Which businesses boom during Christmas?
A business is for life, not just for christmas. It should generate revenues all year round. But there are some businesses that experience a festive boom and, in fact, can generate most of their annual revenues in just a few weeks leading up to 25th December.
Some are obvious. Christmas tree suppliers, turkey farmers and Santa impersonators will, naturally, take most of their orders in December. As will mulled wine makers, reindeer rentals and mince pie producers! But, if you’re thinking about buying a business for yourself, there are several other types of, less specialist, trades that enjoy increased demand at Christmas time.
Eat, drink and be merry – while supporting a local business
Every family celebrates the festive season differently. That said, there is one thing that unites us all in the Christmas season – food and drink. It’s a time to put the rules aside, and eat and drink what we like, when we like, guilt free. Restaurants get booked up months in advance, ready to host office Christmas meals and family days out. Plus, pubs, clubs and bars are full of festive revellers from early on in December.
Takeaways can also enjoy a roaring trade as the party season grows, but so will dozens of other food-related businesses that rely on hungry shoppers stocking up for the Yuletide holidays. Think chocolate shops, confectioners and artisan bakers, as well as butchers, farm shops and fishmongers. Any business in the food and drink game will be busy in the lead up to Christmas.
Businesses that help get the party started
We’ve mentioned pubs and clubs, which are rammed to the rafters at Christmas time. For many attendees, that also means getting dressed up to the nines and looking our best. Barbers and hairdressers get booked up fast in the lead up to Christmas, as will beauty and tanning salons. What’s more, millions of us will buy new clothes or shoes for the big event, or perhaps hire once-a-year special evening wear. Party planners will have to plan their diaries well in advance, as they’ll be in demand during the festive period. As will DJs, singers and a plethora of self-employed entertainers.
Christmas is for giving, which also means buying
After food and drink, we also think about gifts and cards around Christmas. So, stationers and card shops will shift plenty of merchandise in December. In fact, any business selling products that make great presents will boom during the festive period. Whether that’s clothes shops (with racks of Christmas jumpers, socks and ties on display), toy shops (which, despite the rise of online retailers, can still stand out with personal service) or any manner of independent retailers, the Christmas shopping period can have the greatest impact on yearly profits. And that’s why some people believe Black Friday got its name, as it’s a time when retailers would see their books go from the red into the black in the final few weeks of the year.
Seasonal Acts of Service
Traditional services businesses such as chimney sweeps, plumbers and handymen will certainly be called out more over the winter months. As, while an open fire or wood burning stove adds to the festive atmosphere, a blocked chimney or flue will dampen people’s spirits.
Shivering in a cold, unheated home will be a memorable Christmas for the wrong reasons too, so heating engineers and emergency plumbers are in hot demand. And what about local oven cleaning businesses, which will see bookings surge as homeowners prepare to entertain family and friends at Christmas.
Christmas – a time of splendour, and big spenders
Christmas is a time of year that sees increased spending. So, it’s only natural that businesses of all types will benefit from the festive season. Some specialist businesses will see all their trade in December, but many more will enjoy a surge in sales. Whatever your plans are for Christmas, perhaps you’ll take a look at businesses you could buy and benefit from next year’s festive boom.
