Tax refund season creates a short spending window. The IRS writes that most refunds are issued within 21 days, and people can start checking status shortly after e-filing through the IRS refund tracker. In other words, your future customers are getting a little breathing room in their bank account right now, and that changes buying behavior. It may also feel like something that was out of (budget) reach before is now doable. This is not the moment to sit back and hope people wander in looking for a good deal. Tax refund spending is emotional as much as practical. People use it to catch up, upgrade, treat themselves, solve annoying problems, and finally buy the thing they have been postponing for months. Your job is to make your offer feel timely, useful, and easy to say yes to. The Biggest Mistake Businesses Make During Refund Season The biggest mistake businesses make during refund season is assuming customers will connect the dots on their own. They won’t. Humans love having money and then immediately finding twelve unrelated ways to spend it. You must position your offer so it feels relevant to this moment. How to Create a Great Refund Offer Start with the right angle. Refund spending usually falls into a few categories: practical fixes, overdue replacements, personal rewards, family spending, and future planning. If your marketing speaks to one of those motives, you’re far more likely to get attention than if you simply run a generic sale. A home service business, for example, should not just announce a discount. It should frame the offer around finally tackling the repair, cleanup, or upgrade customers have been putting off. A salon or spa should position services as a treat-after-tax-season reward. A retailer should spotlight wardrobe refreshes, spring updates, or bundle deals that feel a little indulgent but still smart. A professional service firm can offer a package that helps people invest in themselves or get organized for the rest of the year. You don’t need a complicated campaign. You just need fast, simple, easy to imagine marketing that leads people to spend with you. The Smart Splurge Offer One of the easiest plays is the “smart splurge” offer . Many buyers want to their refund without feeling irresponsible. Create a package that feels like a treat but is clearly positioned as a good value. A boutique could offer a spring style bundle. A med spa could create a glow-up package. A restaurant could promote a limited dinner-for-two experience. A home decor store could feature a room refresh collection. The message is not “spend your refund here.” It’s “put part of that extra cash toward something that actually feels good. You deserve it.” The “Finally Get it Done” Campaign Another quick win is the “ finally get it done” campaign . This is ideal for contractors, auto shops, dentists, cleaning companies, organizers, landscapers, and repair services. These offers may not be as sexy as the splurge, but it’s a great way to capture the attention of people who have been putting off a necessary expense because everyday bills keep getting in the way. Your marketing should speak directly to that tension: “Been putting this off? Now is a great time to take care of it.” That kind of message connects relief with action. Prepaid Packages Prepaid packages are also strong during refund season. If you offer a service people use repeatedly, sell bundles. Think fitness classes, salon visits or treatments, car washes, dog grooming, chiropractic sessions, meal prep, tutoring, or marketing consultations. Customers are more willing to commit when they have a little cash cushion, and you improve your immediate cash flow. Everyone gets to feel responsible. Upgrades Limited-time upgrades work especially well too. Instead of discounting your core offer, add value. A photographer can include extra edited images. A furniture store can add free delivery. A service business can include an extended consultation, bonus maintenance visit, or premium add-on. This protects your pricing while making the purchase feel more worthwhile. Gift Card Bonuses Gift card bonuses are another smart move that can be implemented quickly. Offer something like “Buy a $100 gift card, get $20 extra.” This is especially effective for restaurants, salons, boutiques, family entertainment businesses, and specialty retail. It works for self-purchasers and for people who want to stretch refund money across multiple visits. Messaging Matters Your messaging matters as much as the offer. Keep it benefit-focused. Instead of “We’re having a refund sale,” try language like: “Use your tax refund to finally tackle that project.” “Put your refund toward a spring refresh you’ll enjoy all season.” “Catch up on the service you’ve been putting off.” “Invest in something that makes your life easier.” “Treat yourself without breaking the bank.” That last part matters. Customers do not want to feel reckless. They want to feel smart, a little rewarded, and slightly ahead for once. Also, don’t ignore existing customers. Refund season is a great reactivation opportunity. Send a message to past clients with a timely reason to come back now. “Haven’t seen you in a while” becomes much more effective when paired with a relevant seasonal offer. Speed matters more than perfection here. The tax filing deadline for most individual filers was April 15, 2026, and refunds continue rolling out after that, especially for procrastinators who took it down to the wire and others who have been thinking about the smartest way to spend it. This is a live window, not a theoretical one and it’s time to start using it if you haven’t already. Again, you don’t need a massive campaign. You need a timely offer, a clear message, and a fast way to get in front of buyers who finally have a little room to act. Tax refund season is one of those moments when good marketing is less about brilliance and more about relevance. Show people how your business fits what they want to do with that money right now, and you give them a much easier reason to choose you. Read More: Holiday Gift Card Strategies for Small Business Season Revenue Without Regret: Designing Offers You're Proud to Sell Win at First Impressions ---------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @metcalfwriting Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinametcalf5

It’s getting to be that time of year again—the summer scramble for capable employees. Colleges are about to go on break. High schools will finish up soon thereafter, and eager summer employees are looking for jobs now. In the past, you probably posted a job, hired fast as fast as you could, and hoped for the best. But seasonal hiring doesn’t have to feel like a gamble. Done right, it can give you flexibility, protect your margins, and improve your customer experience. Done wrong, it creates more work than it solves. Here’s how to hire for summer without regretting it by July. Start With Demand, not Desperation Most seasonal hiring decisions are based on a vague feeling that “it’s going to get busy.” That’s not a strategy. Before you post a single job, look at last year’s numbers. When did traffic increase? Which days or hours were stretched thin? Where did service break down? Hiring should solve specific problems, not general anxiety. If Saturdays were your bottleneck, you don’t need more staff across the board. You need targeted coverage. When you hire with precision, you avoid overstaffing and protect your cash flow when business inevitably fluctuates. Hire for Flexibility, not Perfection It’s tempting to wait for the “ideal” candidate who can do everything. But in seasonal hiring, that mindset slows you down and limits your options. Instead, look for people who are adaptable, reliable, and willing to learn. A college student who can work varied shifts and pick up new tasks quickly may be more valuable than someone with years of experience who needs a rigid schedule. Summer business is unpredictable. Your team should be able to move with it. Flexibility also applies to how you structure roles. Instead of hiring for one narrow position, think in terms of coverage. Who can help at the front and jump in elsewhere when needed? That kind of cross-functionality is what keeps operations running smoothly when things get busy. Shorten the Learning Curve One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is assuming seasonal hires will “figure it out” or that the summer is short so why train them on everything. First, they won’t figure it out on their own or worse, they will… just not the way you would have preferred. Additionally, summer may be short but doing something wrong or a way your customers aren’t used to could cost you loyalty in the long run. If you want temporary employees to perform like permanent ones, you need to set them up for success quickly. That means simple, clear onboarding. Not a binder no one reads. Not a rushed walkthrough during a busy shift. Focus on the essentials. What do they absolutely need to know to do the job well in the first week? Create quick-reference guides, checklists, or short training videos. Pair new hires with someone who knows your standards and can model them in real time. The goal is speed with consistency. The faster they feel confident, the faster they become productive. Build a Team That Can Cover for Each Other Summer schedules are notoriously chaotic. Vacations, last-minute requests, and shifting availability can create constant gaps if your team isn’t structured well. This is where cross-training becomes invaluable. When employees understand more than one role, you gain flexibility without constantly adding headcount. It also reduces stress on your team. No one wants to feel like the entire operation depends on them showing up. Set the expectation early that everyone contributes to the bigger picture. When people understand how their role connects to others, they’re more willing to step in where needed. Don’t Ignore Your Core Team Here’s where a lot of businesses struggle in the first few weeks of summer. They focus so much on bringing in seasonal help that they forget about the people who keep things running year-round. Your core team is the anchor during busy seasons. If they feel overlooked, overworked, or responsible for “fixing” everything new hires don’t know, burnout isn’t far behind. Involve them in the process. Ask for input on where help is needed. Let them contribute to training. Recognize the extra effort they’re putting in. Thank them. Give them a gift card or extra day off to show your appreciation. A supported core team will elevate your seasonal staff. An exhausted one will jeopardize your business future and company culture. Think Beyond the Season Not every seasonal hire is temporary. Some of your best long-term employees will come from these short-term roles. Watch for the people who show up on time, take initiative, and connect well with customers. Those are the ones worth keeping in your pipeline. Even if you don’t have an immediate role, staying in touch gives you a head start the next time you need to hire. Seasonal hiring isn’t just about filling gaps. It’s an opportunity to build relationships and strengthen your future workforce. Use Your Chamber as a Hiring Advantage* If you’re trying to solve staffing challenges on your own, you’re doing too much. Your chamber is one of the most underused hiring tools you already have access to. Start with visibility. Many chambers offer job boards, newsletter features, and social media promotion that put your open roles directly in front of a local, engaged audience. These aren’t cold applicants scrolling job sites at midnight. These people are already connected to the business community. *Chamber Members are eligible to utilize our job board , Facebook group , and weekly newsletter to advertise job postings. These benefits are included in your membership. Priority listings are also available for additional cost; Builder-Level members and above receive complimentary listings. Questions: Office@LLchamber.com But the real value goes deeper than job postings. Chambers are constantly making introductions. That includes connections to local colleges, workforce programs , and training organizations. If you need seasonal help, part-time support, or even interns, those relationships can shorten your search dramatically. Instead of broadcasting your need into the void, you’re tapping into a network that already understands your local market. This is especially helpful when you need something more specific than “extra hands.” If your business requires certain skills, certifications, or experience, let the chamber know. Workforce development is a growing priority for many chambers, and they’re actively working to close gaps between what businesses need and what the local talent pipeline provides. That might look like partnerships with schools, targeted training programs, or initiatives designed to prepare people for in-demand roles in your area. But none of that works if businesses stay quiet about their needs. If you’re struggling to find qualified candidates, express it. If your industry has a skills gap, bring it forward. Chambers can’t build solutions in a vacuum, but they can be incredibly effective when they have clear direction from the business community. At the very least, you’ll get access to better candidates. At best, you help shape a workforce pipeline that works for your business long term. And that beats posting the same job ad three times and hoping the algorithm finally shows your listing. Sure, you can choose to do it like last year, just getting through the season. But while you’re doing the hiring work anyway, why not sure up your business’ future? Read More: Delegation Done Right: Free Yourself and Empower Your Team Hiring in a Tight Market: Your Local Playbook for Finding and Keeping Great People Simplify Seasonal Staffing Think Twice Before Hiring of Promoting "Brilliant Jerks" -------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle, rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @metcalfwriting Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinametcalf5