November 26th is Small Business Saturday this year and if you’re a small business or love a small business you know the competition for the holiday dollars can be steep. Here are a few ideas to get customers in the door:
- Host a contest.
- Bring goods out to the sidewalk to encourage browsing.
- Find out what your local chamber is doing and how they can help with marketing.
- Put up your hours everywhere. You can even add holiday hours to your e-mail signature.
- Use social media to invite customers.
- Offer a special giveaway like free hot chocolate or mini-chair massages.
- If weather permits, keep doors open so people can see what you have and smell delicious smells coming from your shop.
- Host demonstrations.
- Scatter environmentally-friendly glitter or rose petals on the sidewalk to catch shoppers’ attention. Be careful that these things do not become slippery.
- Make your storefront as inviting as possible.
- Offer Small Business Saturday discounts.
- Provide free gift wrapping.
- Host a special event like a book signing or a “meet the maker” party.
- Host a class.
- Add additional signage around town. Lead people to your business with chalk foot imprints or hang signs with mystery clues to spark shopper’s interest.
- Add a quote in chalk or temporary paint in front of your door on the sidewalk.
- Offer samples outside of your store so you can entice people walking by.
- Use flags or colored streamers to get shoppers attention.
- Decorate the outside of your store in lights.
- Employ the help of a mascot.
- Provide a picture opportunity for people outside or at the front of your store. Make sure you encourage people to share them with you by giving them a hashtag to use.
- Take pictures of shoppers and their treasures but get permission first.
- Give people a gift suggestions list. Shoppers are often trying to figure out what to buy. Make it easy on them.
- Add planters on either side or your door to make the area more inviting.
- Thank everyone who walks in the door. You offer something big box stores do not, ambiance. Let your business be an oasis to the customer during the harried holiday season. Aim to soothe and help and people will want to stay longer and come back.
Enjoy Small Business Saturday and support local business during the holiday season and throughout the year. Happy Thanksgiving.
