There are over 5.5 million small businesses in the UK, from craft stalls and retailers to freelance tutors, caterers and accountants. Together, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 99% of all businesses in the UK.
99%. They create jobs locally, encourage innovation and support communities by keeping money in the area.
Join the movement this December with these quick and easy marketing ideas for Small Business Saturday.
What is Small Business Saturday?
Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.
– Small Business Saturday UK
During the pandemic, millions started new businesses from home, turning a side hustle into a full-time revenue stream. Just look at Joe Wicks – The Body Coach shot to fame in 2020 with his home workouts, which received millions of views and generated millions of pounds in revenue during the early days of lockdown.
But you don’t need millions of YouTube views to make it as a small business – you just need a product or service that people want or need, and a commitment to make it work.
Take action today to make the most of the coming festive season, with these marketing ideas for Small Business Saturday:
- register with Small Business Saturday UK
- create special offers
- host an event
Read on for more detail on each.
Nothing too crazy, but still worth a read.
Register with Small Business Saturday UK:
You can create a free account on the official Small Business Saturday UK website. This gives access to a marketing pack, which includes posters and social media graphics to help you promote your small business in the lead-up to the event. It also offers you the opportunity to be included on the small business finder interactive map.
Create special offers:
Offer bundle discounts (buy two, get one free) to encourage buyers to spend more on gifts for friends and family.
Or offer a small voucher to spend in store in the New Year (often a quiet period for many businesses) – shoppers are likely to spend more than the value of the voucher to purchase something they like, bringing you additional revenue.
But it’s not just about discounts – you could also offer complimentary gift wrapping or a free gift at checkout on Saturday 3 December.
Eco-friendly fabric shopping bags make excellent freebies, as they are practical, low cost, and promote your brand long after the customer has left your store.
Host an event:
Another way to boost your business on Small Business Saturday is with an event.
Host a coffee morning with cake (who doesn’t love cake?) and hot drinks for customers. Professional services such as beauty salons, legal services or personal trainers could hold an open house with free 5-minute consultations.
You could give demonstrations on how to use your product or invite customers to come along and try a free sample.
Your event could also offer a discount to customers booking appointments on Small Business Saturday or host a workshop giving top tips your customers will love.
Start planning today:
Remember to share your plans on social media, using the relevant #hashtags (#SmallBizSaturday #SmallBusinessSaturday #SmallBizSatUK #ShopSmall). You probably also want to follow these tags so you can connect with other small businesses in your local area.
Even though it only happens once a year, Small Business Saturday is a great way to connect with customers. Make the most of the opportunity by encouraging them to join your email marketing list or launching a loyalty card that brings them back to shop again and again.
And don’t forget; there’s still time to order your branded bags in time for Small Business Saturday.
They’re affordable, eco-friendly and popular with customers – almost as popular as cake…
PS Here are 12 quick ideas to boost your marketing this Christmas.