Aug. 2-8
SERVICE Even the kids are going to be desperate to get back in the classroom this year, meaning an extra rushed and chaotic “back to school” season. Think of some concrete ways to keep it fun for staff and customers.
PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT Take the 30-Day Cold Shower Challenge. The benefits are said to be greater energy, better sleep and a feeling of being more ethical.
Aug. 9-15
TRAINING Train staff to give new customers one-minute store tours while telling your business story.
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Aug. 16-22
SECURITY More than 40 states have passed laws that make business owners liable for protecting sensitive personal information, or SPI, such as Social Security, driver’s license and financial account numbers. The laws typically demand business owners have procedures in place for the following: 1.) SPI safeguards, 2.) timely destruction of SPI, 3.) back-up of your own information, 4.) controls on access, and 5.) notification of affected individuals in the event of a data breach. How’s your plan?
Aug. 23-29
INVENTORY The fall buying season is just around the corner. It’s time to determine which manufacturers, collections and brands stay and which go based on their sales, profit margins, and product quality, as well as what holes you need to fill.
MANAGEMENT Invite 10 customers or patients to join an advisory panel. Schedule three meetings a year and ask them to discuss what they’ve seen, what they like, and how they think you can improve or adapt to the current economic conditions. “Pay” them with lunch and gift cards.
Aug. 30-Sept. 5
IN-STORE How is your optical looking? Is it fresh and up-to-date to catch the eye of first time visitors? Does it feel overly familiar to those clients who have been with you for decades? Take a day to visit high-end boutiques — not just vision retailers — in neighboring markets to get some inspiration.
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Sept. 6-12
OPERATIONS Put up a board in your staff room to keep the energy positive. Urge everyone to pin a Post-it note of an upbeat interaction they had with another team member each week.
Sept. 13-19
MARKETING Plan for at least one trunk show to introduce the new products you pick up this fall … Try shaking your routine up a little this year to account for new social distancing protocols.
Sept. 20-26
SOCIAL MEDIA Many platforms prioritize showing your content to users who like and comment on posts regularly and those you engage with. Spend time this summer interacting with customers’ (and prospective audiences’) posts.
Sept. 27-Oct. 3
HOLIDAYS A National Retail Federation survey found 40 percent of shoppers started gift-buying before Halloween. Draw up a to-do list covering seasonal collateral like bags, merchandising, cleaning and Christmas staffing.