November 2024 Edition

Create Work-Life Balance During The Holidays

by Dawn Varga

November 23,2024

The holidays are filled with family, fun, and good cheer. They should be a time to recharge, relax, and get ready for the new year that is upon us. But how much of that time will you and your employees actually get to enjoy if you have to keep your business running?

Stress during the holiday season can significantly impact work statistics, often leading to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, higher error rates, and a decline in overall job performance due to factors like distractions, fatigue, financial worries, and family commitments that can cloud focus at work during this time.

A November 2024 poll by Monster found that more than half (53%) of workers say they have more holiday stress than usual this year. During the holidays, that stress can be compounded with the addition of the time and financial burdens that come with holiday shopping, traveling, and get-togethers.

To complicate matters even more, when employees are experiencing personal issues, their work often suffers as well. So how do you preserve your employees' well-being while keeping your business running smoothly during the holidays?

Here are a few tips:

Encourage taking vacation days during the holidays to not only enjoy time with their families and friends, but to also come back rested and more productive upon their return.
Cross-train your workers so any single employee doesn't feel guilty or obligated to not take time off because "no one else can do their job".
Reward your employees for all their hard work throughout the year by providing travel vouchers for them to take time for themselves or cash bonuses to ease the financial burdens of the season.
Be flexible with your work schedule. Every employee celebrates the season in a different way. Allow them to choose their own days off or to shift their start/stop times. Offer a four-day work week option to allow extra time for shopping and family.
Be a good role model and show your employees how it's done by also taking time for yourself. And don't email or call an employee that is on holiday, unless it is a true emergency.
Appreciate your employees by gifting an unscheduled afternoon (or two) off without it affecting their pay. They will welcome the time off and appreciate your generosity.
Lessen the workload during the holidays by hiring temporary employees, seasonal help, or the assistance of a agency. You may even find an amazing new employee or agency partner to work with year-round!

The holidays only come once a year, so be sure to take all the steps necessary to balance good business operations with your employees' personal needs so you all can enjoy a happy, healthy, and prosperous holiday season and beyond!

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6 Holiday Sales Strategies For Small Businesses To Win The Season

Article from forbes.com

by Erik Logan

November 12, 2024

Holiday sales are stressful. The season presents both a significant opportunity and a challenge for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The year’s final months often determine annual success, with the holiday rush playing a pivotal role in revenue generation.

Two out of three small businesses — and 89% of the retail businesses — emphasize the holiday season’s importance to their bottom line, according to a 2023 American Express survey. However, economic uncertainties and mixed forecasts—ranging from predictions of the “worst Black Friday ever” to modest sales increases of 2.5% to 3.5%— add to the uncertainty and stress for the 2024 season.

A new trend is emerging: slow shopping. Newsweek reports that 73% of consumers are taking a slow shopping approach this year. This means they are starting their shopping early but not rushing to purchase everything immediately — that way they spend money more deliberately.

Share Your Authentic Story

Every small business has an origin story. This story makes you unlike anyone else or any other business. This narrative is one of the most important things about your company. Think about your business’ “why” and find ways to share it through social media or other platforms. Communicating this narrative effectively can forge a strong connection with your community and differentiate your brand from competitors.

We are all drawn to authentic storytelling and communities. Sharpen this part of your business. Revisit your company’s founding story, ensure it’s clear and concise, and integrate it into your marketing to engage customers. Also, remember to celebrate your sales. When you make a sale, connect with the purchaser, highlight them, and share their story and why they shopped with you. The value of social acceptance by others is a key way to attract future sales.

Lean Into Local Advantages

Your local community is one of your most significant distinct advantages. Your business can offer unique, handcrafted, locally sourced products that help you stand out from mass-produced items in big box stores. Highlighting these offerings and the stories behind them can appeal to consumers seeking meaningful and distinctive gifts. Be sure to showcase them alongside your brand story, as this can effectively reinforce your position in the local marketplace.

Use Location-Based Marketing Platforms

In today’s digital age, marketing dollars can be spent efficiently through hyper-targeted campaigns. Social media platforms play a pivotal role in influencing holiday purchasing decisions, with 89% of consumers saying social media influences their holiday shopping. According to a statica 2024 survey, Facebook influenced U.S. consumers the most when it came to holiday gifts. In turn, YouTube was the second most influential social network for holiday gift shopping in the United States. These factors, coupled with your founder’s story, engaging your audience effectively by showcasing your story and products on these platforms is critical.

One option to explore is proximity-based marketing, which allows your company to send ads only to individuals within the same geographic location.

Social media campaigns don’t need to be fancy or expensive. Look into your network, even your own kids, and ask for help as to what trends they’re seeing. You’ll be surprised by what you learn.

READ REST OF ARTICLE HERE

Apple Crumble

Recipe by Ree Drummond

View Recipe on The Pioneer Woman

Serve it warm with a big scoop of ice cream.

Ingredients:

Salted butter, for the baking dish
8 medium baking apples (such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Braeburn; about 4 pounds), peeled, cored, and sliced (4 lbs. 3 oz.)
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 c. granulated sugar
1 heaping Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Topping
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. chopped walnuts
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
Pinch of kosher salt
8 Tbsp. (1 stick) salted butter, melted
Ice cream or warm caramel sauce, for serving

Directions:

For the apples: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with butter.
Put the apples in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle with the lemon juice, and toss to coat. Pat the slices down in an even layer. In a medium bowl, mix together the granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Sprinkle the mixture over the apples; use clean hands to toss the apples to coat.
For the topping: In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, walnuts, baking powder, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Stir in the melted butter. Sprinkle the topping in an even layer over the apples.
Bake until the topping is slightly crisp and golden brown, 55 minutes to 1 hour. Serve warm or at room temperature on its own or topped with ice cream or caramel sauce.