20 Autumn Opportunities for Creative Businesses
The changing season signals changes in mindset—and spending—for consumers and corporations. Let’s turn those changes into growth opportunities.
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Try a creative exercise with me.
Maybe you’ve heard the phrase “timing is everything” in the business world.
When a business launches a product at the exact moment that demand for that product is booming—we say timing was good for that business.
This happens when businesses start with something new. Google, OpenAI, and Uber all took advantage of booming demand for something that didn’t yet exist when they launched.
But timing is actually something to think about all the time when you’re running a business.
Most businesses are seasonal, to some extent. They follow predictable patterns in customer behavior tied to moments in the calendar year.
Businesses that understand and capitalize on seasonal patterns do better than those who don’t. We see this in the retail world every year with most retailers (including online ones) making most of their money around the holiday season.
The beginning of autumn likely kicks off predictable patterns for your customers too, whether you’re selling to consumers or other businesses.
So let’s look at some of those patterns and see if you can come up with a list of new business opportunities that you might consider over the next 4 months.
Are you ready?
Let’s go!
Instructions
Pretend you’re my 78-year-old mom on a recipe website and print this article. I guess you can also turn it into a .pdf and work on it digitally. Your call.
Find a quiet place and turn on some quiet music. Or a loud place with loud music. Whatever gets your creative brain going.
Set a timer for 15 minutes. The time constraint helps ideas flow faster and keeps you from going too deep on one idea at a time.
Read through the list of 20 seasonal behaviors below.
For each behavior, force yourself to come up with 3 ideas that you can execute over the next 4 months to capitalize on it. Write your ideas in the space provided.
Don’t cheat. If the behavior doesn’t feel like it applies to your business, write down 3 ideas anyway. Even if you hate them.
Generate as many ideas as you can in 15 minutes.
Read back through the list and circle the 3 that stand out the most because they’re…
Realistically doable over the next 4 months
Likely to achieve significant growth
Pick your favorite from the top 3 and write it in the comments to inspire other creative founders.
Go do it. Let me know if you need help!
20 Autumn Customer Behaviors
For Consumer Customers
The upcoming holidays cause consumers to frequently change their decor.
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Cooler weather prompts consumers to shop for warmer clothing.
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The holidays lead consumers to feel nostalgic about their childhood.
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Consumers are beginning to buy gifts for the holidays.
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The holiday season causes a spike in charitable giving.
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Consumers start spending more time indoors.
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People suffering from seasonal affective disorder seek comforting or joyful moments.
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The holidays cause people to reconnect with people they haven’t talked to in a year.
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Parents of new college students are starting to miss their children.
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Consumers start reflecting on the year and setting goals for the year ahead.
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For Business Customers
Business leaders are forecasting results through the end of the year and worried about hitting 2025 goals.
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Planning for 2026 is kicking off with goals and budgets being set.
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Business leaders are reflecting on partnerships this year and thinking about new ones for next year.
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Corporate events for next year are being planned.
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Some teams are accelerating their spending to make sure they spend their full budget by the end of the year.
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Companies are planning end of year celebrations.
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Good bosses are buying gifts for their employees.
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Companies are kicking off fundraising drives and asking employees to participate in charitable giving.
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Employees are looking for ways to take advantage of educational benefits before the end of the year.
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Business travel peaks in September through November due to industry conference schedules.
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Don’t forget to drop your favorite opportunity in the comments to inspire other creative founders!
Want more help like this to boost your creative business? Now’s your chance.