5 Ways to Prepare for Small Business Saturday

Date: November 11, 2018

Small Business Saturday is November 24. Is your business ready?

With the holidays and holiday sales just around the corner, thousands of customers across the nation are preparing to start their holiday shopping on Small Business Saturday.

Founded in 2010, Small Business Saturday was created as a response to the economic struggles small business owners were facing. The day supports and celebrates local businesses by bringing in more holiday shoppers, as the event falls right between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and encourages shoppers to shop local and shop small.

“Small Business Saturday is a celebration,” says Chris Measmer, owner of The Wayside Family Restaurant in Oakboro, North Carolina. “It’s a way for small businesses to showcase their goods and services and products and bring awareness to consumers within the community—and bring that awareness that they need to spend their dollars here locally.”

RELATEDVideo: What is Small Business Saturday?

In 2017, Small Business Saturday attracted an estimated 108 million shoppers as well as 7,200 individuals and organizations that signed up to be neighborhood champions by organizing events and activities to attract the community, according to American Express.

This year, Small Business Saturday will take place on November 24. As you begin to prepare your business, here are five ways you can take action to make the most of this day.

RELATED4 Ways to Prepare for Small Business Saturday

1. Market your business

Getting the word out is key to attracting customers on Small Business Saturday. Factoring the day into your business’s advertising budget early on is an easy way to ensure you’ll have the resources to promote the event to potential customers.

2. Promote special offers and loyalty rewards

Because Small Business Saturday occurs during the holiday shopping season, it’s a perfect time to offer special in-store sales. Consider handing out flyers, emailing special offers to loyal customers, and posting often on social media to get the word out. Your customers are what drives your business, and you should let them know that with deals that show your appreciation and keep them coming back even after the holidays.

3. Hire additional help

With the influx of holiday shoppers and high demand for gift-worthy products during Small Business Saturday, your full-time staff may not be enough to fill orders. Recruiting seasonal help during this busy time can help you keep up with the extra foot traffic coming through the door. Keep in mind that with a tight labor market, it could be more difficult to find holiday help this year than in years past.

4. Emphasize benefits of shopping local

One of the biggest benefits of shopping locally is finding unique products you wouldn’t find elsewhere in addition to helping improve local communities. Showcasing those points in your business’s storefront windows can help reach customers and attract new ones.

5. Stay organized

Something as simple as a checklist can help make your Small Business Saturday run smoothly. Before the day comes keep track of deliveries, competitors’ prices or sales, and employees’ work schedules.

RELATED3 Ideas for Promoting Your Business on Small Business Saturday

 

NFIB and Dell have teamed up to offer small business owners savings on computer and technology solutions. Learn More

Subscribe For Free News And Tips

Enter your email to get FREE small business insights. Learn more

Special Offer

NFIB members: Save more on select Dell laptops and workstations for a limited time.

Get to know NFIB

NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.

Learn More

Or call us today
1-800-634-2669

© 2001 - 2024 National Federation of Independent Business. All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions | Privacy