The pandemic may not be over, but the holidays are a great opportunity for business owners to boost revenue and promote their brands. According to predictions from Bain (r), Deloitte (r), and Mastercard (r), holiday sales are expected to increase by at least 7% in 2021 compared to last year. The good news is that 43% small businesses have reported higher revenues in the first three months of 2021.
Small Business Saturday is an annual event that celebrates small businesses in America. Do not miss this opportunity! You can find out more about the event and how you can take part.
Why is Small Business Saturday called that?
Small Business Saturday will be held between Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday. Small Business Saturday is a day to celebrate entrepreneurs and encourage holiday shoppers. Small businesses are defined by the SBA to be those with less than 500 employees. There will likely be many in your locality. Small businesses include restaurants, coffee shops and florists. They also include dry cleaners and beauty salons.
When Small Business Saturday was launched, it generated more than one million Facebook(r) “like” registrations and nearly 30,000 tweets under the Twitter hashtags #smallbusinesssaturday and # smallbizsaturday.
The “Shop Small” account on Twitter(r), which has more than 56,000 followers, and the Small Business Saturday page on Facebook has more than 3.3 million likes. These numbers will likely increase as the holiday season approaches.
The popularity of Small Business Saturday is growing, thanks to the support from consumers and politicians. The Senate has passed a resolution supporting Small Business Saturday just a year after its launch. State politicians are also joining the cause. New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez declared the first-ever Small Business Saturday tax holidays in 2018.
Tax-free items include sporting goods, clothing and artwork. Music instruments, furniture and other products are also eligible, provided the price is under $500. In a press release, Governor Martinez encouraged shoppers to support local businesses. “Get out and shop small and take advantage of this opportunity when money is tight during the holidays.”
Who Invented Small Business Saturday?
American Express(r), through a national advertising campaign, created and promoted the holiday in 2010. More than 40 small business groups and local politicians in the United States have issued proclamations to encourage consumers to support this campaign.
The success of Small Business Saturday in the U.S. has spread across the Atlantic. The United Kingdom started their own Small Business Saturday in 2013. It has gained momentum since then. Small Business Saturday in the UK will be held on 4th December 2021.
Why is Small Business Saturday so important?
A number of economic factors can benefit a locality. These include:
- Every dollar spent at an independent retailer returns more than three dollars to the local community.
- Supporting small businesses helps create jobs. According to the SBA, small businesses are responsible for two of every three new net jobs created in the private sector.
- Small businesses often hire other small companies to provide support and supplies. Many small businesses, for example, hire independent financial consultants and marketing specialists.
Shopping small has other benefits as well:
- Small business owners are more likely to offer personalized service, and to go above and beyond to make you satisfied.
- Small businesses offer unique products and services you can’t get from a large retailer.
- You can feel good about going to a smaller cafe instead of Starbucks(r).
Small Business Saturday is celebrated on what day?
There are Small Business Saturdays all over America. You can’t miss Small Business Saturday if you are shopping in your community or online. The day is promoted by national and local media outlets, Chamber of Commerce, politicians and celebrities.
Small Business Saturday is a great opportunity for small businesses to participate and gain benefits.
You can participate in many ways! You will raise your community profile, encourage existing customers to visit and attract new shoppers. Here are a few easy ways to get the word out:
- Promote on social media – The Twitter hashtag #smallbusinesssaturday will be out in full force! The hashtag is used to promote small business on any Saturday, not just the Saturday in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. social ads can be found on a variety of platforms. To narrow your reach, you can choose to target a particular area or demographic of shoppers. You can find a lot of information on our blog about how to make the most of your social media activity. Check out Social Media Tip for Small Businesses. You can hire a social media specialist in your locality who knows the small business environment in your area if you need assistance.
- Reaching out to high-profile citizens – Are there any local celebrities in your town or high-profile individuals? Ask them to help the community by using social media. Invite them to your shop or website.
- Get local support. Contact the Chamber of Commerce to learn about their Small Business Sunday plans. You may find resources to help you maximize the day.
- Use signage. Print a banner and distribute flyers in your town. You can also add some music, balloons and streamers to attract a crowd. Renting an inflatable tube-man to blow in front your store might be a good idea. Hire a sign spinner to promote your business near high traffic areas.
- Promote your website – There’s no doubt that consumers are increasingly turning to the internet before they spend their hard-earned money. Be sure to promote the day on your website. You can also promote special offers or pricing.
- Host a small business Saturday event. You could host a kick-off event, such as a breakfast (who doesn’t like coffee, donuts, and bagels?). Offer wine and cheese to shoppers in the afternoon, invite a local performer or provide activities and snacks for children. Need convincing? Need more convincing? Check out this blog post: 7 ways hosting an event can benefit your small business.
- Send an email blast or newsletter. Remove bounced emails and add any new addresses that you have recently collected. Prepare new email signup forms for your customers. Send a promotion email or a coupon. Customers like to know about special events, and they love a good bargain.
- Pitch to local media. There are many online and traditional journalists who are hungry for new content. You can write a press release and offer your services as a resource. Include statistics about Small Business Saturday and its importance for the local economy and the national economy.
- Encourage positive feedback – Word of mouth marketing is a cost-effective and effective way to bring shoppers into your store. Encourage shoppers to check out high-profile review sites such as Yelp or Google Reviews on Small Business Saturday.
- Team Up – Now is the time for you to find other small businesses and double your Small Business Sunday efforts. You can split advertising costs with another entrepreneur or show each other love on social media. You can work together to promote a Small Business Sunday event or offer discounts. Find out how cross-promotions will benefit your small business. Cross Promotion and Your Small Business: Success Ideas.
- Donate – Build a positive reputation in the community that you serve. Explore local charities to see how you can assist them in achieving their goals. You could, for example, set up a donation jar or a collection bin if a non-profit or charity is in need of goods to help the homeless, or any other population at risk. Create a mutually beneficial relationship that goes beyond Small Business Sunday.
Check out this article on the SmartBiz blog for more ideas that you can use all year long: Attract More Clients to Your Business. You will learn how to identify your target customers, create an email list and determine the unique selling proposition which sets you apart.
What happens next?
Launching day-of marketing promotions can be a smart move that will bring in a new customer. Shop today and receive 30 percent off your next visit. This can motivate customers to return. Offer a gift to a friend or family member of a customer who shops with you. Brand it with your logo so that your business is always in the forefront of people’s minds. Visit the SmartBiz Small Business blog: Promo Items for Your Small Business to get ideas on promotional materials.
You should have collected the contact information of your customers so that you can stay in touch with them throughout the entire year. Review your financials and determine if you were successful in your Small Business Sunday strategy.
