Don't let summer slow you down: 4 Ways to make more during the quiet season

For many studios, summer brings a welcome break from the pace of fall and spring. But slower months are also one of the best opportunities to recover missed revenue, improve operational efficiency, and prepare for a stronger fall season.

Studios that use the summer months strategically often head into fall with stronger participation, higher average order values, and fewer last-minute projects.

Here are four  areas worth focusing on while things are a little quieter.

1. Turn old galleries into new revenue with archive campaigns

Many families still intend to order. They just haven't gotten around to it yet.

In fact, nearly 50% of sales happen after the first 30 days, which is why remarketing and archive campaigns continue to be valuable long after a gallery launches. One studio generated more than $8,000 in additional revenue from archive campaigns alone, proving that older galleries can still be a valuable source of sales.

Summer is a great time to:

• Re-engage families who never completed a purchase

• Reopen older galleries

• Create seasonal promotions around archived events

• Send targeted reminder campaigns before fall begins

A simple "Last Chance to Order" campaign can help you capture revenue that might otherwise be left behind.

2. Create urgency with last chance offers

Summer promotions do not have to mean deep discounts.

Instead, focus on creating a reason to act now.

Many families aren't saying "no", they're simply delaying their decision. Limited-time offers create a reason to act now rather than putting off the purchase again.

Consider:

• Last Chance gallery reminders

• End-of-summer promotions

• Free shipping offers

• Limited-time digital download bundles

• Seasonal package pricing

The goal is simple: give families a clear reason to complete their purchase today rather than waiting another month.

3. Review new features that can increase average order value

Summer is also the perfect time to optimize your shop before the fall rush.

A few areas worth reviewing:

Free shipping thresholds

The new free shipping threshold experience helps shoppers see exactly how close they are to earning free shipping.

When customers are only a few dollars away from qualifying, they're often willing to add an extra item to their cart to unlock free shipping, helping increase average order value without additional marketing spend.That can increase average order value without reducing margins.

Candy aisle & unlocked offers

These built-in merchandising tools encourage customers to add complementary products during the shopping experience, increasing basket size and overall revenue.

Studios using offer thresholds have seen:

• +3% average order value

• +1.5% conversion rate

• +4.5% revenue per visitor

Digital downloads

Digital products continue to be one of the simplest ways to increase revenue with no lab fulfillment costs.

Consider reviewing:

• Download All packages

• Seasonal digital offers

• Threshold-based digital rewards

• Personalized products created through Designer

4. Improve participation before picture day arrives

The most successful fall seasons often start months before picture day.

Summer is a great time to review how you're collecting parent contact information and identify opportunities to improve participation before galleries even launch.

Consider:

• Reviewing upcoming jobs that may benefit from Self Registration

• Ensuring registration forms capture the information you need

• Testing registration workflows before the busy season

• Confirming schools and organizations have the resources they need to share registration links

The more complete your parent contact data is before picture day, the more effective your marketing campaigns can be throughout the season.

Use summer to build momentum

The studios that get the most out of fall rarely wait until August to prepare.

Summer is the time to:

• Run archive campaigns

• Launch last chance offers

• Optimize your shop settings

• Review marketing automation

• Improve participation before picture day

• Prepare your team for the season ahead

Every improvement you make now compounds during your busiest season. Better participation, higher average order values, and stronger automation can all have a meaningful impact on fall revenue.

A few hours of preparation now can help you make more revenue, save more time, and enter fall with confidence.

Need help identifying your biggest opportunity before fall? Connect with your Customer Success Manager and let's build a plan together.

Not a customer? Book a demo here.