As Australia’s busiest retail quarter is dawning and Banjo Loans is urging small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to act now to ensure they are financially ready to meet demand.
From September through December, the national retail calendar is packed with major events including Father’s Day, Spring Sales, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the lead-up to Christmas.
For many SMEs, these are make-or-break periods offering huge revenue potential, but only for those properly prepared.
Brendan Widdowson, Chief Commercial Officer at Banjo Loans, says too many businesses leave planning too late and miss out.
“These events aren’t just shopping opportunities, they’re golden windows to drive revenue, strengthen customer loyalty and fuel growth,” Widdowson said.
“But seizing these moments requires preparation, resources and access to the right funding.”
Banjo Loans says businesses should be well into their preparations now and not waiting until the sales events are almost here. To prepare, Banjo recommends SMEs review their cash flow forecasts, confirm stock and staffing requirements and secure funding ahead of time.
“You need to be completely prepared months prior to the event happening,” said Widdowson.
“Seasonal sales spikes can stretch your cash flow or supercharge your business; it all depends on how ready you are.”
Retailers, eCommerce businesses and service providers offering seasonal products or services, such as floristry, events or beauty, are particularly exposed to fluctuations in demand across this period.
Banjo is encouraging business owners to forecast seasonal sales early, speak to their broker or lender about the right funding options, and get their financial records in order including up-to-date ABNs and tax filings.
“Many businesses miss out on funding opportunities and in turn sales opportunities, simply because they’re not preparing early enough,” Widdowson said.
“The earlier you plan, the more prepared you’ll be to take full advantage of these retail milestones.”
With the cost of living still impacting consumer behaviour, Banjo expects strong competition across all major sales periods this year making speed, inventory and operational readiness even more critical.
