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5 Things Small Businesses Are Doing in August to Prepare for the Holiday Season

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5 Things Small Businesses Are Doing in August to Prepare for the Holiday Season

August may still feel like the dog days of summer, but for smart small business owners, it’s go-time for gearing up for the holiday season. With planning and prep starting earlier each year, August offers a valuable window to get ahead of the Q4 rush. Here are five things savvy small businesses are doing right now to make sure they’re ready to shine when the holidays hit:

1. Planning Promotions and Product Bundles

From Black Friday to Small Business Saturday and beyond, the holidays are filled with opportunities to stand out. Businesses are:

  • Reviewing last year’s bestsellers
  • Creating themed gift sets or limited-time bundles
  • Mapping out discount schedules and flash sale ideas

🎁 This is the month to brainstorm creative offers and get a jump on marketing assets.

2. Restocking and Supply Chain Checkups

Inventory delays can make or break holiday sales. That’s why August is when business owners:

  • Reorder top-selling products or raw materials
  • Reach out to vendors and shipping partners to confirm timelines
  • Forecast demand so they’re not caught off guard

🛒 Early action now helps avoid out-of-stock messages when customers are ready to buy.

3. Sprucing Up Online Presence

Shoppers will soon be searching. Will they find you? In August, many businesses take time to:

  • Refresh product listings and update photos
  • Add seasonal keywords for SEO
  • Optimize their homepage and marketplaces for conversions

🧁 If you’re on a local marketplace, now’s the time to feature holiday-ready offerings and giftable products.

4. Planning Events and Collaborations

August is the perfect time to reach out and team up. Businesses are:

  • Coordinating holiday pop-ups or open houses
  • Partnering with complementary brands for giveaways or cross-promos
  • Booking local events, markets, and community booths

🗓️ It’s also a great time to list events on local directories and marketplaces to boost visibility.

5. Scheduling Content and Social Media

Between holiday shipping deadlines and increased customer traffic, it’s easy for marketing to fall by the wayside. That’s why small businesses are:

  • Pre-scheduling email campaigns and social media posts
  • Creating holiday gift guides or blog content
  • Preparing customer FAQs or behind-the-scenes videos

📢 A little planning now = more time to serve customers later.

BONUS: Don’t Overlook Corporate Gifting

B2B holiday orders start earlier than consumer sales. Smart businesses are:

  • Reframing how their products could be scaled for bulk gifting
  • Offering logo customization or branded messaging
  • Reaching out to local companies, nonprofits, and organizations that want to support local this season instead of defaulting to mass-produced gifts

🎅 If you can produce in volume and offer a meaningful, high-quality product, now’s the time to plant those seeds.

Ready, Set, Sell!

While it might seem early to think about tinsel and gift wrap, August prep is what separates the frantic from the focused during the busiest season of the year. Whether you’re a local maker, service provider, or retailer, taking action now means you’ll be ready to thrive—not just survive—this holiday season.