When I first opened B.BOLD Jewelry for Boomer Girls in 2008, it was October. I was completely unprepared for the Holiday season ahead and had no idea that the days after Thanksgiving would be the busiest time of year in my shop. As a result, my first season was disorganized and stressful. I felt as if I were groping around in the dark. Since then, I’ve learned a few things about how to prepare. Here are a few ideas.

1) Make sure that your inventory is organized and labeled. I use plastic freezer bags I can write on with a sharpie. Each bag has the inventory number in order with the item of jewelry inside. Air-tight sealed plastic bags are a great way to keep jewelry looking shiny and new. All of the bags are filed in a row, in two banker’s boxes (those long, skinny cardboard file boxes).

2) Before the season, check each piece in inventory, matching it with each item in your shop to make sure everything is exactly where it should be. You don’t want to find yourself scrambling to find a misplaced item during the busiest time of year.

3) Make sure that all of your pieces are completely ready. If anything needs adjusting, it’s best to do it before the rush. This means checking each piece of jewelry for loose connections or flaws.

4) Prepare for the season by emailing your customers about any special perks. I offer customers free gift-wrapping services, for example. I offer to ship anywhere with a note from the buyer. This will save your customers time and allow them to feel more at ease when the time comes to shop. A communication will also remind them that you’re the perfect place to go for special gifts.

5) Be ready to accept and accommodate last minute orders. I couldn’t believe how many people leave their seasonal shopping to the last minute! And some of the items sold at the last minute were my most expensive ones, probably because they were bought on impulse. I provide a cut-off date for shipping but I’m willing to extend it. For Christmas, I usually say Dec. 20, and I put this information in the shop’s tag line. Not everyone pays attention, though, and if they’re late, I offer express shipping and do my very best to get packages there on time. The more accommodating you can be, the better your sales will be.

The Holiday season will be at our doorsteps sooner than we think! It’s a good idea to take time out to make a list of what should be done before the rush and keep it visible by your jeweler’s bench. If you prepare right now, you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor when the busiest time of year arrives and your own Holiday Season will be much more enjoyable.

Written by Marcia Southwick

B.BOLD Jewelry for Boomer Girls on Ruby Lane