Summer in your business: prepare for the pros and cons

Summer weather is not always roses and sunshine

The last few summers brought us more frequent extreme weather conditions: from weeks of heat waves to overpowering rainfall.

• Are they predicting a summer storm ? Secure anything loose, such as patio furniture or sidewalk signs. Make sure abundant rain is diverted away or can soak into the ground. If you do have damage, know that fire insurance for your building also covers damage from natural disasters.
• Enormous heat and too much sun can be pernicious for both your sales and your products. Food does not keep as well for as long, personal care products can go off and the color of clothing can fade because of the sun. Electrical appliances are also sensitive to high temperatures and can break down or even cause fires in extreme cases. So pay close attention to what you put in the window, install blinds and provide ventilation (or possibly air conditioning).
• Pay attention to the well-being of your employees. Have them drink more and take breaks during high heat, ask them to wear light clothing and protect their heads. Be alert, because a heat stroke can be serious. Do weather conditions (heat or storms) make it impossible to even work? Then there is a chance you can invoke 'temporary unemployment due to bad weather', with NEO benefits for your employees.

What do my customers want this season?

If your business specializes in ski equipment, don't expect record sales in the summer. If you are the local reference for water sports equipment, then yes. But you've probably built your offering so that you have something to offer year-round. Yet the demand for your products can fluctuate greatly from season to season. How do you respond wisely?

• Get to know your audience well. What kind of people are your best customers and what products do they buy when? The better you know them, their preferences and their buying habits, the better you can respond to them.
• Track year after year and month after month on how much you sell of everything. Last summer's sales figures will help you more accurately estimate sales for this summer.
• Work year-round to establish a good relationship with your suppliers. Perhaps you can keep part of your order "on option" until you know better what you really need?

Event rush: preparation is everything

A big event in the neighborhood? Or perhaps a fair you participate in yourself? Atmospheric days they are, and they often bring top sales! But also some risks you'd better be prepared for.

• Lots of people in the limited space of your store can make it more difficult to serve everyone well. Perhaps you would do well to bring in an extra employee to walk around the store, greeting and helping customers? This also prevents products from getting "legs" in the crowds. Possibly in conjunction with a security camera.
• Also consider fire safety: don't let more people in than remains comfortable and always keep emergency exits clear.
• Making an estimate is not obvious, but provide extra stock of popular products. The chance of new customers discovering your store during an event is high, so grab it with both hands.

Busy period? Job students and flexis to the rescue

With job students, you can cover busy periods, but remember that the legislation for "youthful employees", or minors between the ages of 15 and 18, is stricter in some areas than that for adult employees. Depending on the industry in which you operate, you may also hire flexi-jobbers. Even then, be sure to check the regulations.

Of course you are also obliged to take out work accident insurance for a flexi-jobber or student worker , even if they only work in your business for one day. In addition, consider insuring your entire team against professional errors , especially if there are many inexperienced employees.

In summary, checking each season to make sure you are adequately insured for seasonal risks is not a luxury. Start with this blog: Tips for well-insured business