How The Christmas Rush Changes In 2020 And Which Franchises Will Come Out On Top

We can’t believe it either, but Christmas is just around the corner, and mid-summer is when businesses should begin planning for the Christmas season. -The sooner you begin planning, the more successful of a holiday season you will have!

In fact, the holiday season is huge for most businesses, and some businesses do more sales during the holiday season than they do all year. 

However, the holiday season of 2020 will look a bit different because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while things might return to a sense of normalcy by then, it won’t be the same as how it used to be. Here’s why:

People are hesitant to be in crowds

Although the stay-at-home orders have been lifted, and we will be back to full occupancy likely by Q4, many people will not want to be out and about in crowds. 

You will still have a big rush of people, but in some cases, in-person sales and those businesses that receive lots of crowds should begin planning for ways to serve those patrons without the need to be in close proximity to them.

Ecommerce and delivery will be bigger than ever

Since some people won’t be leaving their homes during the holiday season, they will be searching for alternatives to prepare for the holiday. 

Consumers will turn towards online shopping and delivery. Many people will be buying their Christmas presents online this year and many will turn to cater rather than dining out for holiday get-togethers. 

Ecommerce will especially be huge this holiday season because the COVID-19 pandemic introduced online shopping and delivery to those who might not have used it prior to this year. Almost everyone now realizes the convenience of online shopping; why leave their house if they don’t have to? 

Safety precautions

By the holiday season, most people will be out and about. For those that do get out, they might be concerned about the precautions businesses are taking to prevent any spread of a virus. 

Be sure to come up with an effective cleaning and safety strategy to ensure your business is safe for your customers and, when the time comes, make it clear to consumers that you care about their health and safety and have implemented an effective strategy. 

What does this mean for franchises? 

Every business owner must begin thinking about the holiday season. If you have a business that has suffered through the COVID-19 pandemic, the holiday season is a time to make up for those losses in sales. 

Now is the time to think about business operations and marketing for the holiday season. We can assure you that by planning now, you will have the best holiday season for your business. 

The franchises that will come out on top after this chaotic year will be those who can clearly communicate with their customers, cater to their needs, and plan ahead. 

Not sure where to begin? Our team at Hundred Acre Consulting is here to help! We will help you build a plan to make this holiday season the best one yet!

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make up for the slow start to 2020, contact our team, and let’s get started!