March brings a unique energy to consumers across the country. Basketball fans eagerly await the tip-off of the NCAA tournament, and the excitement translates into prime opportunities for small businesses. You can engage with your local community, build brand loyalty, and boost your sales during this busy sports season.

Drive Traffic With Themed Promotions

Basketball fans love a good deal, especially when it ties into their favorite sporting event. Creating themed promotions gives new customers a reason to choose your business over a competitor.

Offer Score-Based Discounts

Tie your sales directly to the games. You might offer a specific percentage off a purchase if a local team wins their matchup. Restaurants can offer half-priced appetizers during halftime or special drink deals when a game goes into overtime. These time-sensitive offers create urgency and keep customers glued to your business while they watch the tournament.

Create Tournament Bundles

Group your most popular products together and rebrand them for the season. A local bakery could sell a "Final Four Pastry Box," while a hardware store might promote a "Slam Dunk DIY Kit." Bundling encourages customers to spend slightly more than they originally planned, increasing your average order value while delivering a fun, thematic experience.

Engage Customers With Bracket Challenges

Bracket challenges are the defining feature of March Madness. Hosting your own contest is an excellent way to keep your brand top-of-mind throughout the entire tournament.

Keep The Rules Simple

You want maximum participation, so avoid overcomplicating the entry process. Allow customers to submit their brackets online through your website or fill out a physical copy in your store. Use a standard scoring system to track the results.

Provide Attractive Prizes

Incentivize participation with prizes that drive repeat business. Offer a grand prize for the most accurate bracket, such as a large gift card to your store or a premium product. You can also offer smaller weekly prizes for participants who correctly guess major upsets. This keeps people checking your leaderboards and visiting your business long after their main bracket has busted.

Optimize Your Inventory And Staffing

The sudden influx of basketball fans can strain your resources if you are not prepared. Reviewing your operations ahead of time ensures a smooth experience for your guests and your staff.

Stock Up On Game Day Essentials

Analyze your sales data from previous tournament seasons. If you run a grocery store or a restaurant, ensure you have plenty of popular snacks, beverages, and takeout containers. Retailers should highlight team apparel or party supplies near the front of the store. Running out of a high-demand item during a crucial game weekend can lead to missed revenue and frustrated customers.

Adjust Your Employee Schedules

Anticipate higher foot traffic during key tournament dates, such as the opening weekend and the final championship game. Schedule your most experienced staff members during these rush periods to maintain high service standards. If your business shows the games on television, expect customers to stay longer than usual, which can affect table turnover rates and require additional floor coverage.

Keep Your Team Motivated

March Madness is not just for your customers. Your employees are likely excited about the tournament as well. Embracing the sports theme internally can significantly boost workplace morale.

Host An Internal Competition

Set up a private bracket pool just for your employees. Offer a fun prize for the winner, like an extra day of paid time off or a free lunch. Friendly competition builds camaraderie among your team members and makes the workday more enjoyable.

Allow Flexible Dress Codes

Let your staff wear jerseys or colors representing their favorite college teams on game days. This small change makes the workplace feel festive and gives employees an easy conversation starter with customers. Happy, engaged employees naturally provide better customer service.

Since 2005, Quikstone Capital Solutions has been a trusted advisor to thousands of merchants. Quikstone provides these merchants with easy, fast, and flexible working capital for all their business needs. If you need cash for your business, contact us today. We have only one goal: to help your business succeed.