How to get your small business ready for Christmas

 

For many small businesses, Christmas is a big deal for boosting sales and hitting revenue targets. According to Iwoca, 44% of small businesses expect to make over a quarter of their yearly revenue at Christmas. For 22% of SMEs, this season can make up more than half of their yearly income.

With Christmas right around the corner, it’s essential to get your business ready. At UTP, we’ve put together a quick guide to help small businesses make the most of this holiday season—with better planning, festive decorations, and hassle-free payment options.

Planning for Christmas Sales

Getting your Christmas planning done early makes everything easier and even helps you make more sales. Starting early gives you time to order extra stock, plan your staffing, and set up your promotions. According to Statista, 53% of UK shoppers start buying for Christmas before December, so we recommend getting things sorted in October and November.

People are especially focused on food, drink, and gifts around the holidays, which means hospitality and retail businesses usually see a jump in demand. Make sure your stock can keep up so you’re ready to serve everyone who walks through the door. Think back to last Christmas: What sold best? Did you have enough stock? Answering these questions can help you make smarter buying decisions. And remember, wholesalers and distributors are extra busy at this time, so order ahead to avoid delays.

Planning your staffing is also key. Most businesses schedule staffing a couple of weeks in advance, but during the holidays, employees may have other plans. Scheduling early will ensure you’re covered to handle extra foot traffic and give great service.

Decorating Your Business for Christmas

Adding holiday decorations can improve the customer experience and even encourage more buying. Psychologist Deborah Serrani says that Christmas decorations increase dopamine—a feel-good hormone that can make customers feel more positive in your store. In fact, Forbes reports that businesses that create a memorable shopping experience bring in around 5.7% more revenue.

Many businesses decorate their storefronts and window displays to catch the eye of holiday shoppers. This is a great way to show that you’re celebrating the season. If you have holiday sales, advertise them in the windows, too.

If you run a restaurant, festive table decor like Christmas crackers, themed runners, and centerpieces can add a cozy, welcoming vibe. For hair and beauty salons, try some Christmas-themed window stickers or mirror decorations. If you’ve got space, set up a Christmas tree with wrapped “gifts” underneath for a fun, festive look.

Another way to make your business stand out is by creating experiences that feel special for the holidays. Offer free festive touches like Christmas music playlists or holiday-themed screensavers on display. Hand out simple treats like mini candy canes or free gift-wrapping services for purchases—it’s thoughtful and low-cost. If you’re looking to bring people in, run a quick giveaway on social media, like a free product or discount voucher. This will also get more engagement across your social media accounts. For service businesses, try sending personalized holiday messages or thank-you notes to loyal customers. These little touches cost very little but make people feel appreciated, which keeps them coming back.

 

Taking Card Payments at Christmas

One of the best ways to boost sales and keep customers happy during the Christmas rush is by accepting card payments. Customers want fast, easy, and flexible ways to pay, and businesses that only take cash can miss out on sales. Our card payment solutions make it easy for small businesses to offer secure, reliable, and fast payment options. With us, you can offer chip and PIN, contactless, and mobile payments, making checkout quicker and encouraging customers to return.

On average, our customers save up to 33% on transaction rates, making us a smart choice for small businesses wanting to cut down on payment processing costs.

The UTP Max: Perfect for the Christmas Rush

To help you keep up with demand during the busy holiday season, the UTP Max has features designed for high-traffic times. The UTP Max terminal processes payments in just 1.2 seconds, helping you keep queues short and customers happy. With up to 8 hours of battery life, the UTP Max lets you take payments all day, even during your busiest hours. Plus, it connects via 3G, 4G, GPRS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, so you can count on a solid connection whether you’re in-store or at a pop-up event.

The UTP Max ensures your small business can take quick, flexible payments during the holiday season, giving your customers a smooth experience and helping you make the most of Christmas sales. With features like lightning-fast transaction speeds, long battery life, and multiple ways to connect, it’s built to support you during the busiest time of year.

You can learn more about the UTP Max here, or to speak to one of our sales team today, call 0330 99 99 300.