Show Off Your Shopping Bags, Review Your Pricing and More Tasks for Your Dec-Jan To-do List

Nov. 30-Dec. 6

PACKAGING Have a sample of one of your branded shopping bags visible so shoppers know they will get a nice bag with their purchase. Ditto for any holiday wrapping paper or boxes.

Dec. 7-13

MARKETING Start posting photos of your two best-selling frames on Facebook each day. Post the first when you open, and the other around 3 P.M. Ask each of your employees to post at least one photo a day to your store’s Instagram account (and don’t forget the hashtags!). Watch for feedback and keep the conversation going.

Dec. 14-20

MARKETING Set up a system (lucky draw box, lip balm giveaway, loyalty program) to ensure no one leaves your optical this month without first surrendering a little bio data or an email address and permission to text.

Dec. 21-27

BACK ROOM Bring healthy snacks for staff to offset all of the holiday treats flooding the office, advises Deb Jaeger of the Eye Center of the Dakotas, in Bismarck, ND.

Dec. 28-Jan. 3

PRICING The new year is a great time to introduce new financial policies and raise prices for staple services such as repairs and exams. At the very least, your prices should reflect the impact of inflation, both for materials and wages.

Jan. 4-10

WEBSITE Add a sign-up option on your website for customers to receive news, updates, or promotions. And update the copyright date on your site to 2026.

Jan. 11-17

STAFF Take your employees for a bite to eat and talk one-on-one about their year. Ask “How’s your job?” “How’s your life?” “What do you need from me this year?” And “Give glorious feedback to employees who’ve earned it,” urges sales trainer Harry Friedman.

Jan. 18-24

SERVICE Refine your take-in procedure for repairs. Are you giving accurate estimates on delivery times and not disappointing customers? Can you offer a “rush” charge? Are you taking digital photos of frames during take-in so clients can’t claim that you damaged them?

Jan. 25-31

MANAGEMENT Problems don’t fester if they are brought into the open quickly. Set aside an hour a month for a practitioners’ meeting to discuss day-to-day issues. For strategic issues, set aside a day for quarterly or annual planning sessions.