Shopping locally during the holidays has a huge impact on the community. Not only does it strengthen the local economy, but it also fosters community goodwill and supports small businesses. If you're thinking about launching a holiday shop local campaign, here are some tips to make it a success courtesy of the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce.
There are a few things you need to do to get your holiday shop local campaign off the ground. First, you need to compile a list of all the participating businesses. This can be done by reaching out to local chambers of commerce, business associations, and other business networking groups.
Once you have your list of participants, you need to create promotional materials. This can include things like print ads, social media posts, e-newsletters, and website banners. Finally, you need to determine how you're going to promote your campaign. This might involve working with local media outlets, distributing flyers, and putting up posters around town. Alignable points out that visual storytelling is key when it comes to getting your “buy local” message out to the community.
In order to get people to shop at local businesses during the holidays, businesses need to offer incentives. One way to do this is by offering exclusive discounts and coupons for shoppers who purchase from local businesses. Another way is to offer loyalty rewards for frequent shoppers. You can also enter customers into prize drawings for shopping at local businesses during the holidays.
The holiday season is a busy time for businesses, as customers are inundated with choices for where to spend their money. To stand out from the competition, businesses need to get creative with their marketing and promotional efforts. One way to do this is by teaming up with other businesses to co-host events or jointly promote each other's products and services. For example, two businesses could co-host a holiday party or offer customers a discount if they purchase products from both businesses.
Groupon notes that this type of joint marketing not only helps businesses to reach a wider audience, but it also shows customers that they are supporting local businesses. In turn, this can build customer loyalty and help businesses to thrive during the holiday season.
There are many ways businesses can promote a holiday shop local campaign. One way is to offer discounts and specials exclusively for shoppers who purchase from local businesses. Another way is to host joint events with other businesses in the community. This could be something like a holiday open house or a holiday trunk show. You can also promote your campaign by displaying posters and flyers in your store or office, and by sharing information about it on social media.
Your promotions need to be advertised, and what better way to do that than creating a PDF that can be shared on social media, included in an email marketing campaign, or posted on your website. Using a PDF to promote your business and your holiday promotions is a great way to reach a large audience, who can view the info on everything from a PC or Mac to a smartphone or tablet. Reorganizing, updating or removing pages or sections is also possible, and can be done quickly when you use a PDF editor online that allows you to add text, graphics and more in just four easy steps.
One of the best ways businesses can foster community goodwill during the holidays is by giving back to those in need. This could involve partnering with a local charity or food bank, or hosting a holiday toy drive. Another way to foster community goodwill is by offering free shipping or gift wrapping for purchases made at local businesses during the holidays.
The holidays are a great time to launch a shop local campaign in your community. Not only does shopping locally benefit the community as a whole, but it also supports small businesses during one of their busiest times of the year. By following these tips – from launching and incentivizing your promotion to teaming up with other businesses and using PDFs in your advertising – you can make sure your holiday shop local campaign is a success!
If you’re ready to grow your business with the help of great local resources and partnerships, join the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce.