Small Business Saturday is just a few days away and is a great opportunity to drive your shop small or shop local campaign.

This unofficial holiday was started by American Express in 2010 to stimulate spending at small and local businesses heading into the holiday season. Since then, more businesses and consumers participate. According to the the Small Business Saturday Survey, in 2018, 104 million people shopped on Small Business Saturday and spent $17.8 Billion.

So what can you do to help promote the fact you are a small and local business?

Get the Word Out

• A lot of local business associations or chambers of commerce might be conducting their own Small Business Saturday campaign. Reach out to these organizations and request they add your business to their collateral.
• Put the word out that you are a small business who would love some Small Business Saturday support. Remind your followers on your social media pages to come in or shop your website leading up to Saturday. Create a Small Business Saturday event for your business on Facebook so your fans and their friends can see.
• If you have a mailing list (which hopefully you do!), send an e-mail blast to your customers as a reminder and encouragement to visit your business.
• Add a Small Business Saturday icon to your homepage as another reminder.
• Highlight new arrivals to your shop or website and feature some items that are top sellers of the season and destined to sell out.
• Add more value to their support by giving them a small gift with purchase or offer free gift wrap or an experience that day.
• If you really want to add a draw, bring in live festive music or carolers, have light nibbles and cider for shoppers to munch on or coloring sheets and crayons for kids to stay occupied. Consider this an Open House opportunity for new and existing customers. You want to showcase your business in its prime.
• Don’t miss out on future selling opportunities- include a coupon for a future visit. With so many aggressive sales from big retailers, the fact that these customers chose your business is a fact that should be rewarded.

Hold on to those Customers

• Don’t forget about capturing the information of new and existing customers that visit on Saturday. Many POS systems have e-mail capabilities at check out so that customers can become part of your mailing list easily. If you are in need of a POS that can accommodate this for you, contact us here.

• Now that you have your list, make sure to regularly e-mail. Whether its new suppliers, items, sales or anything you think your customers would find useful-send showcase them in your e-mails.

Carry On Into the Season and the Rest of the Year

• Despite the Small Business Saturday being, well, one day, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t employ these tactics year round. With so much competition, you really need to go above and beyond when it comes to communicating to your customers consistently. Taking these tips into the rest of the season and the New Year will ensure consistent sales year round.