Maximise Your E-commerce Business For Christmas

November 23, 2020

E-commerce brands know that this Christmas will be vastly different to last year.

During the lockdowns and restrictions imposed in Australia, e-commerce has become a preferred way to purchase everything from household staples, to homewares and electronics. The Christmas buying season has begun and while this year will have an increase in online shopping, the question is how much more?

Research released on Finder.com.au provides insights into Australian spending online over the last 8 months. The numbers confirm that the average Aussie is spending 5.3 hours a week online shopping, at a cost of $188.

So how do e-commerce and retailers prepare for shopping in December? We have created our top tips to help businesses navigate the weeks ahead.

Ensure customers have a good buying experience, update your website now

Be sure to fix potential issues to your website to ensure it can cope with increased holiday traffic. Peaks in online traffic can cause websites or apps to slow down and ultimately crash. It is important to note that a slowdown is as bad as a crash. A 2017 study found as little as a 100-millisecond delay decreased conversion rates by 7 percent. Mobile shoppers are especially impatient. According to research by Google, 53% of mobile users entirely abandon websites that take longer than 3 seconds to load.

For most e-commerce sites payment plugins, shopping carts and photos of items can put stress on the infrastructure of a site. Any delays have a huge impact on your bottom line. It is so important that hiring someone to review your site for faults or to resize and upload images is money well spent. There are tests you can run on your site to check the loading speed. If you receive a low score be sure to act quickly and fix the issues now. One free tool to check out is HubSpot Website Grader.

Automate selling, shipping and fulfilment

All e-commerce websites should have plugins installed for payments, shipping and fulfilment. A seamless and automated system keeps staff members from doing the data entry and reduces the possibilities for mistakes.

Most e-commerce websites use automated selling plugins such as Shopify or WooCommerce. For shipping in Australia, WooCommerce is now working with ShipStation for automatic generation and printing of shipping labels. It is also critical to manage is stock in an automated way. There are platforms that ensure the proper tracking of stock such as Dear Systems. Dear Systems can also assist with automating fulfillment and integrates with all major e-commerce platforms.

Create strategic holiday marketing and promotions

A solid approach to marketing your e-commerce business is based on three key things, re-engaging your existing customers, creating paid promotions on social media and partnering with complimentary brands to expand your reach.

The key to success with any business is turning customers into repeat customers. This is best achieved by building an email list and sending them offers and updates on new products on a consistent basis. Remember that during the lead up to Christmas most brands will be sending emails, so ensure yours stand out with compelling offers in the headlines. Don’t make your customer’s guess, keep it clear and simple.

It is also important to put aside some budget for promotions on your social media channels or Google Ads. A small budget for social media is about 30 – 50 dollars per day. It is important to understand what budget you have available and then committing to getting the ads right through testing and adjustments. If possible, hire a digital marketing expert to assist with setting the ads up.

And finally, if you have relationships with complementary brands consider any opportunities for cross promotion. This can help to expand your reach and add more value to your respective customer bases. These types of collaborations can often be achieved for less than a marketing campaign and create similar results in sales.

Ramp up customer service and support for holiday traffic

With the increase in traffic and purchases on your site, there will also be an increase in questions, returns and shipping problems. It is important to hire more casual staff or increasing the hours of staff who already know the systems. While it is important to maximise profits at this time of year, it is equally important to ensure customer service does not fall to the wayside. With online consumer spending increasing in Australia, if they have a good experience with you, they will remain a loyal customer for years. The goal is to turn first time online shoppers into committed converts who will shop with you for years to come.

How to measure the success of your holiday period

With the very recent increase in online shopping in Australia it can feel difficult when forecasting potential profits and budgeting for operation costs. There are some standard approaches to creating forecast based on the previous quarter instead of from this time last year.

Use your sales data from last quarter to map out the trajectory of your sales over the holiday period. The rate of increase from each month should help you to understand the possible rate of increase for the next four weeks. Of course, the forecast should act merely as target. If you surpass the projected rate of increase in the first week of December, assume that the next week will grow by the same increase.

Remember that this year is the beginning of a new trend for online shopping in Australia. While there will be some adjustments as restrictions are lifted, the appetite for online shopping is here. We are always available for a chat about your unique challenges, be sure to book in a free assessment in our calendar. We are always happy to help.

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Simple Financial Habits for Business Owners

By 360Accounting Services • November 5, 2025

Simple Financial Habits for Business Owners Running a business comes with a myriad of responsibilities, and sometimes, financial management can feel overwhelming. However, by adopting a few simple financial habits, business owners can maintain better control over their finances, ensure long-term stability, and reduce stress. This blog post will outline some essential practices that can make a significant difference. 1. Separate Business and Personal Finances This is perhaps the most fundamental rule for any business owner. Commingling funds can lead to confusion, complicate tax filings, and make it difficult to accurately assess your business's financial health. ● Open Separate Accounts: Set up distinct bank accounts and credit cards for your business. ● Avoid Personal Expenses from Business Accounts: Even small, seemingly insignificant personal purchases from your business account can create headaches. ● Pay Yourself a Salary: Treat yourself as an employee of your business and pay yourself a regular salary. 2. Track All Income and Expenses Accurate record-keeping is crucial for understanding where your money comes from and where it goes. This information is vital for budgeting, forecasting, and tax preparation. ● Use Bookkeeping Software: Invest in reliable accounting software like MYOB, Xero, or QuickBooks. These tools automate many tasks and provide clear financial reports. ● Categorise Transactions: Consistently categorise your income and expenses. This helps you identify spending patterns and areas for improvement. ● Keep Receipts: Digitise or keep physical copies of all business-related receipts. This is essential for auditing and expense verification. 3. Regular Review of Financial Statements Don't just record transactions; understand what they mean. Regularly reviewing your financial statements will provide insights into your business's performance. ● Profit and Loss (P&L) Statement: Review your P&L monthly to see your revenues, costs, and profits. ● Balance Sheet: Check your balance sheet quarterly to understand your assets, liabilities, and equity. ● Cash Flow Statement: Analyse your cash flow regularly to ensure you have enough liquidity to meet your obligations. 4. Create and Stick to a Budget A budget is your financial roadmap. It helps you allocate resources effectively, prevent overspending, and work towards your financial goals. ● Develop a Realistic Budget: Base your budget on historical data and realistic projections. ● Monitor and Adjust: Regularly compare your actual spending to your budget and make adjustments as needed. ● Allocate Funds for Taxes: Set aside a portion of your income for taxes, as estimated taxes can be a significant surprise if not planned for. 5. Build an Emergency Fund Just like personal finances, businesses need an emergency fund to weather unexpected challenges, such as a sudden drop in sales, equipment breakdown, or economic downturns. ● Set a Target: Aim to have at least 3-6 months of operating expenses saved. ● Automate Savings: Set up automatic transfers from your operating account to your savings account. 6. Regularly Reconcile Bank Statements Bank reconciliation ensures that your internal records match your bank statements. This helps catch errors, detect fraud, and verify the accuracy of your books. ● Monthly Reconciliation: Reconcile your bank accounts and credit card statements every month. ● Investigate Discrepancies: Promptly investigate any differences between your records and the bank's records. 7. Seek Professional Advice While these habits provide a strong foundation, there will be times when you need expert guidance. ● Consult a Bookkeeper or Accountant: A professional bookkeeper or accountant can help set up your systems, ensure compliance, and provide strategic financial advice. ● Tax Planning: Work with a tax professional to optimise your tax strategy and ensure you're taking advantage of all eligible deductions. By consistently practicing these simple financial habits, business owners can gain a clearer picture of their financial health, make informed decisions, and pave the way for sustainable growth. Start implementing these habits today, and watch your business thrive. For more detailed guidance and personalised support, contact us at 360 Accounting Bookkeeping Services. We're here to help your business succeed. Contact Us: Phone: Parikshit Kikla (PK) Email: pkikla@360accountingservices.com.au Website: https://www.360accountingservices.com.au/