A simple 5-step plan to bring more people through your door on Small Business Saturday, and give them a reason to come back.
Small Business Saturday is Saturday, November 28, the day after Black Friday.
It started in 2010 to encourage holiday shoppers to support local businesses, and the U.S. Small Business Administration has co-sponsored it since 2011. For many small businesses, it lands in the middle of the busiest stretch of the year.
Customers will be out looking for places to spend. A little planning helps make sure they pick yours.
Here’s where to start.
1. Pick One Simple Offer
Skip the complicated deals. Choose one offer a customer can understand in five seconds.
A free dessert with any entrée. $10 off a $50 purchase. A free add-on with any service.
Then make sure your team can ring it in without stopping to ask. Set it up ahead of time and run a test sale.
2. Tell Your Regulars Before the Day
Don’t count on people finding out at the door. Let the customers who already love your place know it’s coming.
Send a quick email or text to your customer list. Post on social media. Put a sign at the register or on the front door.
You don’t have to register with anyone to run your own offer. Pick it, then spread the word.
3. Add a Gift Card or Loyalty Bonus
Give people a reason to come back after the 28th.
Offer a bonus card with a gift card purchase, like buy $50, get a $10 bonus card. Give double loyalty points for the day. Or hand out a welcome-back offer that’s good through December.
Gift cards are one of the easiest holiday sales. We cover them here: Holiday Gift Cards: A Quick Check Before the Rush.
Not sure your system can run a bonus like this? Give us a call.
4. Get Ready for the Line
A busy Saturday is the worst time to find out something isn’t working.
Turn on every terminal, printer, and card reader a few days early, and run a test order. Make sure everyone working that day knows the offer and how to ring it in.
For the full list, read Is Your POS Ready for the Holiday Rush?
5. Follow Up After the Weekend
The sale is just the start. A quick thank-you can turn a first-time visitor into a regular.
If you collected emails or phone numbers, send a short message on Monday. Thank them for coming in and give them a reason to come back in December.
No list yet? Post a thank-you on social media instead.
Already an HCS Customer?
Call us before the 28th for menu changes/pricing changes, printer routing, or anything that isn’t working right. You can also buy receipt paper and other supplies by phone, then pick them up or have them shipped.
Not an HCS Customer Yet?
If your system isn’t ready for a promotion and a busy Saturday, let’s talk. We offer a free demo, comparison, or quote, with real local support and no call center, ever.