living the dream
chapter three: surviving Christmas
Many of us will have been wondering how a small business would cope at all in the current
climate, let alone one that has just started out. Party Party fi nds out…
“Christmas has been the most nerve-wracking period in Occasions Direct’s short
history. We had invested almost 50 per cent of our start-up budget in Christmas
stock, which made the season not just the fi rst big test of our idea, but also the
fi rst time we were under pressure to turn large volumes of stock into cash.
November was a shaky period and we spent the month starring nervously at
shelves still full of stock and trying not to worry too much about the latest fi nancial
disaster in the headlines. By December we were almost permanently stationed at
the packing table, despatching hundreds of baubles, wine charms, garlands and,
slightly surprisingly, teacake-shaped tree decorations.
The turnaround from a slow to a busy Christmas came almost overnight
and lasted right up until 23rd of December – our last despatch day. We were
delighted to fi nd that not only were people still shopping so late online, they also
seemed happy to spend the extra money on postage to guarantee delivery before
Christmas day.
We’ve speculated that the fi nancial crisis has left consumers shopping carefully
for the best prices and of course the easiest way to do this is online. Add to this the fact that consumers were shopping late and holding out for the
cheapest prices, and this may go some way towards explaining why December was such a good month for us, and how we can now start the year in a
good enough position to start thinking more long term.
The biggest advantage is that now we have had our fi rst Christmas we have started to build a small picture of consumer’s buying behaviour and what
Christmas stock sells online – as well as what photographs well. We certainly won’t be buying clear glass baubles again! It means we’re able to go to
Harrogate this weekend and the Spring Fair in a few weeks with a very clear idea of how Christmas will look on Occasions Direct in 2009.”
Tracey and Mark Jones
www.occasionsdirect.co.uk
Fountain weights
Strengthened Ribbon
Tying Loop
Weight – 170 grams
Your Name
Available in:
Your Message Aqua Blue • Blue •
Dark Blue Black • Gold •
Green Iridescent • Lilac
Pink • Purple • Red • 3 Silvers
Balloons can be printed with
company logos or messages
Favour Box/
for any occasion or product
Box Weight
Quick assemble
launch.
boxes
Nationwide Coverage
Available in
Tel: 0844 800 8549
Black • Blue • Gold
info@classicpartytime.co.uk
Ivory • Lilac • Pink
www.classicpartytime.co.uk
Silver
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52