Why the ‘summer clear out’ is equally important for your franchise

The summer months can often be a slower time for businesses, with many owners worrying about staff shortages, holidays and a potential downturn in sales. And while the volume of phone calls and emails may also decrease, this does not mean you have to let your extra time go to waste.

Take advantage of these quieter times to refresh and declutter your franchise so you can maximise your business potential.

As with all clear outs, it is an opportunity to move forward from the busier, colder months and to use the opportunity to de-stress by ensuring your processes, staff and business operations feel well equipped and ready to for the latter half of the year. Chris Wootton, the managing director of domestic cleaning franchise, Poppies, believes that all franchisees need to use the summer period to reflect on their business and see how they can make changes for the better.

Looking at the bigger picture when decluttering and resetting your franchise, it can seem like a time consuming, complex process. But, as with all cleaning tasks, revitalising your business environment in a systematic and logical approach can ultimately have a hugely positive impact on the success of your franchise.

Consider what more you can do in the quieter months

The summer months present an exciting opportunity to learn new skills and to find efficiencies within your processes so your business can operate as effectively as possible. It is also the ideal time to look at your overheads and see how you can save or shave, while picking up new skills that will streamline your operations moving forward so you can hit the ground running when your services become more in demand later in the year.

Regroup and re-establish consistency

Busier periods can naturally cause the occasional slip in consistency with customer service, so the summer is right time to regroup as a franchise network to make sure everyone is well equipped to deliver at consistently high standards. Whether it is through supplementary training, team events, or simply giving a little bit more time to those who contribute to your success, affording your team with more time to reconvene can revitalise your team spirit. It will also inject the belief that your team needs when it can be all too tempting to take your foot off the gas when the sun is out!

Offer new opportunities to your network

Giving your employees a clear and realistic career path or simply offering them the chance to take on more training and responsibilities is a great way to re-energise your staff. Giving them regular opportunities to progress as individuals, especially during the quieter months, is the perfect way of highlighting their value to the business and can set your operations up for significant success moving forward.

Align your network’s cultures and values

Through new additions to your team, keeping up with what is going on outside your business, and through what the current demands of your customers are, there are various ways in which your values and ethos as a team can be influenced. Don’t be afraid to reconsider what your mission is in order to give your business a meaning and a place in today’s world. With the world moving forward, so should you and your business.

The summer holidays are only for a limited amount of time so use the time wisely and to your advantage. Be mindful that when the summer holidays are over you will be rushing head long into potentially the busiest period of the year. Although your services might slow down, it’s a golden opportunity to consider what you can do differently to ensure your franchise doesn’t fall behind. Use what’s at your disposal and don’t be afraid of making big changes that will prepare you for the latter stages of the year. We all love a good clear out and making sure your business is as gleaming as your home is the perfect way of destressing and revitalising your attitude towards your franchise!