So much to do as the holidays approach and the year comes to a close. Our how-to guides in this issue of WhatWorks can help in several ways. We'll show you how to get the most out of sending holiday cards for your business, how to generate more sales with gift cards and certificates, plus some great business gift ideas and the best places to shop for business gifts. You'll also find helpful tips and advice on coping with seasonal sales swings, and year-end tax tips that can help cut your tax bill and keep you in compliance.

Stay in Touch
Making the Most of Holiday Cards
By Emily Lugg
Holiday cards are a great way of letting loyal customers and potential business relationships alike know that you are thinking of them and appreciate them. A simple card at the holidays can serve as both a thank you as well as a reminder of the good service you have provided to customers over the
past year... Read Full Guide

Handling Ups and Downs
Coping with Seasonal Sales Swings
By Carol Smalley
Most businesses experience swings in income. For some enterprises, such as those that sell holiday products or rely on seasonal tourist traffic, the fluctuations can be wild. Although you may be more worried about surviving the low periods when sales sink, the busy times can prove to be just as much of a threat to your business. Staffing shortages or inventory delays can compromise customer service, and you can lose customers for good. Factors that impact seasonal
spending that are out of your control include: Read Full Guide

Gift Cards
Profiting with Gift Cards and Certificates
By Sheila Callahan
Use easy-to-track and fully automated plastic gift cards to replace outdated paper certificates. Issue them in a fixed or customer-designated amount and consider sending out small denominations as direct mail or handing them out as sales incentives. Gift cards prominently promote your business by incorporating your logo along with attractive graphics...
Read Full Guide

Great Business Gifts
Corporate Holiday Gifts
By Jeanne Dininni
The holidays are the best time of year for reinforcing business relationships. By demonstrating to the people and companies we deal with daily how much we appreciate them, through well-chosen corporate holiday gifts, we spread good cheer that can carry over into the new year, fostering continued good relations.
Read Full Guide

Saving on Taxes
Year-end Tax Tips
By Trisha Schulz
Wrap up taxes annually by thinking about a tax strategy all year long. That's helpful advice you can take to the bank as you can make special efforts to reduce your tax burden. It's not just reserved for when your fiscal year ends or starts anew. Read Full Guide