September marks the final month of the third business quarter, and so pushing sales to meet your targets is critical.
As well as this, September brings about a whole host of opportunities for sales and business growth.
Let’s take a look at some of them:
September marks the start of Autumn trading
What you sell more of during the Autumn months depends on the type of business you’re in. For example, most automotive dealers will know that Autumn brings about a peak in the demand for four wheel drives. Similarly, fashion outlets will want to be rid of summer stock in preparation for bringing in cosy ponchos and snug outdoor boots. If you’re not ready for the change in your typical target market’s consumer needs, they’re more likely to make a purchase elsewhere. As well as keeping an eye on your own business sales trends, it’s also critical to know your general market and how it is affected by the current economic climate. For example, September 2014 saw a 5.2% growth in the eating and drinking out sector thanks to a rise in the popularity of casual dining culture and a changing economy. Being able to predict these evolving habits in advance can help you to beat the competition and be prepared for a bigger (or smaller) demand for certain products and services.
September is the starting point in the lead up to Christmas
September 1st falls 16 weeks before the Christmas weekend, and in the UK, this is when 29% of consumers buy their gifts. Given that Christmas spending amounted to £77.56 Billion in 2016, can you really afford to miss out on over a quarter of that by being unprepared for Christmas trading? Remember to stock up on the items you know sell well at Christmas and have them on your shelves for 1st September.
The holidays are over
During August, many people take holidays and children are off school, causing a lot of distractions for consumers. But in September, the kids begin a new term at school and the travel season slowly comes to a halt. This makes it a good time to target your avatar with effective marketing to draw them back towards your business.
You can create opportunities to meet your quarter targets
As previously mentioned, September marks the end of the third quarter and so, if you think you might not meet your targets, steps can be taken to give your sales a last minute push. Take a look at our dedicated post on preparing for the end of the quarter for effective, practical tips.
In business, preparation is the key to success. If you are all set up for September trading by the 1st of the month, you’ll be able to hit the ground running and maximise your sales.