• Preparing Your Neosho Small Business for the Holiday Season

The holiday season is a momentous time for small businesses. Many small businesses make the majority of their yearly income during the holiday season. This makes it all the more important to have a plan in place to make the most of the holiday rush. Having a plan will help you prepare your storefront, hire seasonal staff, update your marketing strategy, and attract last-minute shoppers. Follow these tips from the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce and you'll be sure to have a successful holiday season!

Storefront Display Decorations

One of the first things customers will see when they come to your store is your holiday display. You want to make sure your display is festive and inviting. You don't have to go overboard—a few strings of lights and some holiday-themed signage will do the trick. If you have a limited budget, try reaching out to local schools or community organizations—they may be able to help with your decorating for free or at a reduced cost.

Hiring Seasonal Staff

If you're expecting an influx of customers during the holidays, you may need to hire some seasonal staff to help meet the demand. Seasonal staff can be a great asset to your business—they can provide an extra set of hands during busy times and can offer a fresh perspective. When hiring seasonal staff, be sure to take your time and carefully screen candidates—you want to make sure they'll be a good fit for your business.

Updating Your Marketing Strategy

The holidays are a great time to update your marketing strategy. Take advantage of traditional marketing techniques like flyers and newspaper ads, as well as digital marketing techniques like email marketing and social media. Make sure your marketing materials are up-to-date and accurate—nothing turns off customers more than outdated information. And don't forget to include a call-to-action (CTA). A CTA will encourage customers to take action, such as coming into your store or visiting your website.

Affordably Creating a PDF Gift Guide

A gift guide is a great way to promote items that are popular during the holidays. You can create PDF gift guides and post them on your website or social media pages. To keep costs down, create one master document with all the guides in one place. If you want to create smaller files, you can do a PDF split to separate them out. And be sure to include some eye-catching graphics—after all, attention-grabbing visuals are what will get people to click on your gift guide in the first place!

Securing Enough Stock 

Make sure you have enough inventory on hand to meet customer demand during the holidays. No one wants to come into a store only to find that the items they're looking for are out of stock. To avoid this issue, order inventory well in advance of the holidays and keep track of what's selling so you can adjust your ordering as needed. Also, don't forget to factor in lead time—it can take weeks or even months for new inventory to arrive, so plan accordingly!

Giving Back To Community

The holidays are also a great time for giving back to the community. There are many ways you can do this, such as donating time or money to local charities or hosting an event at your store. Not only will giving back make you feel good, but it will also generate positive publicity for your business. And who knows—you may even attract some new customers!

Attracting Last-Minute Shoppers

Last-minute shoppers are always looking for deals—so make sure you're offering them! Promote sales and discounts on social media and in-store so last-minute shoppers know they can find what they're looking for at a great price at your store. You can also offer gift-wrapping services or package items together as bundles (such as pairing an outfit with matching accessories). By being prepared for last-minute shoppers, you can boost sales and leave them with a positive impression of your business.

With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to having a successful holiday season! By taking the time to prepare ahead of time, you'll be able to get more sales and leave customers with a positive impression of your business that will last long after the holidays are over!