Peak trading is won or lost in the planning weeks before it, not during it. A retailer who has not ordered enough stock, arranged extra hands, tested payment acceptance and planned for the quiet month afterwards will have a busy season and a difficult January. The last of those catches out more businesses than the first three combined.
Work through these in order, because each depends on the one before it.
Order from last year’s data, not optimism
Use what actually sold: which lines, in what quantities, in which weeks. If you have no record, this year is when you start keeping one, because guessing is what produces both stockouts and leftovers.
Order early. Suppliers run out and delivery gets slower as everyone orders at once, so a line you cannot restock in the busiest fortnight is revenue you simply do not collect.
Get payment acceptance right
Card and mobile payment acceptance matter most when queues are long and customers carry no cash. Test the equipment before the rush, keep a backup method, and make sure staff know what to do if it fails.
Have a plan for power interruptions: a small battery unit keeping the till, card machine and router running for a few hours is inexpensive against a day of lost trading.
Staff properly and lawfully
Temporary staff need written particulars, correct pay, accurate time records and lawful deductions from day one, exactly as permanent employees do, as set out by the Department of Employment and Labour.
Train them before the rush rather than during it, and be specific about handling cash, returns and complaints. Public holiday and Sunday work carries higher pay rates, which should be in the budget rather than a surprise.
Plan for January before December
The quiet month after peak is when businesses that had an excellent season run out of money: stock was paid for, wages were higher, and customers have nothing left to spend.
Hold back a portion of peak takings deliberately rather than treating the whole of it as profit. Clear leftover stock early even at reduced margin, since cash now is worth more than margin on goods sitting for a year, and keep collection tight through the period.
Frequently asked questions
When is peak season actually decided?
In the weeks before it, through stock ordering, staffing and payment readiness. Very little can be fixed during the rush.
How much stock should I order?
From last year’s actual figures by line and by week. If you have no record, start one now, because guessing produces both stockouts and leftovers.
What payment preparation matters?
Tested card and mobile acceptance, a backup method, staff trained on failures, and a small battery unit for power interruptions.
Do temporary staff have full rights?
Yes. Written particulars, correct pay, accurate records and lawful deductions apply from day one, plus higher rates for Sundays and public holidays.
What catches retailers out after peak?
January. Stock was paid for, wages were higher and customers have nothing left, so hold back part of peak takings deliberately.
Further reading
Originally published in December 2018. Updated September 2026 into practical guidance on preparing a retail business for peak trading.
