Like a stealth movement preparing to take over, we’ve been noticing luxury mince pies, knobbly walnuts and festive cards sneakily appearing on our supermarket shelves, parked cheekily next to workaday tins of beans and showing off with red ribbon and shiny bits. So it’s only a matter of time until those already annoying advert breaks begin to have jingle bells as backing music, luring us into panic purchasing for our nearest and dearest and lodging songs we wished we could forget into our minds (‘mistletoe and wine’ anyone?).

“But it’s only September!” we hear you cry. Indeed, but there’s no denying that small businesses always need to be ahead of the game. Planning well ahead for Christmas is crucial for our scheduling of projects, and pre-planning is essential for anyone wishing to fully take advantage of this time of year for their business. Whether it’s special offers, Christmas eshots, or just a great time to make the most of seasonal goodwill with your marketing and advertising, planning ahead for print deadlines or product launches makes sense right now (even as the sun still shines and flip flops have not yet been fully packed away).

So we think letting a bit of Christmas sparkle into your day isn’t such a bad idea if it means your business will be ready once the festive spirit is upon us. (Just promise us one thing – absolutely no sneaky mince pies until December.)

Yes, we know that people are only just untangling those fairy lights, cracking open the Quality Street and dusting off the baubles in readiness for cheering the winter gloom, but time flies, and before you know it January will have arrived and you’ll be so busy catching up with post-holiday emails that the chance to hit the ground running will be lost.

So take advantage of the ’silly season’ - while everyone else is busy sipping mulled wine, planning disappointing office parties (think soggy sprouts and dodging the mistletoe) and frantically buying last-minute presents online, think about what 2009 could (and should) hold for your business.

Maybe you’ve been toying with a refreshed company website, or are thinking of a new logo to make your customers see your brand ’anew’? Or perhaps advertising your products or services is high on your agenda, and you want some eye-catching print or web adverts which will lure your customers in? Savvy clients are already scheduling their New Year promotions in, so it makes sense to jot down some thoughts on where your brand is ‘going’ next year.

The benefits of this forward-planning? You’ll be able to think of lambs, daffodils and other spring-like delights while you consider what 2009 will offer. Plus you can start 2009 knowing you’ve got your communications sorted, and that has to get us through the dark nights with a spring in our step (sorry).