Hi Friends,

Happy Thursday! We have a three-day weekend ahead of us.
​
Labor Day marks more than just the unofficial end of summer—it's your strategic starting line for the most profitable final quarter of the year. While everyone's enjoying their last beach weekend, forward-thinking emerging brands are quietly preparing for the holiday surge.

Here's the reality: the businesses that thrive during Q4 aren't the ones scrambling in November. They're the ones who use this quiet September moment to strategize their approach.

Why September Matters for Holiday Success

The fourth quarter often presents a significant opportunity for many businesses—whether through holiday sales, year-end purchasing decisions, or clients finalizing their annual budgets. To be optimally positioned for an excellent Q4, work on it should start in September, not October.

Here are Ideas that You Can Steal

Instead of jumping into holiday mode, think of it as a gradual ramp that starts now.

Phase 1: September Preparation

• Make connections strong with your smallest viable audience
• Schedule coffee meetings with past and current clients who might need holiday support
• Create a signature holiday offer or package before competitors flood the market
• Plan your year-end client appreciation strategy (referrals often come from grateful clients)
• Identify three potential collaboration partners for joint ventures
• Research and reach out to local business groups hosting events in October (locally for me: the Small Business Expo on October 8 and the Sports and Entertainment Procurement Summit on October 23)

Phase 2: October Launch

• Host a workshop or lunch-and-learn for your target audience
• Follow up on September coffee meetings with specific proposals
• Attend those fall events you researched and make genuine connections
• Launch your signature holiday offer to existing contacts first
• Send personal notes to past clients asking for introductions to colleagues
• Start conversations with your collaboration partners about joint projects

Phase 3: November Execution

• Close deals with people who are already in conversations with you
• Activate your collaboration partnerships with co-hosted events or referrals
• Execute your client appreciation plan to generate year-end referrals
• Follow up with new connections from the October events
• Schedule January meetings with prospects who can't decide until after the holidays

Any of these spark ideas?

The Sustainable Holiday Approach

Remember, the goal isn't to exhaust yourself with holiday hustle and bustle. It's to create a sustainable system that works for your business and your sanity.

The holiday wave is coming. Let's make sure you're ready to ride it.

Until next Thursday,