Show Customers Why They Should Shop Small Businesses This Holiday Season

History shows us that hard times bring us closer together. As the year comes to a close and many small business owners are evaluating growth, profits, and how they did overall this year when faced with many fluctuations and uncertainties. For many small businesses, this year more than ever it’s important to inspire and encourage customers to shop and buy local when doing their holiday shopping this season. While for some, doing online shopping has the convenience of “one-click” and you’re done, many shoppers this year are craving the community and comfort that shopping at smaller businesses offers. Especially in a year filled with challenges, coming together to support small businesses is more important than ever. So what can you do to remind shoppers of the importance of shopping locally this holiday season? Below we’ve included some of our tips and inspirations to share with customers this year.

Small Businesses Make a Bigger Impact on Communities

Without a doubt, small and local businesses make a bigger impact on the community. When supporting smaller businesses, you are also supporting your neighbors, town, and communities. On average, almost 50% of each purchase at a local small business is recirculated locally, as opposed to less than 15% being recirculated when shopping at big chains. Let your customers know how much their business means to you and the community by sharing this information with them in positive and constructive ways. Use a holiday newsletter, a sign out front, or just in general conversation to let your locals know how much holiday shopping at your small business matters. Or, commit to donating a small percentage of sales to the local sports team or park to show the real results of how a small business gives back to the local community.

Small Businesses Provide Better Customer Service

Small businesses provide better customer service, which makes shopping at them an overall more enjoyable and personal experience for shoppers. Being friendly, personal, accommodating, helpful, and positive are all part of what makes customer service at small businesses all the better. Encourage your staff or employees to get in the holiday mood this year to help boost the spirits of those who come in to do their shopping. Go the extra mile and dress your staff in holiday-themed custom company shirts this year to enhance the feeling of professionalism behind the customer service. People talk, and by offering excellent customer service, you will have more people coming to your shop to do their holiday gift buying.

Offer Holiday Promotions

Show your local customers and community how much you love them by offering them a holiday promotion. Hang a sign in the window or put a standing sign on the street to let everyone know you’re running a special holiday promotion. Offer a promotional product, discount, or special giveaway for shoppers who spend a certain amount of money at your store. This will encourage customers to do their holiday shopping at your small business, and also come back next year for more.

Help Customers Feel Safe

In a time where many shoppers don’t feel safe doing their in-store shopping, there are steps you can take to ensure customers feel safe and comfortable coming into your small business this holiday season. Some examples of protocols you can put in place to help your customers feel safe shopping at your small business:
Limit the number of shoppers in the store.
Offer appointments for your customers to come shop on their own with full personal attention.
Advocate for mask-wearing for customers and also that your employees are wearing employee face masks.
Offer free hand sanitizer at the door.

Small Businesses Create a Sense of Community

Small businesses can be like community watering holes. Shopping at small businesses offers customers not just the one-click buy, but also the experience and interaction that comes with shopping in small stores or locally run businesses. We are humans, after all, and humans innately crave community, connection, experience, and interaction. Make your small business a place where shoppers can find those elements. Practical practices that can help with this are enhanced customer service, branding, and a pleasant store aesthetic.

Diverse and Quality Products

While small businesses don’t have the extensive warehouse storage that bigger chain stores do, they have access to the same vendors and networks and can easily order them for customers. If your small business is selling locally crafted or artisanal products, then let your customers know the story of each item and if specialty items can be crafted or made to order. Otherwise, be sure customers know you are happy to order any products you may not currently have in stock.

Offer Treats and Gifts

Offer your customers treats for the holiday season. Client gifts and treats don’t have to be big, but simple tokens such as candies, hot chocolate, bookmarks, logo pens, or custom tote bags are great treats and giveaways that will let your customers know how much you appreciate them shopping small and local for this holiday season. A little bit goes a long way to make your customers happy and feel inspired to do their holiday shopping this year at small and local businesses. Don’t be shy about letting them know what a positive impact they are having on their community, neighbors, and local businesses.