How to Help Your Business Capitalize on the Holiday Season
The holiday season is a crucial time for small businesses. It's estimated that, on average, 27 percent of annual retail sales occur in the fourth quarter according to Statista, so if you're not properly prepared, you could miss out on a lot of business. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to get ready for the holiday rush. In this blog post, we'll cover some tips on how to decorate your storefront, hire seasonal staff, update your marketing approach, and more. Keep reading to learn how to make the most of the holiday season from the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce. One of the best ways to attract holiday shoppers is to decorate your storefront festively. This doesn't have to be expensive—a few strings of lights and some seasonal greenery can go a long way. If you have extra budget to work with, you could also consider renting a holiday-themed window display or hiring a company to wrap your storefront in seasonal graphics. Whatever you do, make sure your decorations are up early so that shoppers know you're open for business. Even though the holidays are fast approaching, there will always be last-minute shoppers who wait until the last minute to buy gifts. To attract these procrastinators, make sure you have plenty of stocking stuffers and last-minute gift ideas on hand. You could also offer express shipping or gift-wrapping services so that shoppers can get their purchases quickly and easily. Be sure to promote these services on social media and in-store. The holidays are also a great time to give back to the community where your business is located. There are many ways you can do this, such as donating products or gift certificates to local charities, sponsoring a food drive, or hosting a toy drive. Not only will this make you feel good, but it will also help raise awareness about your business (and who doesn't love free publicity?). The holidays are an important time for small businesses—20-40% of annual retail sales occur between October and December! If you want your small business to thrive during this busy time of year, there are some things you need to do in preparation. By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to having a successful holiday season! Join the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce to connect with local entrepreneurs and resources that can help your business grow.Hire Seasonal Workers
If you're expecting an increase in business during the holidays, it's a good idea to hire some seasonal staff to help out. This extra help will allow you to provide better customer service and keep your store running smoothly. When hiring seasonal staff, Complete Payroll suggests looking for people who are friendly, outgoing, and able to handle a fast-paced environment. And don't forget to train them on your store's policies and procedures before they start working.
Market for the Holidays
Your marketing strategy should also be updated for the holidays. This means creating new graphics and copy that reflect the season, as well as running promotions and discounts that will appeal to holiday shoppers. You should also make sure your website is up-to-date and easy to navigate—after all, many customers will start their holiday shopping online. And last but not least, don't forget to spread the word about your holiday offerings on social media.
Create an Affordable Gift Guide Using PDFs
One great way to promote your products during the holidays is by creating a gift guide. This is a list of products that would make great gifts for different people in your life. To save money, create your gift guide as a PDF document that can be emailed or downloaded from your website. You can create your guide first in Word or PowerPoint, then turn your document into a PDF file by simply dragging and dropping the original file and downloading the PDF for sharing or posting online.
Be sure to include clear product photos and descriptions, as well as links back to your website or online store. Also, don't forget to promote your gift guide on social media.
Decorate Your Store for Holiday Shoppers
Attract Last-Minute Shoppers
Give Back to Your Community
