By Sarah Fichter
The holiday season is here! Most people love this time of year, and small business owners are no exception. That said, the number of people shopping can create risks and complications for certain companies, especially local business owners. Getting ahead of the risks can help your business handle and succeed during the holiday season.
Your Employees
Seasonal employees are great when you need them, but temporary employees can be more unreliable in showing up. One strategy to employ is running background checks. Many companies hire more help during the holiday season, so it is common for businesses to hire more quickly for the season. It is still essential to ensure that the individuals you want to hire are reliable and can maintain a safe environment for your company.
Theft
It is no surprise that the holiday season brings larger crowds into stores; while this is great for business, it can lead to more theft than usual during the year. Training your employees to handle theft and watch for signs from shoplifters can increase your chances of not losing inventory and increasing sales. Just because you have a small business does not mean you are immune to theft. Security cameras during the holiday season are an excellent way to thwart individuals predisposed to stealing. Or, if theft occurs, you may capture it on camera and report it to the authorities. Recommended security systems can be found at many retailers and online – remember to check online reviews before selecting your system.
Online Transactions
The increase in foot traffic during the holiday season also increases traffic for online shopping. As a result, it puts companies more at risk of cyber-attacks. According to Forbes, “between January 2021 and December 2021, researchers at cloud security company Barracuda Networks analyzed millions of emails across thousands of companies. They found that, on average, an employee of a small business with less than 100 employees will experience 350% more social engineering attacks than an employee of a larger enterprise.”
Injury
The holiday season can be very chaotic, and accidents can occur. If an employee or customer gets injured in your store, it is essential to know how to handle the situation correctly. First and most importantly, make sure the person is okay. Check for open wounds or broken bones.
Small businesses can prepare for injury by having insurance for these situations. TrustPoint Insurance & Real Estate offers a variety of business insurance coverage.
The holiday season is a great time to increase sales for local business owners, and following these helpful tips can allow for a successful fourth quarter.
