• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

PlanningShop

Plan. Start. Grow.

  • Our Products
  • Instructors
  • Entrepreneurs
  • BizGear
  • Rhonda’s Blog
  • Book Rhonda
  • About PlanningShop
  • Search
  • Our Products
  • Instructors
  • Entrepreneurs
  • BizGear
  • Rhonda’s Blog
  • Book Rhonda
  • About PlanningShop
  • Search
Holiday Success
52963758 - trendy young women shopping in the city

Nine Secrets to Small Business Holiday Success

November 16, 2016 //  by Rhonda Abrams

Starting Thanksgiving weekend, holiday shoppers get serious, really serious. There’s Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. And that’s just one weekend. Consumers are expected to spend $655 billion shopping in November and December. That’s a lot of money. How will you make sure your small business gets your piece of the pie during this all-important holiday shopping season?

Here are nine steps to increase small business holiday sales:
  1. Get your name out there. Start now and make sure previous customers and prospects remember you. Send email newsletters to your mailing list throughout the holiday season, letting your fans know of holiday products or services you offer, events you’re holding, hours you’re open, and any special discounts. Place ads in those “hyper-local” newspapers serving your specific neighborhood.
  2. Create bundles. If you’re in retail, solve customers’ gift shopping dilemmas by creating pre-wrapped, themed gift bundles, such as “for him,” “for her,” “for your pet.” Customers spend more when gifts come conveniently wrapped together. Here’s another advantage to bundles: they’re unique so you won’t be competing against online retailers. Bundles aren’t just for retailers, either. Service businesses, such as salons or spas or even cleaning services, can wrap a gift certificate with a physical product, like a lotion or shampoo or kitchen towels. Restaurants can pre-wrap gift cards with a menu, grocers can bundle a gift card with a shelf-stable food item.
  3. Leverage Small Business Saturday, November 26. Shopping local and shopping small has become an annual holiday tradition for many customers, as they know that spending money at local small businesses helps strengthen their communities. It’s also become a fun day to share with the family. Proudly display “Shop Small” marketing materials to remind folks that you’re part of the shop local movement. You can customize and download free marketing materials at www.ShopSmall.com/GetReady.
  4. Plan in-store events. Attract customers by hosting fun or interesting events on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season. Even an “open house” can be a special event with cookies and cider. Lena Dunham (of “Girls” fame) is the official spokesperson of “Indies First” this year – the campaign to lure customers into stores on Small Business Saturday when authors appear in bookstores nationwide. Be creative.
  5. Get social – in person. Now’s the time to accept every invitation and go to every community and industry holiday party. Bring lots of business cards. Meet new customers by attending community, industry, neighborhood holiday parties.
  6. Get social – online. Now’s also the time to step up your social media activities, whether on FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest, or other social media sites. Post ideas for unique gifts or holiday survival tips and include lots of pics. Boost posts to increase your reach. Use the hashtag #ShopSmall to find new customers too.
  7. Show customers some love. Want customers to remember you? Then remember them. Now’s the perfect time to say “thank you” to your customers. Send holiday cards to customers, prospects, even vendors. Give small gifts to all customers; better gifts to your most valuable clients. If it’s a slow time in your business, invite your best customers to a lunch or dinner. You can also make a donation to a favorite charity in one of your customer’s name.
  8. Get found on mobile. What do people do when they’re searching for a gift, café, or shop nearby? They whip out their smart phones. Make sure you show up by listing your business for free on search engines and review sites. And if you want customers to spread the word for you, give them a reason to check in on their social media channels when they’re at your place of business – have a cute place to take a pic in your store or offer a free dessert at your restaurant if they check in.
  9. Turn holiday customers into year ‘round customers. You worked hard to get customers to come to your business this time of year, so stay in touch with them throughout 2017. Use the holidays to ask customers for their email addresses and permission to add their names to your email newsletter. Encourage them to follow you on social media. Connect with them in the New Year to let them know of future sales, special events, and new products or services.

Copyright, Rhonda Abrams, 2016

This article ran in USA Today on November 17, 2016

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Category: Solution Center, USA TodayTag: customers, entrepreneur, holiday, mobile, rhonda abrams, sales, small business, social, success

Previous Post: «Exit Plan Entrepreneurs, Here’s Your Exit Plan
Next Post: 5 Ways Your Small Business Can Feel Like Santa Small Business Santa»

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Rhonda's Blog via Email

Instagram @rhondaabrams

Sign up for my newsletter - get small business tip Sign up for my newsletter - get small business tips and the latest info. sent straight to your inbox! Link in profile~
.
.
#smallbusiness #newsletter #smallbizguru
What’s old is new again! How to stay in front of What’s old is new again! How to stay in front of your smallbiz customers, in my latest @usatoday column. Link in profile~
.
.
#smallbusiness #customer #digitalmarketing #smallbizguru
National Doughnut Day on Friday?? Great way to sta National Doughnut Day on Friday?? Great way to start the weekend!! Enjoy, and go find yourself some doughnuts 😋 🍩 
.
.
#smallbusiness #fridayfeeling #nationaldoughnutday
#smallbusiness #tuesdaythoughts #entrepreneur #ins #smallbusiness #tuesdaythoughts #entrepreneur #inspirationalquotes
“And I’m proud to be an American, where at lea “And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.” - Lee Greenwood -
.
.
#memorialday #neverforget
We're heading into a long weekend! Here's to some We're heading into a long weekend! Here's to some R&R, productivity . . . whatever your small business needs~
.
.
#smallbusiness #weekend #entrepreneur #fridayfeeling
Sign up for my newsletter - get small business tip Sign up for my newsletter - get small business tips and the latest info. sent straight to your inbox! Link in profile~
.
.
#smallbusiness #tips #entrepreneur #newsletter #smallbizguru
#smallbusiness #tuesdaythoughts #inspirationalquot #smallbusiness #tuesdaythoughts #inspirationalquotes
Here's to a great week, small business owners! . . Here's to a great week, small business owners!
.
.
#smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #mondaymotivation
My Tweets
  • Sign up for my newsletter - get small business tip Sign up for my newsletter - get small business tips and the latest info. sent straight to your inbox! Link in profile~
.
.
#smallbusiness #newsletter #smallbizguru
    What’s old is new again! How to stay in front of What’s old is new again! How to stay in front of your smallbiz customers, in my latest @usatoday column. Link in profile~
.
.
#smallbusiness #customer #digitalmarketing #smallbizguru
    National Doughnut Day on Friday?? Great way to sta National Doughnut Day on Friday?? Great way to start the weekend!! Enjoy, and go find yourself some doughnuts 😋 🍩 
.
.
#smallbusiness #fridayfeeling #nationaldoughnutday
    #smallbusiness #tuesdaythoughts #entrepreneur #ins #smallbusiness #tuesdaythoughts #entrepreneur #inspirationalquotes
    “And I’m proud to be an American, where at lea “And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.” - Lee Greenwood -
.
.
#memorialday #neverforget
    We're heading into a long weekend! Here's to some We're heading into a long weekend! Here's to some R&R, productivity . . . whatever your small business needs~
.
.
#smallbusiness #weekend #entrepreneur #fridayfeeling
    Sign up for my newsletter - get small business tip Sign up for my newsletter - get small business tips and the latest info. sent straight to your inbox! Link in profile~
.
.
#smallbusiness #tips #entrepreneur #newsletter #smallbizguru
  • Footer

    Our Products
    Instructor Central

    Privacy Policy
    Contact Us

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

    Copyright © 2023 PlanningShop · All Rights Reserved · Site design by paulinaart

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. ACCEPT Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT