10 business ideas to make money during yuletide

By Genevive Aningo

We are already in the month of December to usher in the Christmas holiday. Unlike other religious holidays observed in the world, Christmas is exceptional because it takes place at the end of the year and also leads into a New Year which is in everyone’s interest.

Everyone is interested in resting, having fun, indulging in leisure activities and celebrating after working throughout the months of the year. Thus, it’s a holiday with its unique selling point in getting everyone involved.

If you don’t believe in Christmas festivities; at least you would have some faith in the New Year celebrations or the extra public holidays attached to the Yuletide While everyone may be fixated on pleasurable moments and activities, perhaps you can think outside the box by venturing into some Christmas seasonal business to make extra income.

The terrain of the recent harsh Nigerian economy demands that one must be alert to spot money-making green lights and the Christmas season presents this opportunity.

Without further ado, this piece examines how to not only merry during the season but make extra income for yourself.

1. Retail Christmas Decorations

Would there be Christmas without the red and green coloured themed decorations? Imagine if Christmas happened this year with no Christmas trees, and lights in sight – that would be Christmas on strike !! Every Christmas affords anyone the avenue to sell Christmas decorations. Offices, homes, companies, shops, churches, schools etc are the markets for the decorations. Christmas cards, wrapping papers, art frames, hats etc are some items to stock up and sell.

2. Customise Christmas Gift Items

This doesn’t mean that one should go into embracing the Herculean task of running a gift company. In fact, already existing business owners can leverage the season and customize their products and services to suit the season. For example, if you are a boutique owner, invest in purchasing more red, black and white outfits because that is what people need. If you are an artist; draw and paint more Christmas-themed art. As a nail technician, entice your customers with Christmas-themed nail art. Investing time to knit red sweaters is a masterpiece at this point in time because parents not only need it to shield their kids from the harmattan cold but it sets them up in the Christmas mood. The idea is to package your business with a zest for Christmas.

3. Create Hampers

A hamper is a basket containing assorted food items for a picnic or special occasion and there is no better special occasion like the Christmas occasion. Prep a hamper made of provisions and even the Nigerian local foodstuffs such melon (egusi) seeds, bush mango (ogbono), dried fish, stock fish, mini gallon of palm oil, potash, locust bean, ground pepper, crayfish, etc. It could also be a hamper of cleaning supplies containing antiseptic liquids, scouring powders, disinfectants, scrubbing brushes, napkins and fragrances.

A bookstore can also take part in this innovation by creating a hamper of Christmas novels for kids and teenagers. Love books are also welcome; after all, Christmas is a season of love.

4. Become a Special Food vendor

The emphasis on this business idea is the word – ‘special’ because that’s what would alleviate the food business in this crucial time. People would loathe to eat the same white rice with bland stew on special occasions like Christmas; thus, lure a range of customers with some special meals. One can decide to offer party jollof rice exclusively to interested clients, another can strategize by offering the unique moi moi prepared in green banana leaves or a local delicacy. Amala and ewedu, ikokore, okpa, akidi and yam, ofe nsala, afang soup , masa , danwake etc or examples of some Nigerian tribal foods to revitalize your customers taste buds ridden with staple meals. Comfort foods, diets and intercontinental foods can be explored. Tell your colleagues at work that you sell Chinese fried rice or a keto meal plan for someone who wants to use the Christmas season and shed off pounds .

5. Revitalise your Makeup Artist Skill

If you are a makeup artist who abandoned the craft to meet up with the demands of your conventional job, it’s time to unpack your makeup box and make a list of some products to be replaced because Christmas is for glitz and glam for women. This season would unveil more pre-wedding photos, anniversary pictures, birthday shots and family photoshoots in matching pyjamas. Christmas is a season of occasions and as a makeup artist one has to be ready to dust some faces with powder and gloss some lips as overbooking is likely to occur. Women honour Christmas events with painted faces.

6. Gourmet Baking Treats and Special Drinks 

If you are already a baker, you can testify that the Christmas season comes with spending more time kneading and watching the oven timer. In the festive season, people love to indulge; eating is no longer primarily to satiate hunger but to derive pleasure and happiness. It’s no secret that in Nigeria, it is a ritual to have chin-chin at home to entertain guests, especially children who may not be hungry but have to keep their mouths busy. Aside from chin-chin, baked treats like cake bread garnished with dried fruits, cheese cake, cupcakes, sausage rolls,   and peanuts are readily saleable because people like to have the time of their lives. 

Likewise, if you are good in making fresh fruit drinks like smoothies, orange juice, yoghurt, parfaits, cranberry juice or even know how to source palm wine are top-notch offers this yuletide season.    

7. Rent Your Free Space 

Do you have free space?  Why not refurbish and rent it out for birthday celebrations, meeting venues, get together, wedding engagements, promotion celebrations, naming ceremonies and so on. In the month of December, people throw caution to the wind in celebrating any milestone that happens during the season or anniversary falls within this time frame — it’s most likely to be celebrated.  The advantage is that instead of paying for expensive halls for big events, your space can offer people a more intimate gathering with loved ones while still affordable.

8. Organise Events 

During the Christmas season, most people are in the mood to unwind and are prone to seek out events to attend. Why not exploit this golden opportunity by brainstorming events to lure people.  You can organize a beach hangout among your colleagues and church members. Be sure to tag a reasonable and profitable price to the hangout in order to cover feeding, games,  entertainment or transportation; if convenient.  Visit to famous museums, leisure spots or historical monuments are ideas to explore.

9. Sell Beauty Care Products

Despite the enjoyment of the Christmas season, most Nigerians are likely to suffer from chapped lips and dry (pale)skin because of the harmattan weather that befalls this season. It’s daunting to keep moisturized lips and skin as well as avoid tear and wear of the skin. However, by retailing some beauty creams and oils that solve this need, you can help your inner circles have nourished skin.  Invest, stock and sell natural beauty homecare like coconoil, lip balm, Vaseline, shea butter etc to make smart sales this season 

10. Cleaning Service 

After a ‘Detty December’, people need their homes cleaned for January and the rest of the year. This is more pertinent to our eastern siblings who travelled to their villages to spend Christmas. You can set up a temporary cleaning service to advertise especially to those who know you and with a level of trust to clean their homes before they return or after their return from their hometowns or whereabouts. An abandoned home for a week is ridden with dust, cobwebs and rodents and no one would like to share their deserving abodes with these filths. Therefore, there is an opportunity in this area to exploit 

These make the top 10 businesses for the Christmas season. It’s advisable to do your research to determine variable factors before venturing into any of these ideas. A wise tip is to pick the business idea that tallies with your passion and abilities.