The Countdown Is On: Tips for Business Success During the Holidays

45 days, 11 hours and 17 minutes. That's exactly how long it is until Christmas Day. Haven't started counting yet? If you run a business—especially a retail business—you should be. For many small businesses, the holidays are a crucial time of year, offering prime opportunities to rake in sales and build goodwill among customers and clients.

So how do you make the most of the Christmas rush? In an article in the Hartford Business Journal, Rhonda Abrams of the Gannett News Services outlines nine tips for holiday success. Here are a few:

•Send Christmas cards and gifts. Cards are an easy but inexpensive way to thank customers for their patronage and remind them about your business. Small tokens like a box of pralines or tin of popcorn show the people you work with every day—clients, suppliers and even employees—that you appreciate their role in helping your business thrive.

•Host parties. The holidays offer a great excuse to throw a party—and invite potential clients, referrals or people with whom you would like to network. Just go easy on the eggnog, and you might snag some great business for the new year.

•Create holiday specials and gift certificates. This is a perfect time to boost your business offerings through gift baskets and holiday packages, or build customer loyalty by selling gift certificates.