New Ideas For Small Business Holiday Marketing
by: J D Moore
2 seconds after Halloween it seems that all the retail stores put up their Christmas decorations - trying to capture as much of the Holiday market as possible. Typical ways that retail stores use to capitalize on the holidays include extended hours and sales. This is all well and good. Today I want to give you an early present by giving you some novel ways to think about holiday promotions.
Many people are fed up with holiday crowds, which is reflected in the growth of online sales and the decline of some traditional retailer's sales. There also seems to be a trend towards buying fewer gifts, but those gifts tend to be higher-ticket luxury items.
In the type of marketing we all should be doing ,we start with the customer in mind.
What do we know about people this time of year?
- Time is a commodity - there's too much to do and too little time. - People have more shopping to do than they usually do. - People are under a tremendous amount of stress. - People tend to clean and decorate their houses.
These are just some of the factors affecting people during the holiday season. I'm sure you can think of many more. Take these things into consideration, and take the stance of being a giver.
Here's an idea I've never seen (so I want credit if you use it). If you own a store, offer free gift wrap - nothing new there. While people are getting their gifts wrapped, they get a free chair massage? You could partner up with a local spa, or even a massage school who could also give every customer a promotional coupon. You save your customers time, take away their stress, and create a fusion marketing partnership with the spa.
If you are in a household service business, offer to do additional winterizing services for your customers to save them time. Offer a free holiday housecleaning. If you aren't in the cleaning business - again team up with a cleaning service.
Give-aways are great. Give away free Christmas trees - depending on where you are you could buy a couple hundred for $10 a piece. The deal could be - spend $100 and take
home a free tree. Give away turkeys, or complete turkey dinners - a lot of grocery stores have this promotion.
Everybody gives away calendars, aim for something different but still useful. How about ice-scrapers if you live in the north? Blankets, sweatshirts, caps - are all good promotional items when the weather turns cold.
Holiday cards are great. People enjoy getting them and displaying them. Hardly anybody sends Thanksgiving cards, definitely consider it. In this politically correct age (gasp) you have to be sensitive to people's religious sensibilities. Send Happy Holidays cards and not Merry Christmas Cards - unless you are absolutely sure your customer celebrates Christmas.
If you have any kind of retail business, think about add-on gifts that might be used as a second gift. A florist might include a free gift-wrapped ornament with a certain level of purchase that can be sent to a different address. Two gifts for the price of one. Buy one get one free offers are great at holiday times.
Use your creativity this holiday season and think about how you can solve your customers' problems.
Copyright 2005 Marketing Comet
About The Author
J D Moore - Marketing Comet Small business marketing coaching that gives you more customers, higher profits, and a lot more fun in your business. http://www.marketingcometcoach.com blog - http://marketingcomet.typepad.com
|
Business Cards Are Excellent Salesman
Business Cards Are Excellent Salesman
by: Viojieley Gurrobat
Since the 19th century business cards were widespread among people of all classes with a business to promote. The earliest form of business cards, known as tradecards, were used as advertising materials and as maps used to direct the public to the merchant?s store. Today business cards are among the most important marketing material that every business must have.
The business card is perhaps the best salesman that you can have. That is why it is essential that it contains much more than your name, address, and contact numbers and services. It should be designed keeping its purpose in mind ? that is its being a powerful sales tool. So let?s start with the design. If you want to create a business card that contains a photo with gradient colors you can try using a glossy paper to ensure that the cards are printed as good as they look on the screen. Or else, you can get disappointed with...
Business Cards Are Excellent Salesman
Florist > Business Cards Are Excellent Salesman
St. Patrick's Day Shamrocks Bring Luck O' The Irish To Flowers
St. Patrick's Day Shamrocks Bring Luck O' The Irish To Flowers
by: Wesley Berry
You probably recognize the shamrock as a symbol of St. Patrick's Day, so why not add a bit of that Irish luck to your St. Patrick's Day flowers? Believe it or not, many florists do keep a supply of shamrocks on hand to add to bouquets and arrangements ordered for St. Patrick's Day. Well, at least they carry something that passes for shamrocks... A closer look at the shamrock and the legends surrounding it reveals that finding the "true shamrock" requires more than just the luck brought by a four-leaf clover.
The origin of the word "shamrock" is in the Irish word seamrog, which means "little clover." While it's a lovely name, it's not particularly descriptive considering that there are numerous kinds of clovers and even some plants that are recognized as clovers by the general public, though botanically they are not. Even the folks living in Ireland have some difficulty...
St. Patrick's Day Shamrocks Bring Luck O' The Irish To Flowers
Florist > St. Patrick's Day Shamrocks Bring Luck O' The Irish To Flowers
Flowers And Flower Delivery
Flowers And Flower Delivery
by: Tina Banks
Flowers are one of natures beautiful things that have always fascinated humans. Flowers are perfect for all occasions. Be it a birthday, anniversary, Valentine?s day, funeral or a wedding there are flowers to suite.
Flowers can be the perfect gift and a perfect way to express your emotions. And its not just women who like to receive flowers as a gift either. The society of American Florists conducted a survey and found that 60% would like to receive flowers on special occasions, especially Valentine?s Day.
By searching on the Internet or looking through the local phone directory you should be able to find a good florist to arrange a flower delivery. If you would like to arrange for a flower delivery and you have not done this before you may be slightly unsure of some things. For a florist the busiest times of year will be Valentine?s Day and Mother?s Day, although a good florist will manage to...
Flowers And Flower Delivery
Florist > Flowers And Flower Delivery
Reaching Local Customers With Online Sales
Reaching Local Customers With Online Sales
by: Rick Hendershot
**Can you sell your product online?**
If you are already in business and you are thinking of promoting your products or services online, one of the first questions you have to ask yourself is "Do I have a product I can sell online?" This question is at the very heart of the decision whether or not to try online marketing.
Most of the problems with products are the result of delivery issues....
pool table Florist Reaching Local Customers With Online Sales New Ideas For Small Business Holiday Marketing
Florist > Reaching Local Customers With Online Sales
Decorating your Workplace with Tropical Office Furniture
Decorating your Workplace with Tropical Office Furniture
by: Lee Rubenstein
If you love the tang of salt in the air, the soft whisper of nearby waves, and the crunch of sand between your toes, what better way could there be to create a workspace that you truly enjoy using than by decorating with tropical office furniture. Tropical surroundings inspire creativity and create a relaxed and productive atmosphere for your home office or place of business. Innovative...
Decorating your Workplace with Tropical Office Furniture Florist
Florist > Decorating your Workplace with Tropical Office Furniture