| Two seconds after Halloween it seems that all | | | | create a fusion marketing partnership with the |
| the retail stores put up their Christmas | | | | spa. |
| decorations - trying to capture as much of the | | | | If you are in a household service business, offer |
| Holiday market as possible. Typical ways that | | | | to do additional winterizing services for your |
| retail stores use to capitalize on the holidays | | | | customers to save them time. Offer a free |
| include extended hours and sales. This is all well | | | | holiday housecleaning. If you aren't in the cleaning |
| and good. Today I want to give you an early | | | | business - again team up with a cleaning service. |
| present by giving you some novel ways to think | | | | Give-aways are great. Give away free Christmas |
| about holiday promotions. | | | | trees - depending on where you are you could |
| Many people are fed up with holiday crowds, | | | | buy a couple hundred for $10 a piece. The deal |
| which is reflected in the growth of online sales and | | | | could be - spend $100 and take home a free tree. |
| the decline of some traditional retailer's sales. | | | | Give away turkeys, or complete turkey dinners - |
| There also seems to be a trend towards buying | | | | a lot of grocery stores have this promotion. |
| fewer gifts, but those gifts tend to be | | | | Everybody gives away calendars, aim for |
| higher-ticket luxury items. | | | | something different but still useful. How about |
| In the type of marketing we all should be doing | | | | ice-scrapers if you live in the north? Blankets, |
| ,we start with the customer in mind. What do we | | | | sweatshirts, caps - are all good promotional items |
| know about people this time of year? | | | | when the weather turns cold. |
| Time is a commodity - there's too much to do | | | | Holiday cards are great. People enjoy getting |
| and too little time. | | | | them and displaying them. Hardly anybody sends |
| People have more shopping to do than they | | | | Thanksgiving cards, definitely consider it. In this |
| usually do. | | | | politically correct age (gasp) you have to be |
| People are under a tremendous amount of stress. | | | | sensitive to people's religious sensibilities. Send |
| People tend to clean and decorate their houses. | | | | Happy Holidays cards and not Merry Christmas |
| These are just some of the factors affecting | | | | Cards - unless you are absolutely sure your |
| people during the holiday season. I'm sure you can | | | | customer celebrates Christmas. |
| think of many more. Take these things into | | | | If you have any kind of retail business, think |
| consideration, and take the stance of being a | | | | about add-on gifts that might be used as a |
| giver. | | | | second gift. A florist might include a free |
| Here's an idea I've never seen (so I want credit if | | | | gift-wrapped ornament with a certain level of |
| you use it). If you own a store, offer free gift | | | | purchase that can be sent to a different address. |
| wrap - nothing new there. While people are | | | | Two gifts for the price of one. Buy one get one |
| getting their gifts wrapped, they get a free chair | | | | free offers are great at holiday times. |
| massage? You could partner up with a local spa, | | | | Use your creativity this holiday season and think |
| or even a massage school who could also give | | | | about how you can solve your customers' |
| every customer a promotional coupon. You save | | | | problems. |
| your customers time, take away their stress, and | | | | |