8 Easy ways to gear up for holiday shopping season

The holiday season is just around the corner. How can small business owners maximize their sales this holiday season? Here are some ideas. 

1. Meet your customers where they are

It's likely if you were in business during COVID-19, you might have made some changes to your business model to accommodate the pandemic – curbside pickup or delivery, for example. These small changes proved to be valuable to consumers and are still used now. If this is something you offer to your shoppers, keep it up. If it's not, you may want to consider it. During the holiday season, convenience is king.

2. Combine forces with other businesses

If there are other businesses that serve the same clientele that you do, consider teaming up with them for promotional activities or a special event. You could offer complementary products in a bundle or provide a discount for shoppers who go to each store. If the businesses are geographically close, you could host a holiday shopping event together. 

3. Extended hours and private shopping events

Consider staying open later in the evenings during the busy holiday shopping season. If your business lends itself to doing so, you may want to host a private shopping event for your top-tier customers. Open your store by invitation only, serve refreshments, and help your regular customers get their holiday shopping wrapped up in style. 

4. Make gift-giving as easy as possible

There are lots of ways to make choosing and buying the perfect gift easy and quick, even for those who don’t really like to shop. Gift cards are always a quick solution, especially for procrastinators. Put yours in a box with a bow on it so it feels more like a present. Bundle products together in a gift basket or bag for an elaborate-looking gift that’s ready to go. Offer gift-wrapping services, or pre-wrap popular items for shoppers to just grab and go. 

Related: Marketing ideas to promote your small business 

5. Have a flash sale

If you find yourself in mid-December with a big gap between your sales and your goals, a flash sale may be in order. Choose a few of your most popular items – or those you really want to move – and put them on sale for one day, or even just a few hours. Promote the sale on social media and in your brick-and-mortar location if you have one. 

6. Promote everything on social

Keep your social media platforms working hard for you during the holiday season. Post gift ideas, promotions, events, store hours – anything that will catch the eye of your customer. 

Related: Small business social media tips from an expert

7. Promote Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is the Saturday after Thanksgiving – in 2023, it’s November 25. American Express has been promoting Small Business Saturday since 2010 to bring attention to small, local businesses, and to encourage consumers to ‘Shop Small.’ Many small businesses offer special promotions on this day, similar to the ‘Black Friday’ sales that happen at the mall on the day prior. 

8. Send a holiday greeting – for Thanksgiving

Getting out in front of your customers for the all-important holiday shopping season is critical, but it’s a crowded field out there. If you wait to send a ‘Happy Holidays!’ greeting in mid-December, you may have missed your opportunity. But the holiday shopping season starts in earnest right after Thanksgiving, so a Thanksgiving message may be just the thing. It gives you the opportunity to express your gratitude to your customers and also to get in front of them just as they’re starting to think about holiday shopping. 

Some of these ideas to boost your holiday sales may apply to you, while others will not. But even if they don’t, they may help get you thinking outside the box for ways you can bring in some extra business before the end of the year.