Today I’m joined by business coach Mike Cole to discuss effective strategies for preparing for the Christmas season. We talk about the importance of setting realistic plans, identifying non-negotiables, and avoiding the pitfalls of 'happy path' planning. Mike shares insights on capacity planning, business continuity planning, and the importance of self-care during busy periods. We also discuss what steps to take if you find yourself in a state of cascade failure. Tune in to learn how to not only survive but enjoy the Christmas rush.

[02:30] Welcome Mike Cole!

[04:02] If you're juggling lots of balls, how do you identify the most important balls that should not be dropped? In other words, how do you find your non-negotiables?

[07:57] Why you should avoid “Happy Path” planning

[19:36] Do you have a business continuity plan?

[25:04] What happens if you don't quite get it right and you go into cascade failure, is there anything you can do in the midst of it all?

Links:

Join the Resilient Retail Club to Plan a successful Christmas Season: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/membership/

Related Episodes in this series:

205: Christmas in July: Thriving Through the Festive Season with Mike Cole https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast-episode/christmas-in-july-thriving-through-the-christmas-season-with-mike-cole/

204: Christmas in July: Why Now is the Time to Plan Your Christmas Strategy https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast-episode/why-now-is-the-time-to-plan-your-christmas-strategy/

Today we are kicking off a six-part series on preparing for the crucial time of year for retailers, Christmas.

In this episode, I explain why now is the perfect time to start planning and share insights on setting goals, reviewing past performance, and strategizing for the upcoming holiday season. We'll explore how to plan for sales, manage resources effectively, and ensure your business is ready to delight customers. Whether you're a Christmas-focused brand or have another peak season, this episode provides valuable tips to ensure a seamless, (stress-free?) and profitable end-of-year period.

From July 15th - 19th, inside the Resilient Retail Club we have a five-day challenge to put together your Christmas strategy. Learn more about the Resilient Retail Club.

[03:06] How do I define the "Christmas Season" (and what to do if Christmas isn't your peek-season)

[05:37] Why are we talking about Christmas now (at the start of summer!)?

[06:02] Building a Christmas Strategy 1: Analyze what happened last Christmas

[07:31] Building a Christmas Strategy 2: What is your intention for this year?

[09:27] Building a Christmas Strategy 2: How much are you going to make this year?

Links:

Learn more about the Resilient Retail Club: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/membership/

Learn more about my mastermind for product business owners: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/retail-business-mentoring/

Related Episodes:

162: How to Strategise for Christmas Success https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast-episode/how-to-strategise-for-christmas-success/

154: 7 Tips for Using Summer to Get Ready for Christmas

https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast-episode/7-tips-for-using-summer-to-get-ready-for-christmas/

How do you improve the cash flow in your independent retailer or e-commerce brand?

I want to introduce you to an acronym that I came up with to talk about the different elements that make up the cash flow in your business. And that, appropriately enough, is SHOPS.

And in today's episode, I'm going to talk you through the five different elements of SHOPS and how each one has its part to play in cash flow.

If you want to improve the cash flow in your business, by the end of this episode you should know where to start and what you might need help with.

[00:00] 5 Elements for Better Retail Cash Flow (SHOPS)

[01:42] What is the meaning of cash flow

[03:34] SHOPS - The elements for better cash flow

[04:10] S if for Sales

[06:29] H is for Having a cash flow map

[10:23] O is for Overheads

[11:56] P is for Profit

[13:13] S is for Stock

[13:40] What I look at when people come to me with a cash flow issue

[16:26] Do you want help managing your cash flow?

Links:

Learn more about my mastermind for product business owners: https://www.resilientretailclub.com/retail-business-mentoring/

Related Episodes:

Ep198: 5 Truths About Cash Flow in Retail - https://www.resilientretailclub.com/podcast-episode/5-truths-about-cash-flow-in-retail/