Summer holidays are here and I don’t just mean the heatwave we’re experiencing in the UK!

Everyone is thinking about vital purchases to ensure their summer holidays are tip top – so what does that mean for a small business? It means you need to think now what solutions you can offer your customers. Which products do you sell that are exactly what the summer shopper is looking for right now?

1. Gifts for Teachers

All over the length and breadth of the UK parents and carers are seeking our teacher thank yous right now and many would love to get a product or vouchers from a local business – are you messaging teacher thank yous this week? Send an email, do a social media post, refresh your window display and put something on your website – whatever you do make sure you let your customers know you are selling the perfect teacher thank you gift. Parents will want to buy from a local, small business so you need to remind them you have exactly what they need!

2. Keeping the Kids Entertained

Next up, parents are also planning out activities for their brood to keep them occupied during the school holidays. Online searches for crafting activities, activity packs, board games, art equipment and of course outdoor games are on the up at this time of the year. What products does your small business offer for keeping kids entertained? Small businesses will have so many solutions to offer frazzled parents – so make sure you message them about those must have purchases. Think especially about those long car journeys or rainy days the summer holidays often deliver!

3. Books

Young and old everyone loves to buy a summer holiday read so if you’re a small business selling books make sure you are tapping into those customers wanting a good read for their summer holiday – perhap draw up a top ten list and share it with our mailing list and on social media.  Week Junior launched it’s summer reading challenge last week so tap into the books on their list for your younger customers. Remember – there’s a book for everyone!

4. Summer Ready

Hair appointments, pedi and manicures, facials, hair removal – you name it, it’s being booked. What products can you offer your customers as part of their getting ‘summer holiday ready’ rituals? Do you have any special sun protection products, lip balms, extra special moisturisers or treatments for sun kissed hair? Let your customer know your products will take their summer holiday to the next level.

5. Planners

When people return from their summer holidays, a bit like in the New Year they are ready to plan, so do remind them if your a small business selling planners, organisers, academic diaries that start in September – that they can purchase those from you right now.

6. Back to School and Work

Many parents will purchase their back to school shopping list before the summer holidays even begin so if you sell name tags, water bottles, backpacks, shoes, stationery, pencil cases start to market those now! And of course us ‘grown-ups’ like a bit of ‘back to work’ shopping too so have a think which products people might need – a new mug or reusable coffee cup?

7. Festivals

There are so many festivals happening right now and throughout the summer so make sure you are showcasing any essential items – from clothing to eco glitter, from sun hats to welly boots, from reusable wine glasses to solar fairy lights. It’s really worth thinking about the whole range of items people are seeking out for a festival or outside event – it’s a long a varied list many of you will have products!

Hopefully this has helped kickstart a brainstorm about all the products your small business sells that are simple yet vital summer holiday purchases.