Skip the Holiday Hustle

How would it feel to completely skip the holiday hustle in your stuido this year?

I know that you know that the key to more success and less stress is planning ahead, both in our studios and in our personal lives. But getting ready for a big event, sale or training can be challenging while also managing your day-to-day activities. So, before the holiday hustle gets into high gear, it is important to knock the big stuff out early so that you can clearly see the plan and GET IT DONE.

We don’t get to skip the hustle by ignoring the holidays all together in our studios (even though it may be tempting!), but by taking the time now to plan for the season. Hands down, this is the BEST way to reduce the stress of trying to get it all done while the kids are home, and you have cookies in the oven.

Here are some of my favorite tips:

Make sure your studio pricing is dialed in for 2024.

I never stop talking about this, do I? No, I don’t, and I won't....as the pricing of your services is one of the most important factors in running your studio profitably. If the pricing of your services doesn't allow you to be profitable, it does not matter how many people are in the room, how many auto-pays you have, or frankly, what you offer for Black Friday.

If your 2024 pricing is already locked in, it is easier to craft holiday offers or bonuses, as your current pricing may be the offer itself. Take an afternoon to review your sales, revenue per client, and revenue per class and get your 2024 pricing in tip top shape.

Plan your holiday offers early.

If you haven't already done this, then today is the next best day. The sooner the better, and you might even consider beginning to sell them BEFORE Black Friday - Cyber Monday weekend. With so much (bad) news out there a lot of folks will be trying to get their shopping done before Thanksgiving and will also be considering gifting EXPERIENCES instead of THINGS to avoid gifts arriving late and contributing to buying “things” that no one needs. That’s a huge win for boutique fitness.

Use your studio software to create offers and set up email campaigns to promote the offers.

People don’t magically buy as soon as you put an offer into your software. Be sure to promote your offers on your website, on your social media pages, and in the studio itself to make sure all your clients are aware of your holiday offers. The sooner your promotions begin, the better.

Address your inventory needs, STAT.

Selling yoga related items during the holiday season can be a great way to add additional revenue to your bottom line. All those new clients are going to need mats and blocks, right? And they might as well get them from their locally owned small business instead of Target or a big box store. Keep in mind that you are not immune to supply chain issues or shortages, so you need to address your inventory needs now to make sure you are stocked and ready well before crunch time.

There has also been a noticeable shift in awareness over the past few years as to how challenging it is to operate a small business, and folks are increasingly willing to support local, small businesses, especially when they see the owner on a regular basis. Take advantage of this by offering branded clothing and water bottles so that your clients can support you and publicly show their support. It is a win-win!

Offer value, not discounts.

You may have noticed that I keep talking about holiday OFFERS, not holiday sales. You do not have to DISCOUNT anything, and it is totally OK to buck that trend. Heck, if more studios would stop discounting, we would all be better off, am I right?

My best holiday offers were offers for packages that I did not usually have on the menu, adding to the interest and the idea that “I should buy this now.” For example, if you don't usually offer a 5-class pass, consider offering one with a short expiration or a great price per class. Perhaps offer a very limited quantity of something amazing, like a full year of yoga! Successful offers add VALUE to the consumer, instead of a discount, such as 2 BONUS classes on a 10-class pass, or a FREE 30 minute private with purchase of a long-term pass or an auto-pay.

When we add VALUE to our packages and offerings, we teach our consumer that our services have value, and that we are not willing to get paid less just because it is November. After a few seasons of this, your clients will stop asking for discounts, too, as they will have learned that you value what you offer, and expect them to value it, too.

Give it a try and see for yourself!

These are just a few ideas for how to plan for a successful holiday season. To help you out, I have prepared a Holiday Hustle Checklist just for you, to help you stay on track this holiday season. Grab yours and get ready for your BEST holiday season ever!

Grab your FREE checklist HERE>>>

Want more? Grab my Holiday Hustle Masterclass where I share how to craft the best offers for your studio, based on your studio goals. The Holiday Hustle Masterclass is only $19 and includes the checklist.