The Product Boss Podcast: Episode 734 – How to Make More Sales in January (Using Only What You Already Have)

Host: Jacqueline Snyder
Date: December 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this workshop-style solo episode, host and product business expert Jacqueline Snyder dives into strategic ways product-based entrepreneurs can boost January sales without creating anything new. She tackles the common January slump—known as a “J month”—and provides actionable frameworks to help listeners leverage what’s already working in their product lines.

Approaching the subject as a coach and mentor, Jacqueline encourages listeners to embrace focus and data-driven decision-making, sharing real-world success stories, mindset shifts, and a four-step plan.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Myth of the “J Month Slump”

• Definition: The “J months” (January, June, July) are traditionally slow for product businesses. Big retailers invented events like “Christmas in July” to push sales during these slow periods.
• Reframing: You can create a profitable January by focusing on consistency and smart planning.
  • “It does not have to be slow for you. In fact, you can create consistent sales, you can make sales every single day, and it can be a highly profitable month for you.” (02:40)

2. Don’t Fall into the “Always Create New” Trap

• Many entrepreneurs think more products equal more sales, but successful businesses hone what they’re known for.
• Scaling comes from refining and repeating bestsellers, not frequent reinvention.
  • “You can’t reinvent the wheel, but you can redesign it.” (06:40)
• Danger: Constantly making new products often stems from hobbyist mindsets or “creative hustler mode,” and distracts from scaling.

3. Be Known for Something—then Expand Thoughtfully

• Find your “hero” product or category and focus sales and brand-building efforts around it.
• “The most successful businesses out there are ones that get to be known for something—a product category or an actual product they get to scale and grow.” (07:55)

4. Maximizing Slow vs. Busy Months

• Revenue metrics: Stabilize “slow” months (“1x months”—hit your minimum goals), and maximize busy months (“3x months”—triple your baseline).
• Normalize seasonality: No business is up every month, even Amazon engineered Prime Day to boost July.
  • “There’s no version of business where every month goes up, up, up, up.” (13:20)

5. Real Example: Rachel of Falcone Farms

• Case Study: Student who sells goat’s milk soap doubled down on what worked, marketed unapologetically, and achieved massive results—even while parenting an infant (20x sales YOY at Black Friday).
• Mindset shift: “This year I said ‘eff it.’ People love what I’m selling and I’m doing a service … by keeping them informed and updated.” (16:55, Rachel’s message)

6. Sales Channel Strategy

• Diversify channels: In-person markets, wholesale, online platforms (Amazon, Etsy, Shopify), and marketplace alignments.
• Planning wholesale or targeting different climates helps “seasonal” businesses sell year-round (e.g. knit hats for winter, but wholesale or in Australia for the US summer.)
  • “Start thinking bigger on a more global scale.” (26:50)

7. Mindset: Embrace Possibility

• Challenge self-imposed limitations; get creative in identifying alternative channels or customer segments.
• “What if you just asked yourself, ‘What if?’ What are the possibilities?” (28:10)

8. Main Steps for January Sales Success

Step 1: Analyze What’s Selling—Let Data Guide You

• Pull sales data from all platforms, notice best-sellers, colors, flavors, and categories.
• Example: “Wine culture” black-and-white sweatshirts outsell other variants.
  • “A lot of times … entrepreneurs feel like, ‘I have a feeling it’s this’—but when they actually look at the data, the data reveals something else.” (36:10)

Step 2: Reposition, Don’t Reinvent

• Adapt the marketing, not necessarily the product—tailor the messaging to current customer needs and seasonal mindsets.
• Examples:
  • Candles: “Reset your home for the new year.”
  • Jewelry: “Set your intentions for 2026.”
  • Wellness: “January Restart Kit.”
• Memorable analogy: “Marketing is just translation. It’s translating the product you already have into the new season, into matching it up with the customer.” (54:40)

Step 3: Create January-Ready Offers from Your Existing Products

• Brainstorm three offers using what you already have.
  • Examples: bundles, seasonal editions, best-seller spotlights.
  • Bundle names: “Winter Wellness Reset,” “Self-Care Sunday Set,” “Cozy Home Starter Kit.”
  • “You may just need to reimagine it … or just matching the marketing messaging to it.” (57:10)
• Student story: Bundling flea/tick spray for pet owners as “apartment packs” or “outdoor packs” raised average order value from $24 to $85.

Step 4: Four-Week January Promotion Plan

• Week 1: New Year/New You offer or bundle launch.
• Week 2: Promote your #1 bestseller, updated for the season.
• Week 3: Unveil a special bundle, kit, or limited-time deal.
• Week 4: Spotlight a whole product category (“Shop all necklaces,” etc.)
  • “If you’re not talking about it, no one’s buying it.” (01:03:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Stop overcomplicating it all. It does not have to be this complicated. It could be so much simpler.” (01:09:00)
• “You do not need more products. You just need to focus.” (01:10:10)
• “Your business is your mirror. So if you’re feeling gaps in your business, just pay attention to all of this and say, ‘What do I get to fix? What can I focus on? What is ready to grow?’” (01:08:25)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–02:40: Introduction to the “J months” and scope of the episode
• 06:40: The cost of always creating new products
• 07:55: Why to be “known for something”
• 13:20: Setting realistic sales expectations for slow months
• 16:55–21:10: Rachel of Falcone Farms—success story and mindset
• 26:50: Diversifying sales channels and climate strategy
• 28:10–29:15: Mindset shift: Opening to possibility
• 36:10: Using data to identify true bestsellers
• 54:40: “Marketing is just translation”—repositioning existing products
• 57:10: Creating January-ready offers/bundles
• 01:03:00: Four-week January promotion framework
• 01:08:25: Business as a mirror; self-diagnosing growth opportunities
• 01:10:10: Simplifying and focusing for success

Actionable Takeaways

• Don’t create new products for January—focus on refining and repositioning your bestsellers.
• Analyze your sales data objectively, not emotionally.
• Bundle, reframe, and seasonally “translate” offers to meet your customer’s current mindset.
• Plan and promote with intention each week—don’t just hope for sales.
• Use slow months to stabilize, busy months to maximize, and resist the urge to solve slow sales by adding products.
• Market to existing customers—they’re far more likely to buy again than new customers.

Jacqueline wraps up by stressing the importance of strategic focus, data-driven decisions, and intentional marketing, leaving listeners empowered to make January—and every slow month—a source of stable revenue.

For More:

• DM your wins to @theProductBoss on Instagram
• Book a call with the Product Boss team for personalized coaching

“January is for product bosses that know what they’re known for and sell more of that.” — Jacqueline Snyder (01:10:25)