Jasz
VIP Contributor
It's the time of year when you're likely to get a lot of calls from people who want to do business with you. However, how can you tell if they are real? How do you know if their product or service is worth your time and money? Here are some tips on how to evaluate seasonal businesses:
1. Is this a local business? Seasonal businesses tend to be locally focused — the sales may be for Christmas, for example, but the company will still be located in the same area. If it's not local and there are no other seasonal businesses in your area, that should raise a red flag.
2. Does this business have a website? A website can show you whether the company has been around for a while and what kind of quality control measures it takes to produce its products (or at least let you know that it is working hard to maintain high standards). You should also look at photos on the site and see if they look current or outdated — signs that they've been trading since last year or even longer may not reflect current trends in fashion or design styles.
3. Is there any social media presence? Social media is one way businesses can reach out directly to their customers.
1. Is this a local business? Seasonal businesses tend to be locally focused — the sales may be for Christmas, for example, but the company will still be located in the same area. If it's not local and there are no other seasonal businesses in your area, that should raise a red flag.
2. Does this business have a website? A website can show you whether the company has been around for a while and what kind of quality control measures it takes to produce its products (or at least let you know that it is working hard to maintain high standards). You should also look at photos on the site and see if they look current or outdated — signs that they've been trading since last year or even longer may not reflect current trends in fashion or design styles.
3. Is there any social media presence? Social media is one way businesses can reach out directly to their customers.