Festival season is upon us and this exciting and fun time of year has so much opportunity for small businesses to profit. With access to large audiences, small businesses have an easy outlet to make a big impression. Here are a few ways to make sure your business is ready for this years festivals.
1. Cater to your target market
Keep your audience at these festivals in mind and make sure you are targeting them. Once you’ve nailed down your target demographic for festival season, try to anticipate their needs and wants. For example, if you’re serving food and beverages, offer refreshing selections that festival goers will love and tell their friends about! You can also offer items they may have forgotten and need in a pinch, like portable phone chargers.
2. Advertise your presence at the festival
Social media is a great platform to reach festival goers. If you advertise well on social media, you will have a huge customer base at the festival before you arrive.
3. Trick out your tent
Attract people to your booth with amenities. Decorate your booth well to attract attention to your space. Have an area for customers to sit and cool off and get a break from a hot festival day. You can even provide charging stations for customers to use while they enjoy the atmosphere you’ve created.
4. Give stuff away
People LOVE free stuff, that’s a proven fact. When offering freebies, make sure its something useful and most importantly, make sure the item is branded so they remember you long after they’ve walked away from your booth. T-shirts, umbrellas, ponchos, and branded water bottles are great giveaway items for your customers. If you’re selling food and beverages, consider providing samples of your most enticing options to draw customers in.
5. Make sure you are well staffed
Festivals aren’t for the faint of heart. Make sure you bring enough staff to cover the event and trade each other out for much needed breaks. Employees will need shorter shifts during this time so they can take solace from the noise and heat. This will allow them to recoup and be on their A game for their next shift.
6. Leave them wanting more
Sometimes paper hand-outs at festivals leave nothing but a mess afterwards. If you are going to use paper products, make sure you’re handing out something customers won’t want to throw away, or on the ground. Provide customers with a reason to visit your brick and mortar store. Give them a discount coupon to use or even promise them a free item when they come in to see you.
If you need funding to help you implement any of these no fail festival strategies, consider a merchant cash advance from Quikstone Capital Solutions. Quikstone Capital Solutions helps small businesses to prosper in an ever changing marketplace.
