With the fast approach of prime holiday shopping weeks, the competition for shoppers’ attention is fierce. Small businesses, which don’t usually have the budgets to offer substantial discounts or 2-for-1 deals, need to attract customers in other ways. Fortunately, many holiday promotions don’t require big expenses – just some creative ideas like the ones below.
1.Highlight your express delivery option.
Zeke Freeman, owner of
Bee Raw honey company, thinks express shipping is more of a draw than big discounts. “There are always people who need last-minute gifts,” Freeman says. If shoppers see that you’ll get the package to the recipient’s door in time for the holidays, they’ll have a powerful incentive to buy from you. You can even encourage larger orders by offering a
free express shipping option once the order reaches a certain value.
Tip: Make sure to specify the last date by which shoppers can order gifts to ensure the merchandise arrives by the occasion (for example, placing orders by December 18 to ensure delivery by December 24).
2.Offer credit to help with tight customer budgets.
Shoppers may hold back on holiday buying to avoid straining their budgets, but credit can help – and you don’t have to be a major retailer to offer it. If you use PayPal to process transactions,
PayPal Credit* is already built into your checkout. Shoppers can choose PayPal Credit if they want more time to pay for holiday gift orders over $99,** and it’s easy for them to apply.
Offering credit, says Janine Mastrorilli, owner and designer of accessories company Independent Reign, is a benefit for both small businesses and their customers. “It can be a huge boost for people thinking about pressing the ‘Buy’ button,” she says. Credit can also increase the size of orders, since shoppers might choose a few extra items to reach that $99 threshold.
3. Offer a gift-with-purchase promotion.
“This is a great way to encourage customers to spend a little bit more than they otherwise would,” says
small-business expert Rieva Lesonsky. “You can even offer different gifts at different spending levels, such as a small gift for a purchase of $50 and a larger gift for purchases over $100.” A gift-with-purchase promotion can also help you reduce overstock.
4.Throw a holiday party and showcase your products.
If you have a brick-and-mortar shop, consider scheduling an in-store holiday party to show off your products, share gift-giving advice, or simply offer some good holiday vibes. If you don’t have a retail storefront, you can host a party at your office or warehouse if the location is convenient for shoppers. Around the holidays, Bee Raw hosts cocktail parties where guests can learn about making honey-based cocktails, or how to pair cheese with honey.
5.Increase charitable giving.
In addition to giving gifts, shoppers are usually in the mood to give to good causes at holiday time. You can donate a portion of your holiday sales to a good cause, positioning your business as an easy place to buy gifts while also doing good for others.
Tip: A simple way to donate is through the
PayPal Giving Fund, where 100% of your donations goes to charities.
Looking for more holiday marketing ideas? Visit PayPal’s
holiday resource website for advice on making the most of this key retail season.
*PayPal Credit is subject to credit approval, as determined by the lender, Comenity Capital Bank.
**Applicable for purchases of $99 or more if paid in full in 6 months. Interest will be charged from the transaction posting date if the purchase is not paid in full by the promotional expiration date. PayPal Credit is subject to credit approval as determined by the lender Comenity Capital Bank.