Check out Inktavo's tools and resources for the branded merchandise industry!
Check it Out
Back to all tools and resources
As the year winds down, it can be exciting to look ahead. However, as a business owner, looking ahead requires some additional planning and strategizing so that you’re making the most of every week and hitting the ground running after the holidays. Whether considering new product offerings, investing in new equipment, hiring new staff, or revamping how you market to customers, having a plan in place can make a world of difference.
Whether you’re a two-person operation or a massive contract decorator, here’s a five-step guide on how to get started.
Get Your Copy Today
5-Step Guide
It’s no secret that modern shoppers want the convenience they’ve come to experience in B2C, and custom-branded merchandise business owners can benefit from finding ways to tap into those trends.
Part of meeting modern demands means getting creative with your budget. Whether it’s fluctuating interest rates, the rising cost of labor, or the continued increase in raw materials, print shops have had to rethink how they allocate funds.
“I think folks are having to get smarter about money,” says Bruce Ackerman, founder of Printavo. “Overhead has crept up with salaries increasing and interest rates making equipment more expensive too. Folks seem to have now to push harder on sales.”
Part of staying nimble means knowing what worked well in previous years and what didn’t. The quicker you can narrow down these factors, the easier it is to plan out a year’s worth of promotions and customer orders.
A couple of big things you’ll want to do for the coming year are to see which seasons were your busiest and start contacting the customers who had the most jobs during those times as soon as possible.
For example, even if you’re printing uniforms and jerseys for your local Little League team every spring, don’t assume they’ll call you back this year. Ensure you’re staying on their radar by being the first to reach out and going one step further by providing mockups, and product ideas, and asking them if they know of other teams that need custom gear.
Providing product ideas before customers place orders helps open doors to bundles they might have yet to consider.
Not an Inktavo user yet? Contact us today to learn how our platforms can help you grow and scale.
Inktavo’s family of companies develops software solutions that help print shops, promotional product distributors, and branded merchandise businesses succeed.
Get Your Copy Today
