A Path to Continuous Improvement
Many of you know that I am a big proponent of Lookbacks and how you can modify your model and processes to improve performance. Reviewing what worked and what didn’t through intentional reflection can help you adapt and refine your business strategies for future success.
Documenting your pain points and wins while they are still fresh ensures that critical details aren’t forgotten. I have not been intentional in the years past as I am being this year. While I still remember a few of the big nuggets, I failed to capture some of the most critical ones that have crept up this year. The sooner you record what worked well and where improvements are needed, the more actionable your insights will be when planning for the next busy season.
The holiday season can be overwhelming for laser makers, but it also offers valuable learning moments. Capturing what works and what doesn’t will help you refine processes and streamline future busy seasons. I am currently documenting for Pate Ranch the following “Categories”.
Key Note Categories to Track
Production Processes
- Workflow Steps: Document the best process steps. I am finding that I am walking all over the shop for stupid things like scissors and tape measures and that dang caliper.
- Supplies Tracking: Note how fast supplies are used. I ran out of certain size box and had to use larger till the new stock came in. Grrr.
Design & Customization
- Popular Designs: Track best-sellers.
- Customization Requests: Log frequent custom requests.
- File Issues: Note file formatting problems, wrong names, or screw ups with designs.
Customer Interactions
- FAQs: Write common customer questions.
- Order Confusion: Record areas where customers struggle or you did as well.
Order Management
- Turnaround Times: Track project completion times.
- Shipping Issues: Log delays or packaging problems. Can we just say USPS.
Sales Insights
- Sales Trends: Note peak order times.
- Promo Success: Record which promotions worked best. I know for me, the marketing on Etsy has helped a lot.
- Customer Feedback: Capture comments from social media or reviews.
Stay Organized
Take 5 minutes daily to jot down notes. James and I try to do this when we sit down for the day and reflect what all went on. Often over a beer or glass a wine as we decompress. The main takeaway here is to get it captured as you will forget the important ones. By tracking these details now, you’ll set yourself up for a smoother, more successful season next year. I know that we here at Pate Ranch will be making some changes in 2025 for sure.
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