Business

How to effectively use company downtime to create a succesful year ahead ‘Blue Monday’ might have long passed, but many small businesses are still in the midst of a seasonal lull, as customers continue to tighten their belts, and the flow of in-store and online traffic grinds to a halt. Rather than accept this as an annual slow-down, small businesses can use the quieter months to set the foundations of a successful year ahead – and get their own books back into the black. Here are seven tips for driving customers to your business – even when times are hard. 1. Run a workshop. Consider hosting a free workshop session on your areas of core expertise. A cooking or hairdressing demonstration, or advice for customers on anything from protecting their boiler from the cold weather to how to keep their New Year’s Resolutions, will help remind customers of what you can do for them. It doesn’t even need to be in person – you can host the workshop online and attract even m…