Yes, we know; plenty of you will be more than a little tired of hearing about the cost-of-living crisis. However, you are probably much more tired of actually having to deal with it, and it seems that the situation will get even worse for households and businesses before it gets better. 

On this backdrop, you may be looking to the winter ahead, and contemplating that this upcoming Christmas will be a very different proposition to recent Christmases. 

Here, then, are some ideas for how to keep your spending down as a business in the coming months, while still making the most of the business opportunities this time of year represents. 

Make sure your fulfilment processes are well-optimised 

The need for your business to reduce costs doesn’t mean you can ‘get ahead with’ allowing the quality of the customer’s delivery experience to slide. 

Indeed, if you don’t offer convenient delivery options or your business has a reputation for taking weeks to process product returns, those customers who are already hesitant over whether to purchase a particular item from you, are likely to look to more ‘dependable’ stores. 

Maintain strong communications with customers 

It can be easy at times to imagine that you can only bolster the quality of your brand’s customer service by, in effect, throwing money at it (for example, hiring more staff). 

But that’s not always the case; good old-fashioned openness and constant communication can also massively help enhance the typical shopper’s perceptions of you when they purchase from you this Christmas. 

That principle applies whether you’re being responsive to their email queries or phone calls, providing an informative ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ page on your website, or alerting them when the price of a relevant product falls. After all, both customers and businesses are struggling in this cost-of-living crisis, so both will appreciate the help. 

Order essential supplies early and in bulk 

As we touched on above, the cost-of-living situation looks likely to get worse, instead of better, in the months immediately to come. That’s all the more reason for your firm to buy its key stock and supplies early, and in quantities that allow you to activate any discounts your suppliers may be offering. 

For example, here at Shredded-Paper.co.uk, we have recently debuted our collections of Halloween and Christmas colour shredded paperfor 2022, with these papers being great for all manner of purposes, including the packaging and protection of hampers and gifts. 

What’s more, we offer discount pricing on orders of more than 50kg consisting of a single colour or mix, and provide free UK mainland delivery as standard. 

Adjust your online product ranges and promos to reflect the cost-conscious environment 

That email marketing campaign you might have been running since practically before the cost-of-living crisis was even heard of, might need to be refined or ditched if you’re using it to promote offerings that your target audience can no longer afford or find relevant. 

Indeed, the whole way in which you present your business to Christmas customers might need to be adjusted at this time. Customers are increasingly looking for ‘safe bets’ instead of indulging themselves, so you might also be proactive in suggesting affordable items to them. 

Be selective and informed about where you cut back 

Of course, reducing your business’s spending in certain areas will probably look utterly unavoidable, partly depending on just how bad the cost-of-living squeeze becomes. But it’s probably ill-advised to take a ‘salami slice’ approach, whereby your firm’s expenditure in all areas is lowered by the same percentages. 

If at all possible, marketing is one thing that you probably shouldn’t cut back on greatly, given that keeping up your investment in it could help power your business’s growth through difficult times. The same applies to those aspects where there could be an obviously detrimental impact on the end service the customer receives, such as the protective packaging you use for the items you deliver. 

There you have it – just five ideas for how your business can hopefully navigate the worst that the cost-of-living crisis throws at it. And as we mentioned, great-value and high-quality Halloween and Christmas colour shredded paper is available in our online store right now, ready for businesses up and down the UK to take advantage of.