Christmas and January for a Self-Employed Decorator

I’ve been a decorator for the best part of 20 years and for half of that time I’ve been running my own little decorating business. I’m not massive, just a one-man band targeting domestics local to me. I do a mix of interior and exterior work, airless spraying, and wallpaper.

The run up to Christmas and the 6 weeks after have always been a bit of a nightmare since going self-employed, for a few different reasons. I thought I’d put pen to paper and explain what Christmas and January are like for a self-employed decorator.

The Christmas Rush

The Christmas rush is odd in itself. You know you’re going to be busy just before Christmas, but people don’t seem to book until right at the last minute. It’s almost like they only look at their house at the start of December when they’re preparing for the big day. You always get the “can you do it before Christmas” line a few times in the buildup, and ultimately end up working weekends and lates to try and keep your regular clients happy. Your work / life balance can be off, but then it’s good to have some money for the months to come.

This gives me a strange mindset. I feel under pressure and tired, but I can see the finish line, so I just work towards that. Four weeks of hell and potentially broken promises to clients, all so I can work up to the first day when I don’t need to have an alarm set and can sleep in. (It doesn’t actually work like that, my body clock is too well programmed).

January and February

From January up until about mid-Feb is the hardest time for a self-employed decorator whose bread and butter are peoples’ houses!! A lot of clients just don’t have the money to spend, or they just don’t want the hassle of having work done. There’s twice as much work in the warmer months anyway because you get the exterior work, but January is particularly bad, by far the worst time of the year.

I know a few decorators who will appreciate the situation, but don’t have to worry about where the work is coming from. I know others who just take an extended break. I find myself dropping my prices slightly sometimes. I also do my annual “texting round” to a few choice clients, maybe a little social media campaign. It can be tough and it’s a massive contrast to December!! Again, it’s only temporary. The situation gets a lot better from mid-Feb and by March I’m inundated with phone calls.

Being a Self-Employed Decorator

I’ve just given you an idea of what it’s like to be a self-employed decorator from the start of December, through to mid-Feb. I know it may be an extreme example, but it depicts the working life of the self-employed brilliantly. It’s like being on a rollercoaster and nothing like working for someone else. No stability, one minute you’re flying, then next you’re struggling, or something goes wrong. Then you pick yourself up and go again. It’s hard at times, but very rewarding.

Final Thoughts

One of the advantages of being a self-employed decorator is we have a certain amount of flexibility when it comes to business. So, even though Christmas and January can bring certain pressures with it, we can adapt and overcome as we need to.

The first thing is to gauge how much work we have in the diary in the run-up to Christmas. If by October, we have work booked for January, then we have a head start. If not, then October might be the time to do something about it. We might try and spread out the work and fill those January slots or focus on marketing.

A lot of decorators I know manage their finances on the run up to Christmas, then take holidays in January.

FAQs

Is December and January a busy time for self-employed Painters and Decorators?

Painters and Decorators can be busy on the run up to Christmas, but January is usually the quietest time of the year.

Do customers request more indoor projects during the winter months?

It isn’t that customers request more indoor work, but that is the type of work Decorators do during the colder months. Exterior painting in winter is possible, but not ideal.

How do you manage a decorating business during the quieter months?

It’s a good time to take stock, get organised, and focus on marketing strategies to bring in more work.

How do you stay motivated during the slower winter months?

This is something that gets overlooked, but running a decorating business is a lot of work, and any drop in motivation will mean the business suffers. I list tasks that need to be completed each day, then work towards completing the list. The sooner I get through it, the sooner I can go home.

Do Painters and Decorators need to adjust their pricing during the winter months?

A lot of Painters and Decorators need to offer discount on the run up to Christmas to entice people to have their work done at an inopportune time. Then again in January so they can get more work booked in.