The holidays are a critical period for your small business. It's make-or-break time, when you can attract lots of new customers and really boost your bottom line—or see all your hard work throughout the year go down the drain.
That's why it's so important to make sure you're prepared for the holiday rush. You need to decorate your storefront, hire seasonal staff, create a gift guide, update your marketing, and create promotional offers that will attract last-minute shoppers. And don't forget to give back to the community.
With so much to do, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But don't worry, we've got you covered. Here's a handy checklist from the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce of everything you need to do to get your business ready for the holidays.
1. Prepare for Your Holiday Push
The holidays are always busy, so make sure you're prepared for an influx of customers. Stock up on supplies, train your staff on how to handle holiday shoppers, and come up with a plan for dealing with any unexpected problems that might pop up.
2. Help Your Shoppers with a Gift Guide
One of the best ways to boost sales during the holidays is to create a gift guide. Showcase your best products and offer some great gift ideas for different types of people. This is also a great opportunity to cross-promote items from different departments in your store.
3. Add Seasonal Storefront Decorations
Your storefront is like a giant holiday greeting card, and you want it to make a good impression on everyone who sees it. Put up some festive holiday décor, inside and out, to really get people in the spirit. And if you have a window display, now's the time to start planning it.
4. Bring on Seasonal Staff
If you're going to be busy during the holidays, you might need some extra help. Start thinking about who you want to hire for seasonal positions—and don't forget to train them on your products and services before they start working!
5. Make Seasonal Marketing Updates
Make sure your marketing materials are updated for the holidays. This includes things like your website, social media accounts, email newsletters, and print ads. Add some holiday flair to your branding, and let people know about any special deals or promotions you'll be running during this festive time of year.
6. Create Promotional PDFs with Holiday Offers
PDFs are a great way to promote special offers during the holidays. You can include things like coupons, discounts, or free shipping offers—anything that will entice people to shop at your store instead of somewhere else. Just make sure you distribute them widely so potential customers can take advantage of them. Looking for a how-to on converting PDF to jpeg? This guide shows you how, and as a result makes files much easier to share on your social media accounts.
7. Have a Plan for Last-Minute Shoppers
Last-minute shoppers are always looking for deals—so make sure you have some great ones! Offer discounts or coupons for people who shop at your store in the week leading up to the end of December (or whatever holiday is most relevant to your business). This is also a good time to promote gift cards, which can be a lifesaver for last-minute shoppers who don't know what else to buy.
8. Spread Holiday Cheer to Your Community
The holidays are all about giving—so make sure you give back to the community that supports your business throughout the year! There are lots of ways to do this, from donating money or goods to local charities or hosting events at your store that benefit worthy causes. Not only will this make you feel good, but it will also help improve your reputation as a business owner who cares about more than just making money.
The holiday months are a crucial time for small businesses—but with our handy checklist, you'll be prepared for anything! From decorating your storefront and preparing for the holiday rush to creating promotional offers and giving back to the community, we've got everything covered. So what are you waiting for? Get started today and make this holiday season your best one yet!
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This Hot Deal is promoted by Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce.
