Business planning or strategic planning, in general, is paramount. These last few days of 2021 can be the perfect time to start planning for 2022. There are infinite ways to approach planning. One of them is to centre your planning on recurrent events. Every year some events are bound to occur. Their specific dates might not be cast in stone since the calendar changes but they always hold. A business can target those and mark them as important business dates. For your benefit, I will just summarize some of the important business dates to look forward to in 2022.
Valentine’s Day
In the first quarter of the year, this is the most anticipated day – the 14th of February. Of course, there are camps when it comes to the day as some celebrate it whilst others say it is pagan. Regardless, there is a huge cluster of people who observe the day from teens to senior citizens. So it is a day which when capitalized on can bring in lots of money for businesses.
Public And School Holidays
Throughout the year there are several public holidays. It is not every one of them that is particularly important for businesses. There are some which are strategic e.g. Easter, Heroes, and the festive seasons. School holidays also come with their 3-layered business prospects. There are business prospects from the lower end of school holidays i.e. when schools close. Then we have prospects for the duration of the school holidays e.g. tutorial services. Then that time when school holidays end and schools begin to open. All those phases have their business prospects which many businesses ride on. Typically those school holidays tend to fall in April, August, and December.
Mother’s And Father’s Days
These two days have increasingly become popular in Zimbabwe. Not only that but they have also become a great business opportunity for businesses as well. The provision of products and services themed for these two days can be quite lucrative. Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday of May every year. Father’s Day falls on the third Sunday of June every year.
Agricultural Shows
These events are agricultural-themed shows or exhibitions that are done at the national and provincial levels in Zimbabwe. They are organized by the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society. In 2021, the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show was held from 27 October to 1 October. They are held in towns, cities or regions such as Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Gwanda, Chegutu, Lowveld, Mashonaland East, Kadoma, Masvingo, Manicaland, Hwange, Chipinge, Chinhoyi, and Mazoe Valley. Farmers or those venturing in agribusinesses must leverage such great platforms for marketing and networking.
Zimbabwe International Trade Fair
In 2021 the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair was initially supposed to hold from 20 to 23 July. It was later postponed to run from 21 to 24 September. The 2021 theme was Showcasing The New Normal For Business And Industry: Realities and Opportunities. This is an annual event that no doubt is the biggest trade fair held in Zimbabwe. It is held at the ZITF Grounds in Bulawayo. It is an event many businesses look forward to every year – though in 2019 it was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Miscellaneous ‘Local’ Events
Countless other events are held at varying local levels. Some are done in neighbourhoods or particular streets and so on. This depends on the town or city in question so it is not easy to list them all. The thing is you must do some homework to find out if there are any regular local events in your area. I mean events that can be strategic to your business for marketing and networking, amongst other things. Some events happen once, twice, or thrice a month. Some happens once a year or twice a year. You might not be able to be a part of provincial or national events; you can take advantage of those near you.
Approach the year 2022 with a different strategy; you might unlock some colossal value. Schedule and strategize around those important business dates I shared with you. Right now you have the advantage of time – start thinking and planning now. If you start early and start strong, you can experience a business year like no other in 2022.
