Is Black Friday Still a Thing?
Black Friday used to mean one thing: shoppers lining up before sunrise to score the biggest deals of the year. Today, it looks a little different. Online sales, early promotions, and extended holiday shopping events have changed the game and it's always been a bit different for service-based businesses, but does that mean Black Friday is no longer relevant for small businesses? Not at all!
Black Friday is still an opportunity to attract customers/members. The key is finding a way to participate that makes sense for your business and your budget.
You Don’t Have to Offer Deep Discounts
Consider offering a limited-time promotion, a free gift with purchase, a bundled service or a special perk. For the brick and mortar offering products: you could even highlight a popular product or service as a holiday gift idea without discounting it at all. The goal isn’t to give away your profits. It’s to give customers a compelling reason to shop with you, or members a reason to join. For service-based members such as gyms: maybe it's not about a sale but a free class with refreshments after a day of shopping.
Make It About More Than One Day
Black Friday doesn’t have to be a single-day event. Consider extending your promotion through Small Business Saturday or creating a weekend-long event. For service-based businesses, a special package or a gift certificate promotion could be a better fit than a traditional sale. Choose an approach that works for your customers and your business, rather than trying to keep up with every retailer’s holiday campaign.
Get the Word Out
Even the best promotion won’t help if no one knows about it. Start sharing your plans on social media before the big day, send an email to your customer or member list and update your Google Business Profile with relevant offers or holiday hours (if we manage your GBP, let us know if you're doing something so we can post it for you!). Use eye-catching graphics, clear messaging and a specific call to action so customers and members know exactly how to participate. Don’t forget to remind customers why shopping small matters. Every purchase helps support local jobs, families and the community.
So, Should Your Small Business Participate?
If you can create an offer that benefits both your customers and your bottom line, Black Friday is worth considering. You don’t need a huge advertising budget or a complicated promotion to make an impact.
Black Friday may look different than it used to, especially for the service-based businesses out there, but it can still be a great opportunity for small businesses to finish the year strong. Contact us to explore simple, effective ways to take advantage of this shopping holiday!
