Pro tips for reviewing your numbers!

Hey boutique babes! 👋

Let’s talk about numbers—specifically, the importance of comparing year-over-year (YoY) data versus looking at day-to-day or week-to-week performance. You might be thinking, "I’m looking at my sales every day, why does it matter if I compare it to last year?" Well, let me tell you: comparing year-over-year is the key to truly understanding the health of your boutique and making data-driven decisions. 📈💡

Year-Over-Year: The Game Changer 🔄

Seasonality plays a major role in e-commerce, and it can impact your numbers in ways you wouldn’t expect. For example, certain weeks or days—like holidays, weekends, or paydays—could dramatically shift sales, causing natural fluctuations. This makes day-to-day or even week-to-week comparisons tricky. 🤔

When you compare your sales from this week to last week, you’re likely overlooking seasonal changes that impact sales. In contrast, when you compare this week to the same week last year, you get a much clearer picture of how your business is actually performing over time, without those random fluctuations messing with your data. 📆🔍

Holidays, Events, and Sales Trends 🎉

Let’s be real: holidays, special events, and even random things like weather changes can all affect consumer buying behavior. One week could be slower because people are traveling or busy with family events, and the next could boom because of a holiday promotion or a flash sale. This is normal, but comparing your current sales to the same week last year helps you see if you're still on track, despite the seasonal changes. ✨

For example, if Black Friday last year was a game-changer for your sales, but this year you’re comparing it to a random Tuesday, that’s going to throw things off. 🙄 That’s why it’s so important to look at week-over-week sales for the same week from last year to get an accurate comparison. 📊

Feelings Aren’t Facts 💭❌

It’s easy to feel like your numbers are "down" or "slowing" after a dip, but here’s the thing: feelings aren’t facts. Getting caught up in short-term dips can lead to panic and poor decision-making. 😬

That’s why it’s crucial to base your decisions on real data, not emotions. If you’re not comparing your numbers to previous years, it’s easy to get lost in how you feel your business is doing. That “gut feeling” can be misleading if you don’t have solid data backing it up. 📉

So, What Should You Do With This Data? 🤷‍♀️

By comparing YoY data, you can spot trends, identify what worked last year, and make adjustments for the future. 🌱 Is your boutique more successful during certain seasons? Did a specific product perform better last year at this time? These insights will help you make smarter decisions about things like inventory, promotions, and customer engagement. 💥

TLDR: If you want to understand how your boutique is really performing, don’t compare numbers on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis. Instead, compare year-over-year results and remember: seasonal shifts are normal. Stick to the facts, not your feelings, and use this data to guide your next moves. You’ve got this! 🙌💖