How Small Businesses Can Prepare for Small Business Saturday

Are you a small business owner who is looking for tips on how to prepare for Small Business Saturday? If so, keep reading. Small Business Saturday will be on Saturday November 25^th, and is always one of the busiest shopping days for small businesses. Falling the day after Black Friday every year, Small Business Saturday was created by American Express to encourage consumers to Shop Small® and help support local businesses.

So what tips can small business owners follow in order to have a successful Small Business Saturday? Here are some of our top suggestions:

Create a Plan

The first step business owners need to do is develop a strategy and plan for their Small Business Saturday goals. Are you looking to enhance your loyalty program to entice new customers to shop at your store? Are you hoping to achieve a specific amount of sales that day? Be sure to clearly outline the goals you hope to achieve and the different marketing solutions you will need to help you reach your goals.

Promote Your Business

Once you have your plan and strategy developed, it’s important to then begin promoting that your business is partaking in Small Business Saturday. The ShopSmall.com website has all the marketing collateral your business will need to get set up, including customizable signage, e-mail templates, social media banners, and more. Make sure and promote Shop Small® within your store with printable material as well as digitally on your website and social media pages. For Facebook and Twitter, use the special hashtags such as #SmallBizSat and #ShopSmall to create further exposure.

Provide Special Offers

Another great way to stand out on Small Business Saturday and gain more sales is to extend special offers or discounts to shoppers. The best way to do this is by promoting your special offer(s) in your store with signage, on your website, and social media pages. Doing so will alert your customers of the promotions you will be having and encourage them to come and shop at your store on Small Business Saturday. Some examples of special offers could be a doorbuster item for the first 20 customers, 15% off all items in-store, or a free gift for spending $75 or more.

Give Thanks

Let your shoppers know that you are grateful for their business on Small Business Saturday by giving them a coupon at checkout to use at a later date. Not only will this entice customers to return to your store again in the future, but will also enhance the chances of them becoming loyal customers long-term. It’s also wise to show gratitude to your shoppers on your social media pages the day after, thanking them for their support on Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday is a great day to recognize small businesses and get shoppers to Shop Small®. By following the above recommendations, small business owners can increase their profits and have a successful experience.