Big Business Tips To Thrive On Small Business Saturday

Square - Small Business Saturday has become a significant event for local businesses, with consumers showing strong support through their spending. Over the years, spending on Small Business Saturday has seen substantial growth. In 2023, U.S. Consumers spent an estimated $17 billion. 

For small business owners, this day presents a golden opportunity to capture a share of the holiday shopping dollars. On average, shoppers are estimated to spend $305 per person during Small Business Saturday. This figure includes a variety of purchases, from smaller items to larger, high-ticket products. The average purchase amount can vary depending on the type of business and the products offered. This average provides a useful benchmark for planning sales strategies and inventory levels.

10 ideas to boost Shop Small Saturday sales:

1. Collaborate with other businesses: Partnering with neighboring small businesses can create a more attractive shopping experience. Joint promotions, shared advertising, and cross-marketing can draw more customers to your area.
2. Promote on social media: Use social media platforms to create buzz around your participation in Small Business Saturday, even during the days leading up to the event. Share behind-the-scenes content, product teasers, and special offers.
3. Notify your email newsletter list: Segment your email list to target different customer groups with personalized messages. Create compelling content and attractive imagery to highlight your unique offerings and special promotions for the day.
4. Extend store hours: Consider extending your store hours to accommodate more shoppers. This can help you capture early risers and late shoppers, maximizing sales potential throughout the day. Pro tip: Consider some light refreshments to get guests to stay and shop longer.
5. Hold online or in-person contests: Engage your customers with contests that can run both online and in-store. Offer prizes that will attract attention and encourage participation, such as gift cards, extended sets, or exclusive products, for example.
6. Offer exclusive discounts: Make your discounts truly special and exclusive for Small Business Saturday. These should be offers that customers can’t find at any other time, making them feel like they’re getting something unique and valuable. This also includes loyalty discounts. Reward your loyal customers with additional discounts or perks.
7. Offer kits, bundles, or sets: Create attractive product bundles that provide more value to your customers. These can be themed kits or sets that make great gifts, encouraging higher spending per transaction.
8. Stock up on popular or high-volume items: Ensure you have ample stock of your best-selling products to avoid disappointing customers with stockouts. Sales forecasting and understanding expected sales volume in advance will let you avoid overselling. With these insights, your suppliers will thank you for giving them enough lead time prior to Small Business Saturday. 
9. Test run and do mock checkouts: Before the big day, test your POS system to ensure it’s fully operational. Perform mock checkouts to identify and fix any potential issues, ensuring a smooth shopping experience for your customers. Talk to your staff and make sure everyone is trained and confident. Discuss how to navigate potential problems if they happen to arise on that day.  
10. Have gift cards stocked: Keep a good supply of gift cards available. Some customers may want to support your business but might not be ready to make a purchase decision on the spot. Gift cards offer customers a flexible option to buy later but still make them feel good for supporting your small business on that day.

Easy ideas for omnichannel e-tailers on Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday isn’t just for solely brick-and-mortar companies; it’s a great opportunity for those who double as online retailers as well. However, it comes with its own set of challenges. 

First, especially for those who use centralized omnichannel inventory, hold inventory for your physical store aside from eCommerce orders ahead of Shop Small Saturday. 

Look at last year’s orders and compare the sales velocity against the preceding year and this year’s trends. This will help you forecast and anticipate what to order from your suppliers.  

Next, ensure your website can handle increased traffic. Test for load and speed, and make sure your site is mobile-friendly.

Focus on delivering an outstanding customer experience with live chat support, easy returns, and clear shipping info. Personalize the shopping experience by recommending products based on past behavior.

Promote your deals early via email and social media. Share sneak peeks, run interactive posts, and create buzz before the big day. Keep your inventory in check by analyzing past sales and stocking up on popular items.

Offer exclusive online deals like time-limited discounts or special bundles. Simplify the checkout process by offering various payment options and a secure, easy-to-navigate checkout page.

Showcase positive reviews and testimonials to build trust. Entice customers with offers like free shipping or special discounts. After the event, follow up with thank-you emails, encourage reviews, and invite customers to share their experiences. This helps build loyalty and keeps the connection going.

The main challenges for brick-and-mortar stores that also sell online include managing inventory across both channels, ensuring consistent pricing and promotions, handling logistics and shipping for online orders, maintaining a cohesive brand experience, and providing excellent customer service in both physical and digital spaces. Last, they should invest in technology and marketing to attract and retain customers in both environments.

Easy ideas for brick-and-mortar stores on Small Business Saturday  

Small Business Saturday is a fantastic chance for brick-and-mortar stores to shine, but it’s important to be prepared. Here are some easy ideas for brick-and-mortar businesses.

If you have extra room in your store, invite another company or homemaker to share your space. What’s missing on your street? No ice cream shop? Invite a local ice cream maker that doesn’t have a store on your street. Bring something to the area nobody else is doing.

Everyone loves fresh coffee and juice. Look into having a pop-up coffee or juice bar in your shop. Watching a live barista and fresh fruit smoothies being made is a great experience all will love. 

If you sell clothes, demonstrate how they are made. Let kids try cutting fabric or creating their own accessory. If you see someone eyeing a bag, bring out the raw materials and show how it’s made. Customers like to see what’s happening in the back because it creates a memorable experience. 

One big tip is to purchase items for The Big 4 (Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Shop Small, and Cyber Monday) far in advance. You may be able to get bulk discounts from your manufacturer or supplier instead of ordering separately.  

The last tip for brick-and-mortar stores: Make sure there’s plenty of inventory throughout the Q4 holiday kick-off covering Black Friday, Shop Small Saturday, and Cyber Monday so you don’t run into angry customers later due to stockouts, whether they are online or in person.