As we approach this year’s quarter pole, I want to know how much planning you’ve done for 2018?
I know everyone likely has a five-year plan and 2018 is obviously a part of that, but what I’m asking is how much short-term and daily operational planning discussions have you had on the upcoming year? Have you started any projects that will conclude next year? Are you working on rolling out any product lines or services in Q1? Have you set your sales and revenue goals?
I admit, that last question is tough with three months to sell laying ahead. The winter sales uptick is a common occurrence in the aftermarket, but whether it comes is far from a certainty. Expect it this year and it comes in January and your numbers could tank heading into the holidays. Push it off to next year and if it starts early—or worse, not at all—you begin 2018 in the kind of hole where you spend the rest of the year climbing out.
Not ideal.
But, this problem isn’t unique. Or new. Every year you’re forced to make projections for the coming year before the current one is over, and every year you do it.
So, what are you expecting for 2018? I ask because it’s important, and it’s something I’d like to know.
In January, we will publish our biennial update on the state of the aftermarket industry, where we look at how the market has changed over the past two years and using your expertise and as much data as we can get our hands on, try to make predictions for what’s ahead for the next 24 months.
