It’s that time of year where things start to slow down. If you’re a maker, it’s pretty likely that spring/summer is your off-season. If you start to see your sales and traffic decline, don’t be discouraged… it’s actually the perfect time to work on your business! We spend so much time working IN our business, that we can sometimes neglect to work ON our business.
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Here’s 7 things you should do during your off-season:
1. Make something for YOU.
This is number one for a reason – we spend so much time putting so many things at the top of our priority list, but it’s important that you don’t forget about yourself. Stop (almost) everything you’re doing and do something for YOU. Now, it could still be a project for someone else, but it should be something that inspires you, serves you, and ultimately benefits YOU! For me, I decided to make none other than an Everyday Triangle Scarf for myself out of some hand dyed yarn. I also mixed it up and added fringe, which I ended up loooving! So the point is, it doesn’t have to be crazy or extravagant, just take some time for a project that inspires you, allows you to try something different, or will teach you something new.
2. Do the the thing you kept putting off.
To be fair, maybe you didn’t mean to keep putting that thing off… maybe you simply just didn’t have the time for it. It’s officially time to do that thing. Here’s a few things
- Have you always wanted to write your own pattern? I wrote my first pattern during my off-season and it was the best decision I ever made. If you’re new to the pattern writing world, check out my blog series all about pattern design!
- Clean out your stash. Go through every skein of yarn you have and get rid of the yarn that you know you’ll never use or maybe that you just don’t like anymore. It is so refreshing to declutter and donate items from your stash.
- Start a blog! Starting a website can be quite a feat, but your off-season is the perfect time to start your site and get everything figured out. If you’re not sure where to start, check out the 3 steps to start a blog here!
- Have you ever wanted to try dying your own yarn? Now’s the time!
3. Plan your fall/winter collection.
I know it seems super early, but it really is time to start thinking about your fall/winter collection. One of the first things I do is look at Pantone’s color trends to see what colors will be popular for the season. After that, I like to look at fashion trends and start to refine what styles I’m most passionate about adding to my collection. Last year, you probably noticed trends like faux fur pom hats and fade shawls. Plan on what things you’d like to incorporate into your collection and start working on them now!
4. Stock up.
Whether you’re designing, dying, or selling physical items – stay on the lookout for off-season sales and stock up where you can! Now that you’ve planned your collection, you’ll know exactly what you need to purchase. It helps to have your tools and materials ready to go. Then, get to work and start building your inventory!
5. Finalize your branding and packaging.
Whether it’s finalizing your logo, ordering new business cards, or figuring out your product packaging, it’s time to get your branding set! There’s a ton of places to get packaging materials, but I always use Amazon because it’s so convenient! Last year, I used these bags at craft shows – it’s really easy to get a stamp made with your logo and stamp each bag too! For mail orders, I love these boxes! They are 100% recycled material and this size is great for mailing a couple of hats, or something like the Ridge Cowl.
6. Spruce up your shop.
Take some time to review your shop and update everything in it! If you’re on Etsy, this means reviewing each listing and updating things like the photos, keywords, and item descriptions. Don’t forget to take a look at your About page and spruce it up too!
7. Plan it out.
Sit down and make a plan, then add it to your calendar. This includes making deadlines for yourself and setting launch dates for all the things you plan to release! Seeing everything on a calendar will help you visualize what it will look like and help make sure you don’t overbook yourself.
Not sure where to start? Check out this blog post: Where to Start & How to Grow with Your Business!
If you’re lost in a sea of ideas and not sure what to focus on, check out this one: 5 Steps to Prioritize & When to Say No.