As someone who started a party rental business near Chicago of all places, I know how challenging the off season can be. There are years where you work twice as hard to make half as much (with no help at all), and then there are other years where you may not even make enough to keep up with your bills.
Eventually we made enough during the summer to where we didn't have to work at all during the colder months. The information below is what helped me get there. Most of it is from my research and experience, but some of it is from advice I gathered from those with decades more experience than me.
If you get stuck at all please don't hesitate to text me and I'll help in any way I can.
So with that, I hope that the resources below help you, your family, and your business not only survive, but thrive this off season, and every off season to come.
Your friend,
Tariq Elkhatib
Off season typically runs October through March (excluding warm states). Mid March / early April is when things pick up for the majority of markets. The first thing every operator should do late August or early September is start to adjust your website and marketing campaigns for the off season.
This is an area few have had sustainable success in so ask a lot of questions in the groups before moving forward and tread carefully so you don't end up in the red.
“For the best return on your money, pour your purse into your head.” ― Benjamin Franklin
Whether you carry a purse or a wallet you have to admit that quote is gold! The good news is that there are tons of free online resources many of which come from yours truly! But even when you do have to invest in your education, as Howard Gardner put it, “If you think education is expensive, try estimating the cost of ignorance.” But my favorite quote is the one you've probably never heard but hits oh so close to home, “A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.” — Mark Twain. Stop learning through trial and error every year, it's sooo slow and painful and there are better ways to learn. Instead learn from others who've already made those mistakes. Take advantage of the off season to be proactive and plan ahead so you avoid as many common pitfalls as possible.
“Education without application is just entertainment.”
— Tim Sanders
This applies to so many of us who watch YouTube videos, spend hours scrolling through Facebook groups, and never implement what we learn...
So let's make this year different and move on up in the online world!
Although I learned the hard way that it's more profitable in the long run to focus on what you're already good at, if you want to try something new in the winter here are some things that others have done:
Event Hawk
Email: Info@EventHawk360.com
Phone: (708) 401-6465