Sawgrass’ education manager Jimmy Lamb provides tips for those in the sublimation industry to get ready for the approaching holiday season.
‘Now is when most sublimation businesses should stock up and plan for the increased volume of orders once the holiday season begins,’ said Lamb. ‘A little planning and preparation now, can save major time and money later.’
Stock up on supplies
Ink, paper, substrates, adhesive spray and heat tape are all sublimation essentials not easy to find at a moment’s notice during the peak holiday season. Take advantage of promotions and special offers – such as bulk pricing and free shipping – and stock up on these staples now. This will get your shop in shape to take on all the additional orders that come through for the remainder of the year.
Assess your system
If you’ve been thinking about replacing an old printer or adding an additional printer to your shop, now is the time to make that decision. Though some printers work day in and out for many, many years with very few issues, others are not as reliable. If the thought of replacing a printer has ever crossed your mind, it is a good idea to get that done well before you are flooded with holiday orders. Again, replacing a sublimation printer takes time that you cannot afford to spend waiting when there is money to be made.
If you find that your printer is doing a fantastic job, consider whether it will be enough to handle the upswing in orders, or if it would make your business more efficient to add an additional printer– or even upgrade to a larger size printer. Think about your sales last year and estimate your sales this year based on the growth of your business. Is your printer reliable enough or do you have enough capacity to fill all the customer orders you are anticipating? If you are not sure, it might be worth talking to a dealer to find out what your options are.
Build a sales plan
Throughout the year you have seen what is trending and what your customers want from your business. In a similar fashion, plan for the upcoming holiday season, when decoration, celebration and gift giving are the most popular. What will you offer this year that will make your profits soar? Build a set product list now and focus on one strategy for the holiday rush to keep your sales on track. Once you have defined your product list and strategy, estimate how much inventory you will need to keep up with demand and start stocking up.
Work out the issues
Maybe last year, you wished you offered a specific product, but did not have the time to test it. Alternatively, did you have an idea for a product, but it did not sell too well? Or worse, were there products that were so popular you could not keep enough in stock? If you start working on your product line in August or September, you will have enough time to make a better assessment of success come the holidays. Take some time now to try new products and stock up on the ones that have done well all year – or your customers could not get enough of last year.
Even if you are far from having the holiday spirit, it’s time to do some planning and investing in your sublimation business.
JG ELECTRONICS 011 789 6033 https://www.jgelectronics.com/
