National Day is quickly approaching. Time to do your last minute National Day gift shopping and getting ready for all the National Day parties.

Are you open for business on Monday, Oct 2? How about Wed, the 4th? This weekend? Next weekend?

Ask 10 China managers those questions, and you will probably get 12 or 15 different answers. Some people are shutting down for a full week, others just for two days. Many others will be open, but with reduced staffing.

Have you bothered to let your clients and prospects know what YOUR schedule will be?

Part of the fun of running a company is being able to decide on your own schedule – but what are you doing to tell your clients, customers and suppliers? Most of your overseas contacts have NO idea about National Day schedules. Hell, I live here in Shanghai, and I’m pretty confused about what the policy is. Is it 2 days or 2 weeks? Are businesses legally required to be open this coming weekend? Will it be impossible to find a taxi this year?

I subscribe to 20 or so email newsletter lists from China-based companies and as of this morning I had only received 1 notice about vacation policy. Have you emailed clients — or posted on your websites– what your schedule will be?

As China’s economy develops, people’s attitude towards holidays is changing. When I first came here companies seemed willing to shut down for two weeks at the drop of a hat. Mid-autumn festival, Chinese New Year & Spring Festival, Confucius’ birthday, Christmas, Peruvian Flag Day, you name it. It seemed like people were always getting ready for a break or recovering from one. And those mandatory working weekends… It was a planning nightmare.

Now, however, that the number of hours on the job directly relates to the amount of money in the bank, businesses are maintaining more stable schedules. But there are still a lot of questions about when people do business. This is the perfect time to explore the possibilities of an email newsletter for your operation.

You’ve probably been collecting client contact information in some form or other – a customized database program, an Outlook file, a spreadsheet, a shoebox full of business cards – something. Well, a great way to put that contact list to good use is to institute a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) program. You can make it as simple as a blanket email announcement of when you will be closing for holidays, or a complex multi-tiered marketing program.

The point is for you to establish a 2-way dialogue with your clients and prospects. China is getting more competitive in general, and the pressures at the high-end of the market are becoming truly fierce. Give yourself an edge by reminding your existing contacts who you are and how to reach.

And telling them when you plan on opening for business in October wouldn’t hurt either.

Enjoy your break.

– ChinaSolved.com will be publishing on Friday, Sept 28, and will resume daily posts on Tuesday October 3. May you all have a pleasant holiday, a safe trip, or an easy day – whichever applies to you.