team moves, your “Help me, I’m dying here” secret signals.
24 In recent years, the TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS have accounted for as much as 10 percent of all jewelry sold in December. Hold a “Christmas Eve Spectacular” just for desperate husbands and boyfriends. Tell your sales associates to steer aggressively — these guys are often in a panic and, although well-intentioned, pretty clueless.
31 On NEW YEAR’S EVE, find some time for reflection. A neat website to try out is futureme.org, which allows you to send a note to yourself that will arrive at a future date. Pick a date when you may need some post-holiday season perspective and start drafting: “Dear Myself, I hope that time has treated you well …”