Risk Planning for Peak Trading Periods

Seasonal surges mean higher demand, hotter days, and bigger stockpiles. That brings risk for small and medium businesses across Australia.

As summer arrives, the rush is on to keep cool rooms running, line up reliable hands, and avoid supply chain hiccups.

The Australian Energy Market Operator’s latest report gives a clear warning: the grid should hold, but only if every planned upgrade gets done on time. Any delay increases the risk of blackouts just as trading peaks.

Three out of four SMEs say peak season keeps them up at night. The biggest worries? Stock loss, cash flow pains, and staff issues. A little forward planning makes all the difference, putting you a step ahead while others scramble.

Stock Spoilage: Profits on Ice

Everything that needs the cold, from sliced cakes to medicines, faces spoilage if your equipment breaks or the power goes. It is more than just lost product.

You take a hit on margin, with customers left disappointed and trade missed. Insurers are seeing more claims, with businesses taking on more perishables and high-value goods to meet seasonal demand.

Retail operators expect even greater exposure to spoilage and interruption this year.

A single outage can mean thousands in spoilage. Good insurance is vital, but it needs to be matched by working temperature controls, up-to-date maintenance logs, and regular checks.

Extra Hands, Extra Risks

When business booms, you might boost your team with agency, casual, or labour-hire staff. Temporary workers are more likely to miss procedures or make mistakes, especially when busy.

Speak to Aaron and the team to ensure that you have adequate insurance cover for claims made by labour-hire and agency staff used in your business. Check both your liability policy and your induction processes.

Cash Flow and Continuity

Weather, power failures, delivery delays, or people off sick can each put business on ice. Missing one day of peak trade can hit cash flow, supplier payments, and customer trust for weeks.

Recent research finds many companies still treat resilience and continuity separately. This can open holes in your planning and coverage.

Aaron and the team can help guide you on business interruption insurance that matches real risks: lost trade, not just damaged property. Down time should not be a disaster.

Four Steps to Stay Ahead

Review storage and backup: Check every fridge, cool room and your backup power. Confirm your policy covers spoilage and product loss

Know your staff mix: Identify all temporary, agency or casual workers, then make sure your liability cover applies to every name

Test your continuity plan: Play through real scenarios, from outages to key people going missing, and fix any gaps

Update policy settings: Make sure your covers are set for peak season, not just the quiet months

Australian SMEs now face tougher conditions than ever. Three in four suffer late payments; borrowing costs are at a five-year high, while insolvency rates jumped 28 percent in the past year. Four out of five small firms are still doing accounts manually, not digitally. Automating records reduces headaches and helps you spot risks faster. Digital risk is now a front-line issue. Sixty-seven percent of cyber incidents impact small business, and busy times can make these threats even harder to manage. If you want seasoned advice on spoilage cover, staff risks, or continuity plans, get in touch. We’ll help you focus on the essentials and trade with confidence through the rush.

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