Many businesses will do everything they can to attract as many customers as possible both in the run up to Christmas and once the January sales get started. However, once the inevitable rush has worn off, very few companies consider how best to draw people in during the far more frugal latter half of January through to February.
No matter whether you are in the retail industry, the pub trade or even own an upmarket brasserie, there is likely to be a dramatic drop in custom as January wears on, and whilst many might simply let the boost of Christmas allow them to take the hit, considering how to be attractive in the New Year could help you ensure that not only do you get a reasonable amount of custom in January but also that such custom can continue on for the rest of the year to come.
The best approach will be very different for each company, but the important thing is not to write January and February off as a complete loss. There is still custom out there; however, it is simply spread more thinly. The more attractive you can be, the more likely you will be to find that the majority come to you.
There are, of course, a few things that can be done by all businesses. First off, make sure your customer service is at as high a standard as possible. Whilst customer satisfaction surveys are extremely useful, using a mystery shopping company may be even more beneficial. Not only will a mystery shopping company be able to help you to ensure that your employees are doing as you wish, but you may also be able to find help and advice as to what the best practices are to keep your customers truly happy.
Customer satisfaction surveys can also be used to your benefit in other ways. For instance, if you offer those who complete them money off items, free gifts or other rewards, you are far more likely to see them favour your business and return to use any voucher they might have received.
The final two approaches all can use are to offer genuinely appealing deals for the entire month to keep people coming back and to prepare for the unexpected. Simply ensuring you are always able to stay open, have the stock you need and keep your premises warm may be enough to see people return again and again.