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Do you realize that Christmas is just a little over 4 months away and Hanukkah is less than 4 months away? If you sell creative products either retail or wholesale you know that the Fall/Holiday season can be a make or break season for many businesses.

But are you ready?

Here are 7 ways to get yourself prepared this summer so you are not scrambling when it comes time to market, sell and ship whether you sell wholesale, retail or both:

1. [Retail & Wholesale] Overhaul your website NOW. Get it ready with photos of your new products and a layout ready to go for when you want to start the HOLIDAY season. Jazz it up so people will want to see what you have AND place an order. With the economy the way it is and people wanting to spread out their paychecks you can start the HOLIDAY season early with a “Christmas in August” promotion so orders come in early. I have a site where I am taking orders NOW for delivery starting in October – they are lining up, paying in...

I now work much better starting backwards than forwards.

It’s something I learned long ago when I realized that there were certain times of the year when buyers placed their orders.  When I started my business, I was not fully cognizant of the ebb and flow of the ordering, shipping and sales processes and how they all overlap.

I had always been a consumer. I did know if I wanted to buy a bathing suit I would have to buy it way in advance of when I was actually going to wear it if I wanted a good selection. But until I was in a product based business I did not fully comprehend the idea of working backwards.

Working backwards, or creating a time line with the end in mind is a critical concept to creating a line or product of any type whether you are going to sell retail or wholesale. There is a drop dead date for completion whether it is prototypes, sample goods for shows or final goods for delivery to stores or for selling at craft fairs. 

At some point there is what...