It`s A Date! Three Tips for Entrepreneurs to Boost Their Holiday Business
Released on = April 24, 2007, 2:22 pm
Press Release Author = Evan Carmichael
Industry = Small Business
Press Release Summary = April 24, 2007 (Toronto, CA) -- Mother's Day is just around the corner. For husbands, daughters and sons everywhere that means the start of an often stressful search to find just the right present for that special woman in their lives. For entrepreneurs, it should represent just one of the many unique promotional opportunities that present themselves throughout the year.
Press Release Body = April 24, 2007 (Toronto, CA) -- Mother's Day is just around the corner. For husbands, daughters and sons everywhere that means the start of an often stressful search to find just the right present for that special woman in their lives. For entrepreneurs, it should represent just one of the many unique promotional opportunities that present themselves throughout the year.
Most small business owners understand just how important the winter-holiday shopping season is, which can often bring in anywhere from 25 percent to 40 percent of their annual sales. But, as entrepreneurship expert Evan Carmichael suggests, holiday marketing tactics should not just be limited to Christmas.
"There are twelve months in the year," says Carmichael, "and almost a major holiday in every one. If entrepreneurs are not making the most out of one or all of those promotional events, they are hugely missing out."
From the shopping bonanzas that are Valentine's Day and Halloween, to the lesser-celebrated but equally as profit-promising St. Patrick's Day, holidays present to entrepreneurs unique marketing opportunities. "Entrepreneurs are creative people, and there is no better time for them to use that talent than during holidays," says Carmichael. "With a little extra effort, they can come up with exciting promotions to grab customers that they otherwise might not get."
In order for entrepreneurs to make the most of this retail calendar, Carmichael suggests there are a number of things they can do: "First and foremost, you need to plan ahead. Any kind of effective marketing campaign takes time. Examine the trends from previous years and start from there."
Second, Carmichael suggests being as creative as possible with promotions. "Holidays are a time to have fun, so make sure what your business is offering lives up to that," he says. "Be as wild and crazy with your ideas as you want, but make sure you'll be reaching your target audience." From holding visible public contests, to creating holiday customer rewards and offering free shipping, to donating a portion of all proceeds to charity, Carmichael says there is no shortage of ways for entrepreneurs to make themselves stand out from the competition during holidays.
Finally, if entrepreneurs are stuck for finding unique ways to utilize the mainstream holidays to their advantage, Carmichael suggests they create their own: "January 8th is the start of National Thank-Your-Customers Week, while August 5th is Friendship Day. Why not do something around those types of unique holidays?" In fact, he says, it is often smarter for smaller business owners to create their own holidays than try to compete with the corporate giants on already well-established ones.
But, says Carmichael, whatever holiday you choose to hook your promotions on, "just make sure you get your message out there. A special mother's day gift certificate to the spa, or a new line of all green products for St. Patrick's Day will have little effect if nobody knows about them. Create something memorable so people will have your company's name in mind the next time around."
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Evan Carmichael is available for an interview. Please contact him at evan@evancarmichael.com.
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