Running a small business during the holiday season preparing for 2026

Running MNB Sweets means a lot of the real work happens when nobody sees it.

This weekend I’m focused on a few unglamorous but important things:

- Lining up holiday plans with fellow Market on Mill vendors – extended hours, family‑friendly events, and coupon goody bags so December shoppers have more reasons to come back.

- Tightening relationships with key suppliers so we’re not scrambling for product at the last minute when it gets busy.

- Cleaning up some inventory and automation issues we caught in our scripts, so our data is actually useful when we’re making production and restocking decisions.

- Saying “no” to a lot of noise (promos, tools, “opportunities”) and staying locked in on what actually helps the business and our customers.

It’s not flashy, but this is the stuff that makes or breaks a small business during the holidays.

If you run a food, retail, or event‑based business, what’s one behind‑the‑scenes thing you’re tightening up before December hits?

Managing food distribution, coordinating with distributors, implementing new Square updates, integrating artificial intelligence, and modifying button reports are all essential tasks that require attention. These tasks, while not particularly exciting, are crucial for the successful transition to the new system in 2026.

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