Sweet Success: Reflect, Reset, Reenergize After Valentine's

Hey there, bakery owners! Valentine's Day is like our own personal Super Bowl, right? Heart-shaped EVERYTHANG, working til 3 am every night...it's a wild time. But after the last heart cake is sold and the Valentine's Day rush is over, it's super important to REST, reflect, and get back into a routine. So, let's talk about why investing in REST is super important for your bakery’s success!

First up, we need to REFLECT! Think back on the craziness leading up to Valentine's Day. What worked? What didn't? Any unexpected bumps along the way? Any customers say something that made you go "hmm"? This is your chance to learn from the past and set yourself up for greater success. This is the time for you to really dive deep and think about how you felt during this runway and what the data says. Did you feel overwhelmed? Tired? Confused? Frustrated? Energized? Excited? Was there a post on social media that went viral or got a ton of engagement? Was there a specific email newsletter that got a ton of clicks? Was there one particular day that resulted in a TON of sales? These are all things you should be jotting down so when you start to prepare for the next holiday or product launch, you’ll know what worked for you and what didn’t so you can copy/paste or PIVOT. One way I hold myself accountable is through journaling, but another way I look at my business performance is through social proof and analyzing ALL the data. It doesn’t need to be complicated. Just focus on the numbers and whether or not you felt booked and busy, overwhelmed and overworked, or booked and energized.

Next, it's time to reset. It’s SUPER IMPORTANT to invest in rest. A burnt-out business owner is a useless business owner. The only way to get inspired, stay creative, and energized is to put yourself first and take care of your own health and well-being. Most small business owners and bakers are working 24/7 for WEEKS at a time during this season so make sure you’re taking the necessary time to reset and get rejuvenated. Creativity isn’t born from a place of overwhelm and burn out- so take that time if you need it. Your to-do list will be there when you get back whether you take care of it immediately or a few days later. Once you feel ready to get back into the swing of things then start by doing what’s familiar and rely on those processes you have in place to help you get back into a routine. And remember, resetting isn't about kicking yourself for what went wrong. It's about learning from your experiences and getting yourself ready for future holidays or any time you launch a NEW product or recipe.

So, once the Valentine's Day dust settles, it's the perfect time to reflect, reset, and recharge. Take a moment to learn from the past, set some goals for the future, and take care of yourself. And if you want to discuss your Valentine’s Day sales performance with me and TONS of other bakery owners from all over the world, I wanna invite you to join me for a FREE discussion on February 26th! We’ll dive into what worked, what didn’t, how you felt, and how you can BETTER prepare for the next holiday season. Click here to RSVP!

Remember, success isn't just about what's happening right now, but also about being ready for what's next. So take a deep breath, pat yourself on the back, and get ready for the next chapter of your bakery's story. You've got this!

Xo, Janelle