Don’t Forget Building Preparations Before Holiday Season

Building preparation for the winter might not be atop most merchants’ to-do lists for the holiday season. But after last year’s brutal winter along the East Coast, many merchants are thinking about that now.

It’s “definitely something we are taking more seriously before holiday to avoid shutting down due to access or leaks in the building,” says Robin Bavin, chief operating officer for Stony Creek Brands, which includes the Cooking Enthusiast and Uno Alla Volta titles.

Since her company is based in North Branford, CT, Bavin saw how a brutal winter can impact operations. Overstaffing is a good thing, she says, especially due to inclement weather. Alone those same lines, prepared phone messages for a company closure are advised.

Among Bavin’s top challenges are inventory receipt delays due to weather or availability, transit delays due to weather, and being nimble enough to adjust to meet customer demands.