5 Tips to Promote Shopping at Your Business This Holiday Season

While 2020 has been tough on small retailers, there's still time to capitalize on the holiday season to meet your sales goals. 

1. Host an Open House

Whether in-person or virtually, make sure to create a Facebook Post and Event promoting your efforts. Shoppers don't know you "always host an open house the third Saturday" in November. You must tell them, and frequently. 

Photo: The Flower Box

2. A Picture Says a Thousand Words and Can Make You Thousands

Shoppers don't have an infinite amount of time to wander store to store and, with concerns about social distancing, many are trying to limit their public exposure. Post daily photos to Facebook about what's in your store. It costs nothing, and you never know who will see it and stop by your store just for that specific item. Try it; you'll be surprised. A picture a day keeps the dust away. Remember, the goal is to sell!

Photo: Cypress Bridge Candle Co. 

3. Copying is the Sincerest Form of Flattery

Think about your favorite places to shop. How did you learn about them? How do you know about their products? Examine their marketing strategies and replicate them. As Main Streeters advise, practice a little R&D... ripoff and duplicate. Whether it's a daily deal, spot special, coupon code, or a featured item, do something to make your shoppers want to buy NOW!

Photo: Aksent Boutique

4. Partner! A rising tide raises all ships.

Visit with neighboring businesses or businesses like yours in neighboring towns and work together to cross-promote. Host a boutique crawl or shop hop to encourage shopping. It's said for every one hour a person drives, they need three hours of things to do. Reach customers outside of your city limits by making a group of stores a destination. 

Tip:  Abilene's annual Night of Christmas Magic is Saturday, December 5. Consider staying open late or offering incentives to bring people to your store. 

Photo: Rivendell Bookstore during Downtown Abilene's Boutique Crawl

5. Be positive and love your community!

Shoppers don't always support businesses, they support people. Think about stores you shop at - not because of their prices or one-of-a-kind inventory - but because they're your friends. Give shoppers a reason to support YOU!

Photo: Last Chance Graphics