How to Explode Your Business in 2014 NOW

 

While this article is geared towards Loungers with a crochet small business, the idea applies across industries so, if it applies, use what jives with your inner voice.

Yikes

Hey! Are you thinking you are up to eyeballs with orders and with holidays coming you simply can’t take anymore so better not giveaway coupons for the end of the year or run discounts for the holidays? Definitely can’t join other vendors for Small Biz Saturday holiday fun (read here if you missed the post)?

Ah Ha

I’m here to say, “YOU are limiting your business!”

Ever wonder how some people get out of the gate in January blasting through the year? It isn’t what they do on January 2-January 31 that creates the successful month, it’s the planning in the last 45days of the year prior that drives that burst.

If you have RTS items, random small bursts of flash sales, giving away a % discount here or there before January while you set yourself up for January custom orders is the way to go!

OOOooooo…

Ideas:
1) With your purchase, you’ve earned 5% of for the month of January
2) With your current purchase, you’ve earned 10% off the next purchase
3) Custom orders are now scheduled out to ______________
4) Place a custom order for January 2014 NOW and receive a ________ discount
5) Prices are going up in January, custom order and secure the price now
The possibilities are endless and YOU as the business owner CAN set the pace.

Hrm…

A lot of people are even worried to START a business because they are scared there would be too many orders. Others are scared that if they take on more orders then they wouldn’t be able to enjoy the immediate holidays coming up and hooking for their families. It’s a false belief system that you have no control over telling your client base your schedule!

Your work speaks volumes for itself. Scheduling custom orders is not so scary.

Things I hear demystified:

• “What if they want it now and end up going elsewhere?”
  Then they would have gone elsewhere to begin with by you not offering!
• “What if they get mad and un-“Like” me?”
  A loyal returning customer would understand with the quality of your work and growth of your business, you are bound to get busy!
• “What if I want to make an exception and speed up _______ emergency order…”
  There are several ways to dice this one:
  1) Make that exception because you want to!
  2) Take last minute orders with a rush fee
• “What if I can’t because my schedule is filled up?”
  You are the business owner! Your schedule gets filled by you, not the orders coming in. This means looking at your calendar and setting allotted time for potential rush orders or even a buffer in case you fall behind.
• “What if I can’t commit to filling the orders at ___________ time?”
• “What if a better offer comes along?”
  At some point in your business career, a great offer may appear or life may happen that you will need to shift your entire calendar. It is as simple as writing an e-mail or making a phone call to shift that schedule. If you then cannot meet their requested time, they still have time to have the order filled because you’ve scheduled in advance. This is also the place where you may want to have allies in the industry that you can trust with quality work should you have a need to close shop suddenly, your customers’ orders can still be handled seamlessly.

Squee!

My friends, CONFRONT that fear. Neale Donald Walsch once said,
“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone!”
Try it on for size.

End your year big and start next year strong by starting next year now! ♥

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Don’t hesitate to visit me on Facebook if you have any pattern specific or crochet business related questions! The Loungers are fabulously helpful even if I may not have all the answers ♥