Successful Shopping Season
7 KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL SHOPPING SEASON
Article by Shannon Martin
Philosophy of People
Magazine: Issue #18
As we welcome the beginning of the holiday shopping season, ask yourself what you can do differently this year to keep sane. I could suggest organization, early planning and my mother’s favorite: shopping early! But unfortunately there are those like myself who wait for Black Friday and Cyber Monday to get into the holiday shopping spirit, only to regret that I hadn’t shopped earlier after hours of waiting in line.
Being in the gift basket industry, I’ve learned the importance of planning months ahead to keep from burning out during the holiday season. It’s very difficult to run a gifting business, run your household and have them both in good standing at the end of the year. If you are to survive any holiday season you should have a plan or idea of how to make holiday shopping as stress free as possible.
Here are a few tips that can help you survive this holiday season:
1| If you don’t have a shopping date in mind, get one! It is always best to plan a specific date or weekend to complete your shopping.
2| Create a gifting list and stick to it! Shopping becomes more streamlined once you create your shopping list.
3| If you are waiting for the holiday sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, make sure to get the sales papers early and subscribe to your favorite online retailers for updates on sales and coupon codes.
4| Plan out your shopping route! This saves time, money and gas.
5| Prepare your mind for crowds, long lines and cranky people! This way we won’t see you on ‘Snapped’!
6| Have a budget set in place. How important is this? My husband would say “VERY!” You don’t want to break the bank during the holidays. Plus it’s never fun singing the shoulda-woulda-coulda Blues.
7| Be realistic. If you order a gift basket or anything online late, keep in mind that items may not be in stock due to high demand. Turnaround times may be passed set shipping dates and your gifts will not be delivered on time. Or if delivery is possible, be prepared to pay a hefty fee for expedited shipping!
Happy Shopping!
Philosophy of People is a compilation of self-improvement articles written by entrepreneurs seeking to bring holistic solutions to everyday problems. Read more articles from our 2nd Year Anniversary issue.
Shannon Martin is the owner of Danielle's Basketry and online gourmet gift basket service. She is a Wifepreneur, Mompreneur who enjoys creating miniature works of art. She loves being around positive people who support what you do and encourage you to do more. Find our more about her gift basket service at Danielle’s Basketry.