From Labor Day to New Year’s: How to Meet Shifting Customer Needs

Prepare for the holiday rush

When the Labor Day cookout ends, Americans know summer’s over. Small business leaders know it’s time to prepare for the busy holiday season.

The holiday boom seems to start earlier each year, and spending often rises regardless of economic pressure. Leaders who want to get ahead of the holiday rush should start planning now.

How to prep your business

Analyze prior years’ performance

First, look for any sales or service patterns that emerged between Labor Day and New Year’s Day in previous years. Some, such as increased purchases of gift items, are obvious. But you may be surprised by some of the other insights you find.

Tracking how much you spend on must-haves for your offices or stores will help you make a better budget and smarter buying decisions. Spend Analytics, available as part of a Walmart Business+ membership, makes it easy to see all your purchases in one place for quick accounting and year-end planning.

Build your marketing plan

Take a moment to assess any marketing channels you could put to better use this season. Has your email newsletter been on the back burner for a while? Do your social media channels need a refresh?

Modern omnichannel marketing means reaching customers every way possible—and that includes in the real world. Walmart Business Print offers customizable options to create signs, flyers, postcards and more high-impact ways to make your business stand out.

Stock up on essentials

The holiday rush is no time to run out of the supplies you need to keep your business running. Non-perishable goods that you use regularly—think hand sanitizer, printer paper and so on—are great candidates for bulk purchases with a Walmart Business account.

You can’t stock up on everything before you’ll need it, but you can still save yourself the hassle of last-minute shopping trips. Walmart Business+ unlocks free delivery from store, $35 minimum,1 so you and your employees spend more time on task.

Automate admin tasks

Need more flexibility to meet customer demands? Look for high-impact areas that augment your current administrative capabilities while saving effort, including:

• Customer service automations that reduce response time and increase satisfaction.

• Document management automations that distribute knowledge where it’s needed.

• Scheduling automations that take the stress out of planning shifts.

Save even more time by signing up for subscriptions on the daily items your business needs with Walmart Business.²

Learn more ways to streamline your business in our article, How Automation Reduces Admin Task Overload.

Prepare for busy season with Walmart Business

Kick off your pre-holiday prep by becoming a Walmart Business+ member with your choice of three plans tailor-made for your stage in the business journey.

On top of the benefits we’ve already mentioned, Walmart Business+ members earn 2% back in Walmart Business rewards on orders of $250 or more.³ They also get free shipping, no order minimum,⁴ and access to limited-time offers that help you do more for your business while keeping your team on task.

The holidays will be here before you know it. Walmart Business helps you make this season the best one yet.

¹ Restrictions apply.

² Shipping, delivery, and minimum order fees may apply. Eligible items only. Terms apply.

³ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

⁴ Excludes most marketplace items. Freight & location surcharges may apply.