The holidays are quickly approaching, and the predictions are positive for retailers, especially those online.  A great deal of research has been done on consumer’s buying behaviors for 2009 with some basic suggestions to optimize your business. Here is a re-cap of an article from the American Express Open Forum.com (by Julia Rogers):

1. Fine-tune your website. The expected 49%  increase in online shopping is encouraging enough to make double sure your website is fine-tuned and ready to go.
2. Hire temporary help. Interestingly, budget pricing and sales-watching were not considered during our nation’s time of economic recovery. What was suggested was to utilize the high unemployment rate to snag some quality temporary help to give the best possible customer service. Get creative and utilize the exceptional talent that is available right now—you’ll be helping them while they help you.
3. Beef up your customer services. Be sure your customer service is absolutely the best it can be, adding 800 numbers and customer chat capabilities to your website if possible. Email alerts, fast shipping and consistent availability of hard to find items are good ideas, too.
4. Social Networking. Facebook isn’t just for students anymore. With over 300 million active users, the over-35 demographic is the fastest growing. This doesn’t look like a short-lived trend, and a Facebook-Twitter presence has  become as essential as a good web page in essential business practices.

Open Forum believes that the 2009 holiday season will be markedly different from last year. We all know that predictions aren’t always correct, it’s always good business to be ready for the busiest season of the year.

Read the entire article here: http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/money/article/what-customers-want-for-the-holidays-julia-rogers

An important side note for Christian families:

A Timely Homeschool Entrepreneur Discussion Topic:

We always try to pass along  tidbits to help your home business, but our main objective here at HSE is to encourage and highlight the benefits of mentoring through a family business. It’s so easy to get caught in the undertow of the commercial aspect of the holiday season, with or without a family business to run. Discuss with your children how your family really wants to experience the holidays, and how you feel about this time of year – and what you want your family/business to stand for. This is the season that most retailers prepare all year for. How should Christian entrepreneurs really respond to that? Set goals as a family that will reflect integrity over profit – and enter this season deliberately, before the whirlwind hits. It will be a lesson your children will carry with them for a lifetime.