The transition to the warmer, sunnier days of spring is the perfect time to take fresh eyes to your business and do a little spring cleaning. And we don’t mean mopping the floors or dusting your shelves (although you really should do that, too). Instead, give your business’s inner workings a good spring clean and allow yourself to evaluate, identify, and optimize the areas that might be overdue for a little love and attention. 

 

Not sure where to start? Here are just a few areas we suggest tackling:

 

1. Update your inventory

 

 

Spring is the time to put all things refreshing, fruity, and fizzy front and center. Stock up on warm-weather-friendly whites and rosés, bubbly of all varieties, fruit-flavored spirits, and plenty of refreshing mixers. Consider dedicating a section, end cap, or front-of-house display to feature your spring-suited products. This is also a great opportunity to clear out heavier, cold-weather beverages; a “farewell winter” sale section can be a win-win for you and your customers.

 

2. Evaluate your space

 

 

While you are making your inventory updates, it’s a good idea to take a critical eye to your space’s overall functionality and flow, too. Is there one spot where people seem to pile up? Can customers easily find what they are looking for? Could your stockroom be better organized? Whether you go all out and overhaul your layout or opt for smaller changes like re-organizing shelves, spend some time considering your options, and don’t be afraid to experiment to see what works and what doesn’t.

 

3. Spruce up your website

 

 

As much as we’d like to “set it and forget it,” every website needs regular maintenance and an annual “deep clean” to ensure it’s always putting your business’s best digital foot forward. Take the time (or hire someone) to make any overdue security or software updates; fix broken links; look for opportunities to refresh or add new content; and double-check that your branding is consistent throughout—e.g. logos, fonts, colors, etc. If it’s been a while since your site has had a real refresh (industry best practice is to update at least every three years), it’s worth considering a redesign.

 

4. Amp up your marketing strategy

 

 

Like websites, marketing trends and tactics are constantly evolving, and it’s important to stay up to date. Spend some time researching industry trends, talking to your sales reps, and looking at what your competitors are doing. Then, analyze your data (website, email, and/or social media) to get a sense of what’s what. Now you can use all that great intel to inform your marketing goals and develop a strategy to meet them. Why not try some new-for-you tactics, like starting an email newsletter, engaging more with your social media communities, or running an online promotion (just make sure it’s in line with your goals and you track your results)? Oh, and while you are at it, show your marketing database some love and give that a good cleanup, too.

 

Last but certainly not least, once you’ve completed your beautiful business spring clean, pour your drink of choice and pat yourself on the back for your hard work.