When it comes to Small Business Saturday (November 26th this year), it’s all about bringing attention and – more importantly — business to the little guys. But as the saying goes, there’s power in numbers and one way to make it a big day is to band together with other local small businesses.
Sure, they may be your competitors in some instances, but focusing on the larger, overarching goal of promoting small business is what can result in a better day for everyone. Here are some ways businesses can partner together to make the most of Small Business Saturday.
Marketing. Go together with local businesses on advertising – both online and off – to send one big message about the importance of small business in the community.
Entertainment. Think face painters, musicians and balloon artists who will make for a festive day. Several businesses can go together to hire entertainers and have the performers roam from store to store.
Cross promote. Offer to put other businesses’ promotional materials in your shopping bags or at your register in exchange for them doing the same for yours.
Contests. Consider holding a contest, like a scavenger hunt that involves people visiting each of the participating businesses.
Create a co-package. Consider offering a package that includes the products or services of two or more businesses and sells them at all the participating stores.
Register with the official American Express “shop small” website. This site lets people find small businesses across the region to support. Bonus: It’s free and easy to register.
With studies showing that more than 90 percent of Americans believe it’s important to support local small businesses, Small Business Saturday is a huge opportunity to serve those people and serve them well. Put your heads together with other business owners to see what other kinds of creative strategies you can come up with to bring the shoppers out and show them just how good small business can be.
