Helping businesses prepare for the festive season

Not to cause any unwarranted panic amongst anybody out there but Christmas is now rapidly looming upon us. Yes, I said it, the dread ‘C’ word. Christmas wish lists come pouring in from your nearest and dearest, all eventually leading to a final week late night dash to the supermarket where you scramble through self-written reminder notes and try to establish whether you needed to buy crackers or just go crackers!

Christmas is a busy time for small business owners and getting everything done when it's just you, or a small team, can be tricky - especially if you want to have some time off to spend with friends and family.

As you can imagine, we're always super-organised and work well in advance to make the festive season go smoothly at home and at work. But if you're struggling with the festive rush and need a little help, here are just a few of the tasks we have been working on with clients to give you an idea of what we may be able to help you with:

- Festive event organisation
- Invoice organisation
- Holiday cover
- Festive emailers
- Festive social media content

Then there is the other elephant in the room, Coronavirus. No matter how much tinsel and baubles we hang off its ominous tusks, it’s still going to very much be with us this Christmas and will no doubt make certain usual Christmas festivities all the more stressful or laborious. Though we can’t tell you exactly what Christmas will look like this year, we can talk about something close to our hearts – seasonal small business survival and why shopping small and local is the best thing you can do to help out.

Shopping local isn’t just for Christmas either, the benefits of doing so far outstretch the seasonal period and the undetermined length of the pandemic we are facing and we’re going to tell you why!

O Come All Ye Faithful

What’s so different about buying local as opposed to buying from corporate giants you might ask? Well, whether or not you know it, not only are small businesses driven by pure passion and big dreams, but they are also invaluable to our economy and society.

The growth of a small business can create an entirely new eco system that allows other small businesses to spring up and prosper. Businesses that all work together to build each other up and succeed in turn helps whole communities to thrive. Alongside this, the money that you spend stays in your community, helping to fund more local jobs, better prospects for those living in your area and aiding in local developments.

Eat Local

Whether it’s getting a takeaway meal or eating out safely, utilise the restaurants in your area. With tourism at the moment very much at a standstill – it’s your business that they are relying on. Also keep an eye out for special events they may be offering as gifts.

Buy Local

Birthdays, Christmas, Thank You gifts, whatever the occasion make a promise to yourself this Christmas to try and buy as many presents locally as you can. In a year where we’ve all learnt a little more about what we truly value, most people will probably prefer the time and effort that has gone into a more unique gift.

Sweat Local

How many of us drive out of our local areas to visit large chain gyms? Did we check out the offering in our area first? Most towns are littered with fantastic gyms and expert personal trainers that can offer us more time and more dedication towards reaching our goals.

Do It Local

There isn’t a single person who hasn’t undertaken some form of household or garden makeover this year but how many of us sourced the items we needed locally? Check out your nearest small nursery or DIY shop, nails are nails regardless of where you purchase them from – you also never know what kind of additional help and advice you might receive.

Fix It Local

Maintenance happens. Boilers, cars, gardens, everything needs looking after occasionally. When you’re choosing a tradesman to come and repair or maintain something then seek out those local to you first. You’ll likely get a quicker turnaround than if you were to use a national company.

Think Local

Perhaps you don’t have a specific purchase in mind just yet, that’s ok, but train yourself to start looking at the options closest to you when you’re browsing.

It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

A wise person once said, “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy local and that’s kind of the same thing.” We wholeheartedly agree, and in a time where happiness is what every single person in the world is craving more than anything, we think that there has never been a better time to reach out and support local businesses.

If you need some help why not contact me - abbie@pink-spaghetti.co.uk, or visit our website to discuss how my experienced virtual PA service can support your business. I’d be delighted to help you make your life simpler.

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!Helping businesses prepare for the festive season.

Photocredit: Canva December 2021