2iC’s Post

As we edge closer to the festive season, the buzz is definitely building. The shops are fully stocked with mince pies (yes, I still miss the proper UK ones), holiday playlists are on repeat, and it’s getting harder to ignore the twinkle of lights everywhere you go. It’s also that time when work seems to speed up before it slows down. Final placements, end-of-year goals, and last-minute pushes to finish the year strong are all part of the December chaos. And for those of us in recruitment, you know it’s a balance between closing deals and prepping for January – one eye on the finish line and the other on what’s ahead. For me, this time of year is a great reminder to pause, take stock of the wins (big or small), and give credit where it’s due. Whether you’re smashing records, quietly grinding, or just keeping everything ticking along, it all counts. Let’s keep pushing, celebrate the little victories, and enjoy the festive buildup. And if you’ve already finished your Christmas shopping… teach me your ways. Cheers to the season! 

Are you preparing to host guests this festive season? ❄️ If so, you won’t want to miss these hosting tips: 1. Instead of scrambling to get your home ready last minute, start your preparations now. Know what you want to cook and start stocking up on non-perishables early. Ensure you know how you want to set the table and that you have enough cutlery. Consider how you will keep everyone (including children) entertained. And source any home accessories you need in order to make your guests feel comfortable, from cosy winter bedding to pouffes or floor cushions. Shop now at homescapesonline.com 2. Set yourself a budget. Be aware that you are likely to spend more than you would if you were not hosting. According to the IPA, the average British consumer expects to spend almost £600 on core Christmas-related products and activity. Whether your budget is higher or lower, you do not want to get a shock when you check your bank account in January. 💸 3. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends or family for help. If everyone contributes a dish for dinner, it will take the pressure off of you to buy and cook everything. Or if you are a bed short for overnight guests, see if anyone has an airbed they can spare. Simple requests can go a long way. #BestAdvice #FestiveSeason #ChristmasShopping

🎄 Countdown to Christmas: Only 140 Days Left! 🎅 The most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner, and now is the perfect time to prepare your store for the holiday rush! With Christmas only 140 days away, it’s essential to stock up on bestsellers to meet your customers' demands and make this festive season a resounding success. Why Choose Us for Your Christmas Inventory? 🌟 Extensive Selection: Dive into our portfolio of over 9,000 high-quality products, carefully curated to cater to every customer’s needs and preferences. From charming nursery essentials to delightful decorations, we have everything to make your store a holiday hotspot. 🤝 Personalized Support: We understand that choosing the right products can be overwhelming. That's why our dedicated team of experts is here to assist you every step of the way. Whether you need help selecting the best items, identifying potential bestsellers, or receiving tailored advice on market trends, we've got you covered. 📈 Boost Your Sales: Stocking the right products is crucial for maximizing your sales during the busiest shopping season of the year. With our help, you can ensure that your store is well-equipped with the most sought-after items, attracting more customers and boosting your revenue. 💬 Human Touch: At our company, you're not just another number. We pride ourselves on providing personalized, human support. Our team is always ready to listen, understand your needs, and offer solutions that work best for your unique business. Get Ahead This Christmas! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make your store the go-to destination for holiday shoppers. Contact us today to start planning your Christmas inventory and discover how our extensive range and expert support can help you achieve retail success this festive season. Let’s work together to make your store shine this Christmas! Reach out now and let’s get started on making this holiday season your best one yet. #ChristmasCountdown #StockUpNow #BestSellers

Don't go for Christmas shopping without a list. A shopping list helps you: ✅ Stay on Budget: Avoid overspending on unnecessary items by sticking to your list. ✅ Save Time: Shop faster and more efficiently without wandering aimlessly. ✅ Avoid Forgetting Essentials: Don’t risk missing out on the key ingredients for your favorite holiday dishes! 🍛 ✅ Reduce Stress: Shopping with a plan takes the pressure off and lets you enjoy the process. Start by listing the items you truly need for your Christmas meals, decorations, and gifts. Break it down into categories like groceries, household items, and festive treats—then check off as you go! ✔️ Make this season stress-free and organized with just a little planning. What’s the first thing on your list? Let us know in the comments! 👇 . . #FestivePlanning #HolidayShopping #ShoppingList #StayOrganized #ChristmasPrep #SundryAgroTips

We know this can be a busy time of year, so we wanted to share the full details of our opening times over Christmas and New Year. To avoid missing an important order, we would recommend preparing for the festive season as early as you can. To take a look at our opening times, click the following link: https://lnkd.in/ezBi3_dD If you have any other questions about the festive period, you can email us on sales@klipspringer.com or call 01473 461 800. #ComplianceWithConfidence #SaferSmarterSimpler

Christmas Eve Store Hours 2024: What's Open for Your Last-Minute Needs The holiday season is here, and for many Americans, Christmas Eve involves last-minute preparations, gatherings with loved ones, and festive celebrations. Whether you need groceries, gifts, or other essentials, several stores are open on Christmas Eve with adjusted hours. However, most will remain closed on Christmas Day. Here's a detailed list of store hours for Christmas Eve 2024. https://lnkd.in/gQWcrswx #christmaseve #storeopening

We can't believe it's that time of year again... 🎅🎄 We understand that as businesses it is important to be one step ahead in your preparations for Christmas, to make the most of the 'Golden Quarter'! 🎇🎄 With that in mind we have put together a Christmas countdown to keep you on track to have a successful festive period 🎄🤶 This checklist will help you hit the key preparation dates: ⏱️ 90 Days to go ⏱️ 60 Days to go ⏱️ 30 Days to go ⏱️ 15 Days to go Each day this week we will focus on a different sector, so whether you're in hospitality, retail, manufacturing or looking for advice in general, we have the tips and tricks to see you through 🎁 🎄 Follow along on LinkedIn, the retail guide is coming tomorrow! ⛄🌟 #christmascountdown

10 weeks till Christmas. 11 weeks till the end of the year. Everyone’s flat out. Retailers are all hitting the silly season and promoting stuff out of the shop. Tradies (good ones, anyway) have plenty of work to make people’s houses look good before the relatives visit. They’re looking at 2025. We’re not quite at Silly Season yet, but we soon will be. Everyone will be flat out crazy, and then they’ll disappear in a puff of smoke for the Festive Season, and not come back till February. So if there’s something you want to get done this year, act NOW! And if there’s something you want to get done in the first quarter of next year, act NOW! #planning #goals #goalsetting #timemanagement

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like behind the scenes during the festive season in the gifting industry – let me paint you a picture. Imagine a garba night, but instead of dandiyas, we’re running around with packaging material, ribbon rolls, and endless gift orders! 🎁 Sourcing all the products during this busy time, ensuring everything is perfect, and getting every order out on time feels like we’re dancing across the workshop and office. From one corner to another, it’s like we’re bouncing between tasks as if we’re in a trampoline park! It’s chaotic, but it’s that good kind of chaos that comes with the excitement of making our clients’ celebrations extra special. Of course, every single order is important – and getting that perfect pack ready takes teamwork, dedication, and a whole lot of energy! 💪 What about you? How’s your office holding up during this festive rush? Are you too bouncing around from one task to another like us? Let’s share the festive season madness! 😅💥 #FestiveSeason #GiftingIndustry #FounderLife #BusyTimes #BehindTheScenes #GarbaVibes #FoundersThoughts

Ready for Christmas? As we run ever faster towards the end of the year, we all look forward to having a magical end to what has been a pretty tough twelve months. Right now you are focused on having a great Christmas. So we need to remind you about a rather important task you don’t want to leave to chance. While the weather has been largely mild, we have also had a winter snap that saw snow across large parts of the UK - and let’s not forget Storm Bert, which has caused huge disruption. These two weather events alone will have had a real impact on any signage that hasn’t been inspected and maintained over the last few years. That means we expect a busy festive season ahead. During December we get a lot of calls to inspect signage. The cold weather can trigger a domino effect of issues that make signs begin to be a danger to the public. Fixings fail, lights short out, and trims pieces come loose. These health and safety issues are the most common reasons for us attending retail premises. The calls are at the busiest time of year, with shoppers milling about looking for presents. It is the worst time for you to cordon off your frontage and stop people from entering. There is a way for you to avoid this happening. If you haven’t had your signage checked recently, get it inspected at some point during the Christmas season. That way, any problems can be spotted now and resolved straight away. Which means you won’t be having to call us when you are busy, which helps protect your takings. The next step is to place your signage on a maintenance plan. You should have one already as demanded under the Health And Safety At Work Act, The Management Of Health And Safety At Work Regulations, and the Town And Country Planning Act. But aside from this, with Cygnia you can have a care plan that actively keeps your signage both safe and looking amazing. We want to make sure your signage doesn’t become a danger and a risk to your customers and staff. So contact us today to keep your signage working hard during December for a truly happy festive season. https://lnkd.in/gixYwDFY #maintenance #signsafety #safety #signmaintenance #retail