How to Handle a Downturn in Business

If you own a business, you ideally want it to be running smoothly and continuously growing. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen all the time.

For travel agents, a sudden downturn in business can come thanks to bad weather such as hurricanes Irma and Maria or because of a change in the country's financial condition, which forces travelers to stay home.

When business suddenly drops, Debbie Brisky, owner of Beach Monkey Travel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said that her company digs for good value vacation packages.

"We then market them," she said. "We also reach out to past clients and see if they are thinking of a trip or if they know anyone that is. If you have done your job well, past clients will always give you the names of people they know."

Samarah Meil uses slower times to focus on things that she doesn't typically have time to do.

"I make a point to reach out to clients I have not heard from in a while," said Meil, of Amarillo Travel Network in Amarillo, Texas. "I find that slower times typically only last a short period of time, so take those moments to invest in yourself, clean your office and reach out to your faithful travelers."

When Margie Lenau notices a downturn in business, she takes time to plan better for the next year.

"We all see the ebb and flow of travel with what the news is telling us," said Lenau of Wonderland Family Vacations in Grand Rapids, Michigan. "I don't ever worry that people will stop traveling."

She admits that her downturn is usually at the end of September: "I hesitate to send people into areas where hurricanes are expected at that time of year, so that means I need to sell other types of trips. That is where I market color tours and autumn vacations while the kids are in school. It is easier to address if I watch my sales and know what needs more attention."

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Alex Dalton said, when things are slow down, it's time to turn to the unpaid commissions folder in the computer and think about vacation.

"I go through and email everyone in there to get their accounting departments to pay commission," said Dalton, an affiliate of Travel Experts.

"I also look at some webinars that interest me that I had no time for earlier. Downturns are also a great time to go on vacation. I know some agents get money conscious, and don't want to travel then, but there is no better time to see the places you really need to see to sell than when business is slow."

Pam Walker uses any slow period as an opportunity to market to her clients.

"It is a perfect time to update your website, work on social media and let the world know that it is still amazing out there," said Walker, of Walker Adventures, Ltd., an independent affiliate of Travel Experts.

[READMORE]READ MORE: Travel Agent Advice for Thriving in Uncertain Times[/READMORE]

She admits that she doesn't always have the time to keep her web presence current, so she uses any slow period to find new products that she thinks her clients would like: "I also take this time to update my blog and then post it to my Facebook page as well as link it to Twitter and LinkedIn."

Although she posts daily on all platforms, Walker feels that when people are feeling down about hurricanes and earthquakes, it is the perfect time to help them start dreaming about better times ahead.

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