The holidays are a magical time of year. Families come together, friends exchange gifts, and everyone is in good spirits. 'Tis the season for giving, after all! But if you own a small business, the holidays can also be a stressful time. There's so much to do to get ready for the holiday rush. But don't worry, we're here to help. Here's a checklist from the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance of everything you need to do to get your small business ready for the holiday season.

1. Decorate Your Store to Delight

One of the best ways to attract holiday shoppers is to decorate your storefront. Put up some festive lights, hang a wreath on the door, and put out a sign that says "Happy Holidays!" This will let customers know that you're open for business and getting into the holiday spirit.

2. Get Ready for Holiday Shoppers

The holidays are a busy time for everyone, so it's important to be prepared for an increase in customer traffic. Make sure you have enough staff on hand to handle the influx of customers, and stock up on supplies so you don't run out of what people are looking for.

3. Add Season Staff for Necessary Help

If you don't already have seasonal staff, now is the time to hire them. Seasonal workers can help with everything from stocking shelves to ringing up customers. This will free up your regular staff to focus on other tasks, and it will make sure that your customers are well taken care of during this busy time of year.

4. Make Gift Guides with Attractive Products

One way to make shopping easier for your customers is to create a gift guide. This can be either an online or print version, and it should include items that are popular this holiday season. You can also include gift ideas for different types of people (like kids, adults, or pets) to make it even easier for people to find what they're looking for.

5. Give Back to the Local Community

One of the best things about the holidays is that it's a time when people think about giving back to those less fortunate than themselves. As a small business owner, you can give back by donating items from your store or offering discounts to people who are struggling financially this holiday season. You could also host a food drive or clothing drive at your store, or volunteer your time at a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Giving back is one of the best ways to spread holiday cheer.

6. Make Seasonal Updates to Your Marketing Materials

Make sure your marketing materials are updated with your holiday hours and any special promotions you'll be running during this time of year. This includes things like flyers, posters, website banners, and social media posts. By having everything up-to-date, you'll avoid any confusion among your customers about when they can shop with you during this busy season.

7. Create Promotional Offers Using PDFs

PDFs are a great way to create promotional offers that can be easily shared online or printed out and distributed in-store. You can use PDFs to create coupons, gift certificates, or even holiday-themed coloring pages that kids can take home with them after they've shopped at your store. This tool can help convert PDF to jpeg to make it easier to share on social media. These strategies are great ways to drive traffic to your store.

8. Have Gift Ideas for Last-Minute Shoppers

Let's face it: not everyone does their holiday shopping early. In fact, many people wait until the last minute to buy gifts because they're either procrastinators or they're trying to get better deals by waiting until stores start offering discounts closer to the holidays’ end. Either way, there will always be last-minute shoppers looking for gifts, so it's important to make sure your store is open and stocked with items that would make great last-minute gifts.

The holidays are a busy but wonderful time of year. If you own a small business, there are some things you need to do in order to prepare for the increased customer traffic and activity. By following our checklist, you can rest assured that your small business will be ready for whatever the holiday season throws its way. Wishing you all a happy (and stress-free) holiday season!

Looking for business support? The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance champions our community’s economic and cultural growth through networking, events, and advocacy. Become a member today!