Anyone close for the Summer?

[Former_Member]

Do any of you close your shop through the summer months because your products don't really do well in the heat?

Im trying to offer a handful of items at a discounted price to get some of those last and final sales, but I plan to close my shop during the summer months because I don't trust items sitting in the mail in the heat.

[Former_Member]

I've considered closing up shop for the summer, since I sell wintery knitted things, but I've decided instead to work on diversifying (hence the knit ties and bookmarks). Plus there are folks in the southern hemisphere who may want cold weather gear.

In your case, unless you can add summer-friendly items to your shop for this time of year, closing up until fall makes perfect sense. I don't suppose there are cold shipping options...?

[SelkiePubZines]

I think that makes total sense for your kind of product, yes. I would do that, too.

[Former_Member]

I've had to deactivate about a dozen listings because the items would melt during summer transport [mainly chocolate truffles], but I plan to roll out some summer-friendly items soon.

Perhaps you could develop a new line of products for the warmer months? I don't think closing up altogether is a good idea. From everything I've read in the forums, going into vacation mode takes MONTHS to recover from.

[Former_Member]

Well, I didn't want to mention it,....but it may be a permanent decision.

I also run LillyQueenVintage, so I have another shop I should be focusing all my energy on. Two shops, with divided attention nets me poor sales in both stores. So I think spending more time with one shop will help me stay focused and grounded.

[Former_Member]

I don't close for the summer. My furniture repurposing and refinishing dide of my business is the main part of my business production is slower due to the heat in the shop and in Houston, TX. However, the crafts side of my business gets done in the heat of the day inside or on off days of the week. I am trying to run a new schedule. It's exhausting working in the heat and I unfortunately suffer with migraines that are easily triggered by the heat and humidity. BOO HOO! Anyway, I start to advertise my custom patchwork blanket orders for College Students and Holidays about now so that I can work on that almost exclusively in the dog days of summer on top of other OOAK crafts. It's a juggling act I suppose. LOL!

[Former_Member]

If you ship internationally, don't forget that it's only summer in one hemisphere! :)

[thedots]

Yes, as Tanya said ~ it may be warm here, but it's cold there on the other side of the world (and there are buyers there!) And when it's cold here, it's warm there.