For some septic, sewer and portable restroom business owners, winter may bring a slowdown, but not for those of us committed to year-round business. While some take a break for snowballing, others simply do not fare well with the challenges that accompany the cold season. The truth is that you can remain active throughout the year, and winter doesn’t always mean a decline in work for your on-site business.
Let’s go over some practical strategies that you can employ to optimize your business operational hours for your septic, sewer and portable restroom business during winter and keep it thriving.
Leverage E-Commerce Opportunities
Customer walk-ins have dropped? Get your business to them online! In our current digital world, having an online presence is not negotiable. For example, a well-branded and regularly updated website will help you generate traffic and revenue for your business around the clock. The website can function as a digital storefront that provides online ordering options to customers right from their mobile devices. This provides them with easy access to your product and services from the comfort of their homes while maintaining a constant flow of profits for your business.
Seasonal Marketing and Promotions
Take advantage of the winter season by implementing season-tailored targeted marketing and promotional activities. In your campaign, highlight your specialized winter services or discounts to attract customers — for example, salting and thawing frozen pipes. Emphasize the value of your services in addressing winter-specific challenges and position your business as a reliable partner in navigating the season’s hurdles.
Loyalty Programs and Customer Incentives
Your most dedicated clients have patronized your septic, sewer and portable restroom business throughout the year. Reward their loyalty by implementing a customer loyalty program or offering an incentive. Studies show that 83% of consumers are more likely to continue business with brands that have a loyalty program. Even in winter, you can encourage patronage with incentives such as free or discounted complimentary services.
Staff Training
Capitalize on the winter season to optimize your staff safety training. You can engage third-party experts for long periods or full-day sessions to handle topics such as trench safety, equipment operation hazard communication, first aid and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Also, utilize vendor partnerships for specialized safety classes on tools like saws, drills and sewer machines. These longer sessions are difficult to schedule during the summer, but they are more effective and vital for improving safety awareness and compliance among your staff.
Vacations
Encourage your employees to take their vacations in the winter. You can do this by incentivizing taking vacations between certain dates. For example, count each vacation hour used during a preset time (January through March?) as only half the time used (or some other percentage). This means that their available vacation hours will be increased, but it is profitable to you because it guides them to take vacations at the most convenient time for your company.
Equipment Maintenance
Winter is ideal for catching up on truck and equipment maintenance and repairs. Do a proper stock evaluation to determine if you have the equipment you need or if you are running short. These are tasks that are often challenging to address with the limited hours available during the busier summer months.
Review Overhead and Labor Expenses
During the slower season, optimize staffing and equipment levels to match the reduced demand. Labor costs are a significant budgetary concern, so experiment with different staffing levels to find the right balance for your business. You can also adjust shifts and facilities based on demand to ensure that your team is productive without unnecessary expenses.
Engage with the Community
Connecting with the local community helps you to enhance your business’s presence. Organize donation drives for essential items in winter, especially in regions affected by winter weather. Act as a central hub for these initiatives, allowing your business to give back and strengthen ties with the community.
Optimizing operational hours for your onsite septic, sewer and portable restroom business during winter is possible! All you have to do is understand its accompanying challenges and implement strategic measures to keep your business running.
Don’t hesitate to subscribe to the American Liquid Waste Magazine for more advice on boosting your septic, sewer and portable restroom business in 2024.