Happy 2025! The New Year is a great time to start fresh with new goals, new strategies and new attitudes!
While only 30% of Americans make formal New Year’s resolutions, and an even smaller 9% keep them, you don’t have to set a formal resolution in order to implement positive change.
In fact, I’d argue that the reason a majority of resolutions fail is because they are too broad and overwhelming: get healthier, boost profits, learn something new.
Great in theory, but honestly not super helpful.
Alternatively, here are seven easy-to-implement ideas worth considering. I challenge you to pick your favorite and commit to accomplishing it before December 31, 2025!
1) Prioritize Personal Growth: Each month, read one new leadership or business book, or alternatively listen to one new podcast episode, to refine management skills. They don’t necessarily have to be bridal related. Even a podcast dedicated to pet sitters might contain a customer service nugget that could benefit your boutique.
2) Enhance Work Benefits: Add one unique and unexpected perk for staff, such as a small wellness stipend, a subscription to their favorite streaming service or a massage chair in the breakroom, to improve employee satisfaction.
3) Seek Mentorship: Once a month or quarter, invite another local boutique owner or business leader to have coffee, where you can share advice and seek fresh perspective.
4) Give Back: Partner with a local charity or cause. This could take many forms, from collecting goods in-store, to donating a percentage of sales from a specific time period, to participating in or sponsoring an event. Choose the method that speaks to your heart.
5) Start an Inspiration Journal: This is a book where you collect ideas that could apply to your business. And the beauty of it is these ideas could come from anywhere: a cool store you visit, something you see on a road trip, a dinner out with friends. When you feel stuck or in a rut, review this journal for some creative inspiration.
6)Spend the Day Thrifting: When we ask boutique owners where they gather props for window displays or fitting rooms, more times than not the answer is: thrift stores and/or garage sales. So set aside one day dedicated to a fun “props” hunt. You need not spend a lot of money and you may very well be inspired!
7)Expand Your Social Strategy: Pick one unrelated-to-bridal creator that interests you. Binge their content, and make a list of techniques you could emulate (with tweaks of course!) in your own social posts, be it an editing style, video topic idea or way of presenting info. Evaluating outside of bridal is important because it stretches your thinking and boosts creativity.
