New Ideas For Small Business Holiday Marketing
by: J D Moore
2 seconds after Halloween it seems that all the retail stores put up their Christmas decorations - trying to capture as much of the Holiday market as possible. Typical ways that retail stores use to capitalize on the holidays include extended hours and sales. This is all well and good. Today I want to give you an early present by giving you some novel ways to think about holiday promotions.
Many people are fed up with holiday crowds, which is reflected in the growth of online sales and the decline of some traditional retailer's sales. There also seems to be a trend towards buying fewer gifts, but those gifts tend to be higher-ticket luxury items.
In the type of marketing we all should be doing ,we start with the customer in mind.
What do we know about people this time of year?
- Time is a commodity - there's too much to do and too little time. - People have more shopping to do than they usually do. - People are under a tremendous amount of stress. - People tend to clean and decorate their houses.
These are just some of the factors affecting people during the holiday season. I'm sure you can think of many more. Take these things into consideration, and take the stance of being a giver.
Here's an idea I've never seen (so I want credit if you use it). If you own a store, offer free gift wrap - nothing new there. While people are getting their gifts wrapped, they get a free chair massage? You could partner up with a local spa, or even a massage school who could also give every customer a promotional coupon. You save your customers time, take away their stress, and create a fusion marketing partnership with the spa.
If you are in a household service business, offer to do additional winterizing services for your customers to save them time. Offer a free holiday housecleaning. If you aren't in the cleaning business - again team up with a cleaning service.
Give-aways are great. Give away free Christmas trees - depending on where you are you could buy a couple hundred for $10 a piece. The deal could be - spend $100 and take
home a free tree. Give away turkeys, or complete turkey dinners - a lot of grocery stores have this promotion.
Everybody gives away calendars, aim for something different but still useful. How about ice-scrapers if you live in the north? Blankets, sweatshirts, caps - are all good promotional items when the weather turns cold.
Holiday cards are great. People enjoy getting them and displaying them. Hardly anybody sends Thanksgiving cards, definitely consider it. In this politically correct age (gasp) you have to be sensitive to people's religious sensibilities. Send Happy Holidays cards and not Merry Christmas Cards - unless you are absolutely sure your customer celebrates Christmas.
If you have any kind of retail business, think about add-on gifts that might be used as a second gift. A florist might include a free gift-wrapped ornament with a certain level of purchase that can be sent to a different address. Two gifts for the price of one. Buy one get one free offers are great at holiday times.
Use your creativity this holiday season and think about how you can solve your customers' problems.
Copyright 2005 Marketing Comet
About The Author
J D Moore - Marketing Comet Small business marketing coaching that gives you more customers, higher profits, and a lot more fun in your business. http://www.marketingcometcoach.com blog - http://marketingcomet.typepad.com
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Wedding Days: Love's in Bloom...Anyone Seen the Flowers?
Wedding Days:
Love's in Bloom...Anyone Seen the Flowers?
by: Peter Carnater
Everyone hopes to have a picture-perfect wedding day.
Getting to that point takes untold amounts of time, money,
energy and patience.
Even the tiniest detail cannot be
left unchecked, if we have any hope of eluding Murphy's
Law.
These days, brides-to-be must even consider potential
allergic reactions to their flowers, in addition to the
more traditional details.
It's enough to crush the faint
of heart.
A big item on the wedding planning list is the flowers for
the church, the wedding party and the reception. It that
goes wrong, it can be a real disaster. Many problems can
arise in this area, such as flowers not being delivered on
time, not fresh, or not the flowers the bride ordered. Just
imagine if your perfectly orchestrated color scheme is
ruined because the wrong colored flowers arrived...
Wedding Days: Love's in Bloom...Anyone Seen the Flowers?
Florist > Wedding Days: Love's in Bloom...Anyone Seen the Flowers?
Finding A Florist When You Need One
Finding A Florist When You Need One
by: Muzrak Maksidov
It's not always easy to find the right florist. Florist retail shopping
can be so time consuming and florist retail prices vary so much from
shop to shop, season to season, it's hard to know if you're getting the
best flower selection and the best price. Don't you wish there was an
easier way to buy flowers when you need them?
Well, there is an easier way; buying flowers online. Online florist
companies take the headaches out of flower selection, and a simple search
on the internet can provide hundreds of quick results. You can find a
florist who will take your order, take your credit card, and deliver
your flower arrangement or bouquet right to your loved one's door, often
on the very same day.
Need to send a flower arrangement to a sick friend's hospital room?
Your online florist will be happy to take care of that for you too. In
fact,...
Finding A Florist When You Need One
Florist > Finding A Florist When You Need One
Spice Up Your Living Space With Flowers
Spice Up Your Living Space With Flowers
by: Wesley Berry
Do-it-yourself home improvement is all the rage these days. Just flip on the television and you're sure to run across a program to teach you everything from how to paint a room to how to replace your shower stall. But, let's face it, even if you make those home improvements yourself, they can be quite costly. I've got a great solution that's far less expensive than a complete home makeover?flowers!
When you think about homes you've been in that you found truly appealing and welcoming, you probably noticed small touches that you recognized as perfectly fitting the style and personality of the person who lived there. Those small touches made that space, no matter how big or small, belong to its occupants. Flowers can do the same for you.
Depending on their color, type, and arrangement, flowers can express anything and any style. Which of these fits you or the mood you'd like your...
Spice Up Your Living Space With Flowers
Florist > Spice Up Your Living Space With Flowers
Wedding Flowers - Warm Or Pastel Shades
Wedding Flowers - Warm Or Pastel Shades
by: Mary Jane Holmes
No matter what type of wedding you are planning, whether it is going to be a big fancy formal affair or a simple informal one, it will almost certainly involve flowers. When you combine the beauty and fragrance of flowers with natural light, candles and soft, tinted electric lighting, the effect can be breath taking. To set a romantic scene for the wedding match the ribbons, flowers and lights in warm or pastel shades to complement or match your color scheme.
If you are going to need a lot of flowers give your florist plenty of notice so that he can free up time to get your order ready .How do you decide the amount of flowers that you will need? Make yet another list. Who needs flowers? The Bride, Maid of Honor, Bridesmaid, Flower Girl, mothers of the bride and groom, boutonnieres for the Groom, ushers, Fathers of the bride and Groom, grandparents of both the bride and groom. That...
Wedding Flowers - Warm Or Pastel Shades
Florist > Wedding Flowers - Warm Or Pastel Shades
Mother's Day Flowers
Mother's Day Flowers
by: Tenley McDonald
Mother?s Day is Sunday, May 8th! Whether she lives next door or across the country, Send Mom a beautiful Fresh Flower Arrangement to celebrate her "Special Day!" Your local florist can design and deliver the perfect gift to Mom this year.
A Vase or Basket of Mom?s Favorite flowers will be a welcome surprise. Lilies, Roses and Orchids are especially popular for Mother?s Day. With Spring in full swing, Tulips and Daisies are abundant as well. Ask your local florist for creative suggestions based on your Mom?s favorite floral variety and/or colors. You may also find that they have some unique/specialty vases or containers available to showcase Mom?s blooms!
A Green or Blooming Plant can be delivered with your "Happy Mother?s Day" message. A decorative bow can be added for that special touch. Fresh Cut Flowers can also be added to a planted gift for an extra splash of color.
A Floral Centerpiece...
Mother's Day Flowers
Florist > Mother's Day Flowers
How To Dispose Of Your Old ATV Tires
How To Dispose Of Your Old ATV Tires
by: Bill B. Carmel
When it comes time to replace your old and worn ATV tires, many riders are eager to purchase new tires, but many are unaware what to do with the old ones. Regardless where you live, throwing old tires in a body or water or natural environment is improper?and in many cases illegal?since the tires can corrupt nature. When disposing of your old ATV tires, be sure to do so in a proper and legal manner that will...
New Ideas For Small Business Holiday Marketing How To Dispose Of Your Old ATV Tires tires Florist
Florist > How To Dispose Of Your Old ATV Tires
How To Appeal Your Denied Social Security Claims?
How To Appeal Your Denied Social Security Claims?
by: Jinky C. Mesias
Social Security is an agency of rules and regulations. These rules and regulations command for strict compliance among its members. During the processing of claims it cannot be helped that some claims are rejected or denied. The rejections of the claims are based on a thorough analysis of all supporting documents and papers submitted to the agency. Nevertheless, it is also natural for members...
New Ideas For Small Business Holiday Marketing How To Appeal Your Denied Social Security Claims? hearing aids
Florist > How To Appeal Your Denied Social Security Claims?
How To Improve Online Get Paid To Survey Models For More Profits!
How To Improve Online Get Paid To Survey Models For More Profits!
by: Kenneth Echie
As somebody who has spent the last 2 years doing online surveys, I have come to notice a few things wrong with most of the current online survey models. The behavior of my affiliates and visitors to my online survey review website (http://www.extra-income-ideas.com/paid-to-survey.html) also gives me unique perspective in the industry.
I know for me some of the things wrong...
How To Improve Online Get Paid To Survey Models For More Profits! New Ideas For Small Business Holiday Marketing online degree
Florist > How To Improve Online Get Paid To Survey Models For More Profits!
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New Ideas For Small Business Holiday Marketing ringtones Florist
New Ideas For Small Business Holiday Marketing tires Florist