Oct. 3-9
COMMUNITY October is often a slower month for ECPs. Management expert Megan Crabtree recommends picking a charity and “donating” some of your employees’ work hours to help out with their cause. Your staff will feel uplifted as will your store’s reputation ahead of the holidays.
FINANCES Meet with your accountant to discuss tax-benefitted capital expenditures before this year’s end.
Oct. 10-16
IN-STORE As good as smartphone cameras are, you could likely get better. Sign yourself or select employees up for a course that teaches how to take better photos. (For iPhone users, visit
iPhonePhotographySchool.com.)
MERCHANDISING Shake up your sunglass displays to add some fun wintery touches and give greater prominence to your polarized models — great for après ski but obviously not when tearing down a black diamond run.
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Oct. 17-23
IN-STORE Trick or treat! Halloween is on the way. Get out your pumpkins, leaves and don’t forget the autumn caramels for customers. Give thought to some wintery decorations as well. It always gets people in a festive mood and ready to spend.
MARKETING This is a good time to be handing out business cards, especially cards with a special offer. Make sure that you, and all your staff, have plenty to hand out when you’re out and about at this time of year.
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Oct. 24-30
SOCIAL MEDIA Prepare an editorial calendar for your blog and other social media channels for the run-in to the end of the year. Aim to post something new every day, be it a blog entry, Facebook post or video. It will all help increase your website’s SEO at a time when people are scouring the internet for gift ideas.
MANAGEMENT It’s easy to fall into a negative mindset as the pressure of the holiday season builds — leading to constantly looking for faults and flaws among staff. Instead, try to pay attention to what’s working. For a week, keep a daily list of all the positive things your employees do and the behaviors you appreciate and would like to see more of.