The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Big benefits of lending support to Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday UK takes place tomorrow, December 1.
A grassroots, non-commercial campaign, it celebrates small business success and encourages consumers to shop local and to support businesses in their communities.
Now in its sixth year, it is the UK’S most successful small business campaign.
Last year saw around £748m spent with small businesses across the UK on Small Business Saturday.
Although the day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December, its impact lasts all year round.
The organisers are hoping that all kinds of small businesses get involved – from family businesses, local shops, online businesses, wholesalers, business services or small manufacturers.
Are you a big business and interested in supporting Small Business Saturday? Show your support for Small Business Saturday and encourage others to get involved.
Visit www.smallbusiness saturdayuk.com to discover all sorts of ways to get involved from the small business finder, a cook book full of delicious recipes and how to get the word out via social media.
Want to support your local small businesses as a local authority? Show your support for Small Business Saturday and encourage others to get involved! And if you’re a small business network who wants to support your local small businesses, you can find out how on the website.
We’re hurtling towards Christmas fast, just like every year. From now until December 24, you can expect to serve a steady flow of customers hunting for gifts, stocking up on food and drink or simply looking for that festive feeling. If there’s one way to stay organised and productive through the rush, it’s to write a checklist.
Small Business Saturday supporter Square offer their top tips for having the most successful Christmas ever.
Forecast your busiest times – data is your best friend when preparing for the Christmas shopping period. Ideally, every small business’s point-of-sale software should provide access to an online dashboard that’s kitted out with analytics tools
Update your store opening hours
Add festive imagery to your website and social media cover photos
Add some seasonal touches to your company’s “About” section
Post regularly on social media with company updates or offers.
Start using Facebook Messenger to communicate with customers
Theme your online advertising and social marketing campaigns
A queue out the door is a great thing for business, but impatient customers aren’t. You can prepare yourself for bigger crowds of shoppers by both speeding up the checkout process and offering customers more ways to pay:
Order more handheld readers so you can serve more than one customer on the shop floor.
Get a stand for your ipad to create a secure point-of-sale.
Get set up with virtual terminal software so that you can take payments remotely.
Offer invoicing options for high-value items.
www.smallbusiness saturdayuk.com