The holiday shopping weekend that encompasses Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday is vital to the bottom line of small businesses across the country. Making sure you are prepared, promote ahead of time, and have excellent deals to offer customers is only the beginning. Here we take a look at a few retail tips for each day of the holiday shopping weekend.
Black Friday
Play To Your Strengths
Don't try to compete with the deep discounts being offered by big box stores. Instead, focus on your strengths. Small businesses stand out because of the unique customer experience they provide and the relationships they build with their clientele.
Make Things Fun And Engaging
Running a raffle that offers a big-ticket item as a grand prize can be a great way to draw in customers. You can also run contests and games where patrons can win discounts or free products. You may even consider hosting an event with entertainment if you have the space.
Cater To Loyal Customers
One way to compete on price without losing your shirt is to offer exclusive after-hours sales to your most loyal customers. Arrange a time when they can visit your store without anyone else being able to access it and provide them with some steep discounts.
Small Business Saturday
Make Your Participation Known
Make it well known throughout your community that you will be participating in Small Business Saturday. This can be done with social media posts, in-store signage, bulletins in local publications, and by getting involved with your local chamber of commerce.
Partner With Other Businesses
Collaboration and cross-promotion are essential to Small Business Saturday's success. Most small businesses lack the funds for full-scale marketing campaigns but combining efforts and budgets for that matter will allow you to reach a wider audience.
Promote Unique Products
Use this day as an opportunity to promote some of your rarer items. This may include imported goods, handmade products, and even items you've created on your own. Offering something that no one else has will make your store stand out.
Cyber Monday
Run Social Media Ads
Since Cyber Monday is focused on online sales, it makes sense to run most of your marketing for this event through social media. Putting a bit of your budget toward paid ads to complement your organic efforts can help you reach more of your ideal customers.
Offer Free Shipping
Free shipping is a big deal in the online shopping world and can make the difference between making a sale and losing a customer. Additionally, stores that offer free shipping for a particular dollar amount tend to increase their average order size.
Expand Your Inventory
Dropshipping has enabled small retailers to offer thousands of personalized products without the need for additional storage space. If you're not already using this technique, it's time to look into it. If you are, consider expanding your inventory for the holiday season.
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