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Prepare your business for winter

The winter months come with hazards and extra costs to keep warm. Winter can also come with a surge in demand and marketing opportunities for some! It's important you prepare for all aspects of winter to ensure your business runs smoothly. Check out our tips to thrive in these colder months.
Prepare your business
There are tasks you can do to prepare your business for winter, including:
- identify hazards inside and outside the workplace
- review and update your emergency management plan
- check your business has the personal protective equipment (PPE) for cold temperatures
- do an inventory audit.
Manage your energy bills
Managing energy in your business is important during winter to maximise your energy efficiency and reduce your energy bill. You should:
- test heaters, lights and equipment to see if they work and are safe to use
- review your energy use
- compare and consider changing your energy provider
- research and consider investing in energy-efficient equipment.
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Learn more about managing energy use.
Manage energy use
Prepare for any changes in demand
Winter may cause an increase or decrease in the demand of your product or service. To prepare for this, analyse trends from previous years so you can anticipate the demand change.
If you notice an increase in the demand, consider if you need to increase your stock or hire additional casual employees.
If you notice a decrease in the demand, manage your inventory by reducing your stock and consider reducing your business operating hours.
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Learn about hiring employees.
Hiring employees
Prepare your seasonal marketing campaign
Seasonal marketing campaigns include short term promotional activities designed around a specific time of year or season, such as winter! These campaigns are a great way to capitalise of peoples winter behaviours and activities to increase sales and reach new customers.
In your winter campaign, you can include things such as:
- limited time offers
- themed promotional products
- winter warming events
- flash sales
- themed social media giveaways.
If there are local winter events or traditions near you, you can include these in your marketing campaign as well.
It's good to prepare your seasonal marketing campaign early so you can begin promoting it as soon as the weather turns!
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Learn how to market your business.
Marketing
Working in the cold
If you and your employees need to work outside in the cold, make sure you to abide by work health and safety requirements.
Safety risks from working in the cold can include:
- hypothermia
- fatigue, numbing, frostbite and trench foot
- increase in workplace accidents
- icy roads and equipment.
To protect you and your employees, consider getting:
- warm and waterproof work clothes
- protective gear and tools
- appropriate heating
- warm food and drinks
- training on working in the cold.
You can check the Bureau of Meteorology for temperature and weather warnings in your area.
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Learn more about working in the cold.
Safe Work Australia
Cold and flu season
Winter is the start of cold and flu season. There are things you can do to ensure your employees are safe and healthy during winter:
- Understand sick and carers leave entitlements.
- Consider offering flexible work arrangements or remote work options.
- Provide antibacterial soap, disinfectant sprays and hand sanitisers.
- Recommend the Influenza (flu) vaccine to employees.