By the time the last market box is unpacked and the final Christmas order has waddled its way to Australia Post, most of you are dreaming of nothing but sleep, leftovers, and a quiet cuppa away from the chaos.
January can feel like a hard stop after weeks of frantic energy, but here’s the quiet truth that often gets lost in the tinsel. The post-holiday period can still be a profitable, strategic moment for your business. You just need to approach it with intention rather than a sense of obligation.
This isn’t about flogging whatever scraps are left after a big season. Nor is it about recreating Black Friday levels of discounting if you’re already running on pocket change and goodwill. It’s simply about keeping your momentum steady, clearing mental and physical space for new ideas, and giving your customers a thoughtful reason to return.
January hits different
Many makers assume that once Christmas winds down, their sales will evaporate until mid-February, and yes, sometimes that happens. But plenty of customers actually start shopping again once the pressure is off. They’ve recovered from all that festivity, they’ve remembered birthdays coming up, they’ve received a bit of cash, or they simply feel like treating themselves after spending December buying for everyone else. In other words, people still want nice things.
The trick is to meet them where they’re at. This period isn’t about competing with mass retailers who are slapping 70 per cent off everything in bright neon. It’s about creating small, purposeful nudges that help your audience reconnect with your work.
Choose the type of promotion that supports your business, not drains it
Discounting is not for everyone. If your margins are tight, your products are labour-heavy, or you’ve already run a major offer during Black Friday or Christmas, you’re under no obligation to haul out the red texta again. Your customers aren’t expecting it and your wellbeing may not like it much.
Instead, think about promotions that match your business reality:
1. New Year specials
These don’t need to be huge discounts. You can:
- Spotlight a bestselling product with a small, time-bound incentive.
- Offer a bonus gift or small add-on for the first week of January.
- Create a limited edition bundle for those treating themselves in the new year.
These would work best when framed as a warm welcome into 2026 rather than a “clearance” frenzy.
Clearance with purpose
If you’ve got leftover stock that’s genuinely taking up physical or mental space, a tidy clearance sale can work wonders. Not only does it help you move on from 2025 ideas, it opens up your shelves (and more importantly your brain) for the new season.
Have a think about ways to:
- Offer gentle reductions on retired designs.
- Create “last of the batch” listings.
- Host a weekend-only online clearance to reset your inventory.
This is about focus on the customers already in the middle of your sales funnel, not desperation.
Loyalty rewards
Your most committed customers love to feel seen and appreciated. January is a perfect time to thank them without slashing prices.
Why not try:
- A private members-only or email-subscriber perk.
- Early access to new designs.
- A small appreciation code shared with returning customers only.
This is notable and generous without undermining your pricing strategy.
Value-adds instead of discounts
Plenty of makers prefer to maintain their margins and add value instead, which is a solid long-term strategy.
You could try things like:
- Free upgrade to express post for a limited time.
- Gift wrapping included.
- A mini digital guide or printable that complements your product (care instructions, styling ideas, recipe extras, creative prompts).
With this strategy, you’re increasing the perceived value without reducing your income.
Use this time to reset your shop for 2026
Whether you promote heavily, lightly, or not at all, January is an excellent month for tidying up your “digital shelves” too.
Some of the ways you can have an impactful refresh if you’re up for it:
- Update product titles, descriptions, and photography.
- Review your pricing and check it still reflects your costs and labour.
- Archive discontinued ranges to make space for new ideas.
- Check your Etsy, Shopify or website analytics to see what patterns emerged during the holidays.
This gentle reset positions you strongly for the quieter months ahead and arms you with the data you need to make informed decisions for your business.
Think of January as a soft re-entry into work
You’re allowed to rest. Truly.
You don’t need to roll into 2026 at full speed. A well-paced January puts your energy first, not just your revenue.
Try and approach it like this:
- Choose one or two small promotional ideas that support your business.
- Map out a simple content plan to let people know.
- Keep messaging warm and human. People respond to authenticity, not urgency sirens.
- Celebrate every sale as a bonus, not a benchmark.
The post-holiday period doesn’t need to feel like yet another battle between you and the small business gods.
It can be a quiet, steady stepping stone into a year filled with fresh designs, new customers and the creative spark you’ve been fighting to protect all season long.
So take a breath, choose what works for you, and plan a January that serves both your business and your wellbeing. Your customers aren’t going anywhere, and neither is your talent.
