Well Christmas Day is over, the turkey should all have been eaten and now it’s that time before New Years Eve when, to be honest, there’s not that much to do! This is when we take time to reflect on the year gone by (which we write about last week) and start to focus on the year ahead.
Writing a strategy for your business and actually putting pen to paper is a really valuable thing to do. It helps you to establish what you really want from your work as well as being a great tool to review next Christmas.
So where do you start?
Well first of all ask yourself: what do you think could have been better in 2013? Now write a plan on how you will make sure it is better in 2014? Maybe you traded at vintage fairs which weren’t always successful? Ask yourself why and make a plan that will put that right next year.
Maybe you feel you never had any time off. We know running your own business has lots of benefits but one of the draw backs is you often work all your waking hours. So how are you going to ensure this doesn’t happen next year? Maybe you will go on holiday, or have planned breaks when you close your online shop – whichever you choose write it down and commit to it.
As well as reviewing last year to form a plan, it is worth visualising where you want your business to be in a years time.
Maybe you want to write a blog? Or have more followers on social networking platforms which you can share ideas and your business with? Maybe you want to win an award, or have an article published in the press.
If this is the case then work out now how you are going to get it. remember you are capable of achieving anything if you put your mind to it…and the problem is we often don’t put our mind to it then wonder why it didn’t happen.
Your plan for 2014 may be a simple one: to take more money. Sounds simple huh, but without a plan money isn’t just going to fall into your lap. Get your diary out and plan when you will have your markdown sales, what new stock will launch and when, how to make the most out of occasions such as Valentines Day and then how you are going to tell people about them.
Remember the old saying “Failing to Plan, is Planning to Fail”. This is so true……so get your thinking caps on and let’s make 2014 your best year yet!
For more business advice, inspiration and motivation check out Vintage Academy. We hold one day events packed full of tips to help you make vintage your business.
