Jul. 31-Aug. 6
ENERGY Book a break: August could be your last chance this year to take a decent vacation. Wherever you go – the sea or overseas – be sure to leave your business materials behind. Focus on relaxing (but do take a notebook along to record the liberated thoughts that come into your head).
STAFF Make a commitment this month to really listen to your staff verbally interact in their office or on the shop floor. Listen to the questions they are asking customers, product-knowledge statements, and their “tests” to ease the closing of a sale.
Aug. 7-13
FACILITIES Now’s the time to “dress up” your property. Trim shrubs, clean the outside of your building, and fix any potholes in your driveway or parking lot.
TRAINING Talk to your vendors about providing some training to staff. When suppliers and graphic designers tell their stories, staff can share that with the customer, enhancing the buying experience.
Aug. 14-20
MARKETING The Internet is no place for modesty. Consider posting everything that will enhance your image or inform your customer. That means: your credentials, your experience, your location, hours and after-hours contact information, text of or links to articles you have written, appropriate volunteer efforts with which you’re involved, your blog, and updates and insights on news.
SALES What’s great about your wide-format print business? Come up with a list with staff and then have everyone memorize it so highlights can be shared with clients when appropriate.
Aug. 21-27
RECYCLING If you have excess metal, take it to the recycling center. You get paid for scrap aluminum and recycling helps to combat clutter. Oh, and it’s good for our Earth, too.
HARDWARE CHECK Now can be a good time to send computers in for service and to check outlets, surge protectors, etc.
Aug. 28-Sep. 3
INVENTORY Watch stock levels, supplier prices, and availability. Decisions on what, when, and how much to buy have rarely been more challenging.
TRAINING Do you have a fancy SLR camera that no longer gets much use because you use your phone for everything? Yes, us too. But as good as iPhone and Samsung cameras are, you could likely get better. Sign you or your employees up for a course that teaches you how to take better product and social media pictures with your smartphone.
(For iPhone users, check out iPhonePhotographySchool.com.)