7 things to do during the off-season of the business

Like many businesses, the events industry also has its off-season. This is the time of the year where there is less business or activity. Even though the business owners do not like it, it is inevitable.

There are many things to do during the off-peak period of the business but we will just share a few of them below, based on our own experiences. We will be turning 5 years this year but we know we still have not seen many of the “wonders” in this very competitive industry. As employee or owner of the business, here are some of the things that you can do during the lean season.

1. Develop better marketing strategies

Think of better advertising plans and discuss it with your team. It can be both online and offline but make sure you consider the cost of the possible campaign. A better marketing strategy is to develop the existing ones and not just rely on the old tactics if it is no longer working. You can spend money on radio ads, or sponsor an event or spend money on fliers, brochures or avail the services of an online marketing team. There are many ways to promote the business and even expand it, just make sure it is a reasonable plan to avoid high costs without the proper return. At Cebu Balloons, we will be needing the help of an Executive Secretary and/or Social Media Manager to promote and manage the online stuffs.

2. Write blogs

Writing a written record of personal and business experiences and observations can be very rewarding. Take notes of both good practices and bad practices and learn from them. If you are making mistakes, it means you are doing something. Just make sure you learn from the blunders that you did and try not to do it again. Write also the good practices and experiences that you made so you can share it to others especially to your teammates and your loved ones. Writing down blogs is also a stress reliever and it can exercise your brain tissues and make you think of better ideas for the business.

3. Spend time with special people

The off-season is the best time to spend with people that matters to you the most – your family. Of course, you can have time with them every day but it is different if you have a “Family Bonding” with them. Spending quality time with the people you love will not only make them feel that you exist but it will make them believe that they are special. You can go fishing with your dad, have a countryside trip with your partner and kids, visit an aging aunt and uncle, or have barbeque and drink wine with a close friend, etc.

4. Sort out business-related documents

The off-peak season is a great time to organize business-related documents and files. Gather them in one area so you can easily browse through the files whenever you need them. The first quarter of the year is usually for business renewal. During this time, documents must be filed and sorted out to avoid confusion and mistakes. Separate the documents for business renewal from the receipts of expenses. Put them in one sturdy folder and organize the related documents nearby. Having a well-organized documents section will save you a lot of time.

5. Introduce products and services

Having a wide-variety of products and services will not only make you busy during the peak season but it will also make your off-season not really “off”. The problem with having too many products and services is that you might not be able to focus on the main products of the business. Having a sideline during the off-season can surely make the business afloat and prepare for the busier days. Think of innovative products that will catch the attention of your existing client base. Make unique and affordable packages, add flair to your existing product line, etc.

6. Invest on your health

As the old saying goes, “Health is Wealth” – and we say, “Yes it is”. Staying healthy everyday will make you think of better ideas to improve the business and serve your customers well. We know it is better if we devote time for our health not only during the off-season but also during days when it is also tough to think of exercising – when bookings and orders keep on coming during the busiest months of the year. During the lean season, we should stay fit and have a good cardio workout. A 30 to 45-minute jog or walk in the park is enough to make our body and mind stay fit. Make sure you also take in something healthy such as green leafy vegetables, root crops, fruits, green tea, etc. You can also go hiking, mountain climbing or biking. Join sports club or train in martial arts is also a good way to stay fit.

7. Share to the community

Return some of your income to the community you are living in and you will surely be blessed with so much more. This can also be part of your product promotion but the main concern here is to help the less fortunate folks in your town. A feeding program is a good way to share your blessings to others and it can also make them feel loved even just for a day. Giving food packs is also a nice way to help the needy – it can make them eat for a few days. Share your used clothing and stuffs to the poor and it will be very useful for them. Better yet, buy them new and good quality things that they can use, such as blankets, pillows, pants or shoes, so it will last longer and they can use it for months. In this small-time venture, we occasionally do “Community Service” even before we are still new to the industry. Some of the photos are posted online, not to brag but to inspire others to share what they have to the less fortunate people.

At Cebu Balloons, we try to be busy during the whole year by having a wide-array of products and services. Based on our experiences, the first two quarters of each year will be part of the off-season but we have already made gradual adjustments. During our first year, we develop Cebu Dessert Buffet, to give clients more options, and then we made Cebu Giveaways. Two years after we have a couple of staffs join a stryocraft ideas training and then we started Cebu Styro Crafts. Last year, we introduced our Cebu Paper Crafts (Cebu Souvenirs) and added more products to our personalized giveaways. This year, Cebu Mood Lights was born and in the coming months, we will be adding more products and services to cover the off-season months and achieve our seven-digit gross monthly income target next year.

How about you, what do you think businesses should do during the off-peak season?

This page is last updated on Feb 16, 2017 @ 10:03 am