Ozark Chamber of Commerce

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Readying Your Ozark, MO Business for the Holidays

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November 28, 2022

The holiday season is a crucial time for small businesses. According to the National Retail Federation, holiday sales account for 20% of annual retail sales, so it's important to have a strategy in place to make the most of the season. Here are some tips from the Ozark Chamber of Commerce on how to prepare your small business for the holidays.

Decorating Your Store for the Holidays

One of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit is to decorate your store. This will make your store more inviting and put customers in a festive mood, which can lead to increased sales. But before you start hanging up lights and putting up decorations, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

First, safety is always paramount. Make sure all of your decorations are safe and secure so they don't pose a danger to customers or employees. Second, be mindful of your budget. Don't go overboard with expensive decorations that you can't afford. And third, think about your store's overall aesthetic. You want your decorations to complement your brand, not clash with it.

Adding Seasonal Help

The holidays are also a busy time for businesses, which means you may need to hire some seasonal help to handle the increased customer traffic. When hiring seasonal employees, it's important to take your time and find people who are a good fit for your business. Be sure to conduct thorough interviews and reference checks. And once you've hired someone, take the time to train them properly so they're ready to hit the ground running on day one.

Changing Your Marketing for the Holidays

The holidays are a great time to mix up your marketing strategy and try something new. One way to do this is by creating holiday-themed content that speaks to your target audience. This could be anything from blog posts and social media posts to email newsletters and print ads. You can also run holiday-specific promotions or offer discounts on gift cards or bundled products. Whatever marketing changes you make, just be sure they're in line with your brand identity and messaging.

Creating Easy Gift Guides Using PDFs

If you sell products that would make great gifts, one way to increase sales is by creating a gift guide using PDFs. This guide can be emailed or shared online, and it's an easy way for customers to see what gift options are available at your store. Follow these steps to convert PDF to jpeg and make it easily shareable through social media. To create a gift guide, simply make a list of products with descriptions and pricing information, then format it into a PDF document using an online design tool.

Helping Last-Minute Shoppers

No matter how well you plan, there will always be some shoppers who wait until the last minute to buy gifts. That's why it's important to have a plan in place for how you'll deal with last-minute shoppers. One option is to offer express shipping for orders. You can also offer gift-wrapping services or have staff on hand who can help shoppers pick out the perfect gifts on the spot. Whatever you do, just be sure you're prepared so you don't miss out on any sales opportunities during the busiest shopping days of the year.

Giving Back to the Community

By supporting your local community during the holidays, you can help to ease some of the financial burden that many families face. There are many ways to do this, such as donating food or gifts to local charities, or volunteering your time at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. By giving back to those in need, you can help make the holidays a little brighter for everyone. So this holiday season, remember to support your local community and give back however you can.

The holiday season is the biggest time of year for many small businesses. Follow these tips on decorating your store, hiring seasonal help, marketing changes, creating an easy gift guide, helping last-minute shoppers, and supporting your local community will help ensure that your small business makes the most of the holiday season!

 

Access even more great resources to help your business grow and thrive in our community by joining the Ozark Chamber of Commerce.

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