Small Business Advice: How to Survive Black Friday

Black Friday is just around the corner! With a growing emphasis on supporting local businesses and “Small Business Saturday,” modest-sized shops, stores, and restaurants not only need to be prepared for increased sales on November 27, but they need to get the word out to their community about holiday sales! Here are some helpful marketing and management tips for small retailers to make the most of Black Friday:

• GIVEAWAYS: Choose some of your best products to include in a customer giveaway or contest on your social media channels. You can achieve this by requiring social media users to share your Black Friday post in order to enter the contest. This will drive people to your website or brick-and-mortar store to check out other items or sales – or to buy more of the giveaway products as gifts for others!
• SOCIAL MEDIA: Most small businesses do not have a large advertising budget, so take advantage of the age of social media to promote your Black Friday sales. By offering giveaways and contents through social media (see bullet above!), you can build up a large following online, where you can then push promotions, sales, and special offerings to increase revenue this holiday season.
• STAFFING: Even if you run your business throughout the year with only a minimal staff, make sure to bring in extra help on Black Friday and for the entire holiday season. First impressions are everything, and having a customer wait for an extended time to check out or for help can leave a lasting negative impact.

• PACKAGING: Update your everyday packaging with holiday flare! Even if you don’t have the budget the put together fully-coordinated holiday packaging, you can add holiday-themed belly bands, ribbons, tags, or labels. Also, offering custom gift wrapping services will take away the stress of wrapping from your shoppers and make them want to return to shop again. (Need help with this one? Contact us to learn more about how we can help dress up your packaging for the holidays!)
• THE EXTRAS: You want your patrons to remember your business long after Black Friday, and it’s the little things that count. Have apple cider or hot chocolate brewing, or bake some cookies to make your business smell like the holidays. Give each customer an inexpensive free token to remember your business such as a pen, keychain, or other low-cost novelty with their purchase. Every time they use this item, they will be reminded of your business.

With one week to go, we hope your small business is ready for the busy shopping season! Happy selling!