Businesses can quickly implement promotions that will increase sales and promote their brand on February 14. Valentine’s Day sales in the US are expected to increase by approximately two billion dollars this year.
Valentine’s Day offers many creative and low-cost ways to profit. You can still launch promotions, even if you do not sell flowers, candy or teddy-bears. This will increase your profits, engage existing customers and attract new ones.
Valentine’s Day is a great day to show your customers how much you appreciate them
Customers leave businesses in droves when they feel that the business is unresponsive. Indifference can be defined as “unimportance” or “unresponsiveness”. You don’t want these words to be associated with your business. Use the 14th of February to show your love for customers.
Sending a personal note or email to let them know that you value their business is an easy way to show your appreciation. Add a few personal details to your note so it doesn’t sound like a standard letter. With their permission, you can feature photos of your customers on your website or email. You can even display them in your store with the message “We love our customers”.
Visit the SmartBiz blog for more ideas: 5 Customer-Appreciation Ideas For Your Small Business.
Run a contest
Customers love to receive discounts or freebies. You can use a ballot box and entry forms to run a Valentine’s Day in-store contest. Promote via email or newsletter. Running a contest via Facebook(r), Instagram (r) or Twitter (r) can be easy and cost-effective if you have a large social media following.
You can offer discounts on your services or products as prizes. Create a Valentine’s Day gift basket with all the goodies you want – chocolate, bubble bath or a restaurant gift card. Display the basket in your brick-and mortar store.
Bundle products for specials
Businesses use bundle pricing to sell goods and services in a set or package at a discounted price. Bundle pricing can help you increase your profits by offering a discount to customers. Win-win situation!
Social Media Promotions
You can now spend very little money to get your content seen by a specific audience. Create a post with a Valentine’s Day theme to promote special offers, discounts and giveaways. Consider using Thumbtack to hire someone to help you temporarily if you lack the time or expertise.
Set the mood
If you have a physical store or an online shop, you can decorate it for Valentine’s Day. Dollar or discount stores are great places to find themed decorations, signage and balloons. Pinterest(r), a great source of inspiration for decorating, has more than just hearts and flowers. Hire a window-painting service to help another small business celebrate the holiday of love if you own a brick and mortar store. Music is important! To get your customers in the mood, create a playlist with love-themed songs. For inspiration, check out the The Top 50 Love Songs Of All Time by Billboard Magazine(r).
Remember the procrastinators
You’ve likely seen last-minute shoppers grab flowers, cards, and chocolate in the early morning hours of February 14. Some customers may not plan ahead for Valentine’s Day. Send out last-minute Valentine’s Day messages or special discounts on the day.
Celebrate the Singles
Not everyone is paired like Noah’s Ark. Launch a “celebrate your singleness” campaign to add a new twist to Valentine’s Day. This can be done through social media, an event for singles in store, or even a singles-themed gift basket.
In 2010, an episode of Parks and Rec (r)’s second season called “Galentine’s Day” was aired. Leslie gathered a group her closest girlfriends to enjoy a brunch filled with waffles and romance. Leslie says, “Every year on February 13, me and my gal pals leave our boyfriends and husbands at home and just get together to kick it breakfast-style.” “Ladies celebrating Ladies” was the slogan, and Galentine’s Day became an unofficial addition to everyone’s schedule. Use the day prior to Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to reach a different audience.
Every year, February 15th is Singles Awareness Day. Singles celebrate this unofficial holiday. This is a holiday for single people, not in a romantic or married relationship.
Additional Resources
Here are a few Valentine’s Day ideas. Visit the SmartBiz Small Business Blog for more information on how to market your business throughout the year. For a calendar with unique observations, see Marketing Schedule: When to Promote your Business.
