How to celebrate Valentines Day – with or without a Boo
With Valentines around the corner, Yes I’m sure you’ve seen the countless teddy bear, red roses and champagne combo begging for your attention. And being within the self-care era as a reigning champion. What are the options you could consider this Valentines? Single or not, you should have just as much fun as the next Motherland Mogul with or without a boo. There’s much to do outdoors (if you’re in a warm country) just as there is indoors for all the queens. You are a Motherland Mogul. And in case you’ve forgotten who she is, she knows what she wants and how to get it done. As a motherland mogul, you’re running your business/es- being a sister, a mother, a daughter, partner, or a wife. You have a lot on your plate and self-care sometimes falls last on that list. So how can you apply these strengths to having fun and unconventional day? [bctt tweet=”Wondering how to spend valentines day – with or without a boo? Here are some ideas…” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Be your own date You shouldn’t get anxious at the idea of spending time all by yourself. There’s so much beauty in taking a little pause for you. Valentine’s day is about showing affection, being sweet and thoughtful. Give all that love to yourself. Treat yourself like a queen, make that plate of pancakes and strawberries for breakfast, take a long stroll around your block and enjoy your company or even take that spa day you’ve always wanted. Create a vision board There’s so much power in visualizing the things you want to achieve in your life when you especially feel low- sometimes the anxiety of Valentines Day can leave you feeling some type of way. You could take a notebook and write down 3 things you’d like to achieve by the end of the week, Give yourself something to look forward to. So grab the magazines and start dreaming. Do this after work or during your lunch break. Grab your boo or a friend and visualize together. Doing this makes sure you have someone to hold you accountable on your promise. Share gifts with your loved ones The most amazing thing about giving gifts is that you made that someone feel special that day. This good karma will always come back to you when you least expect it. Try going for the less traditional route of valentines favorites- teddy bears, flowers and champagne. Be thoughtful in your efforts. Write a letter, visit your boo or friends and spend some quality time with them. We all just want to be seen. Cook a hearty dinner There’s something about good food that just cures the soul. You don’t need to be a foodie to understand just what I mean. Plus trying to make reservations on such a busy day is a struggle we don’t need, sis. Go on a grocery run with Bae or on your own. Queue a great show or movie to watch after your lovely dinner and mellow out. You can have major fun taking it slow too. Book an AirBnB sleepover with your girls You can never have too much fun with your girls. Especially when there’s a bottle of bubbly involved. Make a great girls night in playing games and gossiping the night away with some wine and pizza. You don’t need to go too crazy with the budget, find something in your town, just try something new and fun with your friends Work on your New Years resolutions New Years came and went, leaving most of us to make resolutions for the new year. Why not try to execute that one thing you haven’t worked on. Having a better idea of how you feel about 2019 and what you’re trying to achieve. Re-evaluate what you had listed and where you are now, maybe you wanted to go to a yoga or aerobics class or said you’d call your mom more. Attain at least two of your resolutions and challenge yourself to keep it going for 2019 Pursue your passion Life can get overwhelming- meetings, play dates, parent-teacher conferences, family. We juggle a lot as motherland mogul and we are the last ones we check on. The show has to keep running right? Think of a passion project you have always wanted to accomplish. Write that blog, Start that course, work on that business proposal. See this as an opportunity to be proactive, a chance for you to do you and feel no guilt. Interested in contributing for She Leads Africa? Click here.
10 easy ways to maximize Valentine’s Day sales
Valentine season can be a really busy for retail businesses, it is therefore important that business owners maximize the opportunity to increase sales at times like this. If you have been in business for up to 2 years or more, you might want to refer to sales data from previous years. This sales data can be used to prepare and determine ways to increase sales volume. Having the right products is good but promoting what your business is offering just in time for valentines to build up sales is even better. To achieve this, use the right communication channels to reach your target audience. Get as much exposure as you can, reach out to past customers as well as potential ones. Here are general tips you can apply to drive up sales this coming Valentine. Curate gift combinations (gift baskets/boxes) Put related products together. Be creative with your ideas, make the combinations simple and appealing. Make sure you consider your target audience and whom they will be buying the gift for. Create an experience with service combinations Valentine’s Day is mostly about pampering loved ones. Depending on your target audience, put together indulgent packages. If your business is in beauty and hospitality, this is something to consider. For instance, if you own a spa, you can combine various treatments and offer as one package for valentine. Create a bundle comprising the range of products you offer. Make sure the products are related and make them available as readymade options so buyers can simply grab and go. An example of such bundle is a Perfume gift set by Victoria’s secret containing a shower gel, body cream, and perfume. When you can, offer to wrap gifts for free or include it as a service to provide convenience to your customers. Partner up Collaboration during peak seasons can be at an advantage for you and your business. You can team up with reputable local businesses to create joint packages. For instance, if you’re a florist, team up with a baker to create a package for valentine. Create a buzz Hold a fun contest to engage your followers on social media and create a buzz around your business. Make sure you are well aware of rules/restrictions associated with putting up contests on various social media platforms. Make sure you time your promotions to capture early and late shoppers. Get the word out and announce your last minute gift deals. Make gift card options available Most last-minute shoppers are usually open to this, usually because most times they do not have a clear idea of what to buy. Design a gift card that’s appealing and gives a good impression of your business, be sure to include terms and conditions when issuing these gift cards. Think beyond valentine’s day Take advantage of valentine’s day rush to build a database your business can use in the future. You can present visiting customers an option to sign up / subscribe to your business website, app or whatever platform your business operates. [bctt tweet=”Prepare your staff to deal with the pressure of increased sales a peak seasons.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Most importantly, remember to have fun even as you help others express love this season.