How to Plan a Successful Small Business Saturday

With consumers tightening their purse strings, small business across the nation have a much harder job acquiring sales. Although the general feeling is that this year will be more successful than last, there’s still work to be done. Small Business Saturday, created by American Express, is all about encouraging consumers to shop locally and support their community.

Small Business Saturday is celebrating it’s fourth year and is truly a salute to the many local small businesses that make this nation great. This year Small Business Saturday will take place on November 30th. Retailers are already beginning to prepare for what they hope will be a great start to the holiday shopping season.

Get the word out!

Due to a late Thanksgiving and early start to Hanukah, retailers are getting a much earlier start to their holiday sales promotions than previous years. Small Business Saturday may not be as well known as Cyber Monday, but is gaining in popularity as more and more people promote it. Small business owners are seeing the benefits of joining this initiative to boost the local economy.

There are several ways retailers can get the word out with custom print products.

• Some small business owners may choose to hang banners on their storefronts to announce the coming event.

• Others use additional marketing tools like save the date magnets or

• Use promotional postcards to encourage holiday shoppers to show their support for the small business owner.

Gifts for all!

Small businesses are not only offering discounts on Small Business Saturday, they are celebrating the season by presenting their customers with small promotional gifts. Everyone loves a free promo whether it’s a small sample of peppermint hot chocolate or custom notepads featuring your business logo. Other small retailers may opt to present their customers with promotional coupons for use at a later date to encourage repeat business. It’s not about just getting consumers to support your business that one day, but throughout the year. It’s really about building relationships which is what most small businesses are made of.

Celebrate with the Community

This year American Express has formed a new program asking community stores to band together and create special events for shoppers. These Neighborhood Champions have arranged events such as parades, treasure hunts through stores and giveaways. Local community leaders are promoting their town’s Small Business Saturday on Social Media and radio. Small business owners understand that there is strength in numbers and combining their efforts makes for a more successful shopping event.

And...Don't forget to:

Deck The Halls!

If you’ve ever been to the mall at Christmas time - and who hasn’t?!- you can’t escape the smells and sounds of the holidays. Christmas carols play in every store and windows are adorned with wreaths and holiday lights. It’s a winter wonderland, Santa’s even there to hear your Christmas wish. Small businesses have to take a note from big business retailers and transform their stores with dazzling seasonal decorations. Cafes, bakeries and restaurants should take the time to add holiday inspired drinks and pastries to their menu. Small businesses need to get festive and inspire the mood of the holidays in their customers.

Retailers are optimistic that this holiday shopping season will be more profitable than the last. With initiatives like Small Business Saturday, small business owners are geared up for a successful season that will drive new traffic to their stores and help them gain new customers that will keep coming back throughout the year.

We know that running a small business is a labor of love. We wish everyone an amazing holiday season. Let us know how your business celebrated Small Business Saturday.

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