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As a small business owner, you know that making connections with customers is important at any time of the year. Thankfully, a busy festive season presents even more opportunities to communicate with customers since they’ll (hopefully!) be visiting your shop more often.
A memorable product assortment, exciting deals and a convenient shopping experience are all things that make lasting impressions on customers. And these elements don’t have to be overly complicated or expensive…even the smallest details make a difference. So, this year, get creative with some of our small business Christmas ideas to help you stand out and make your marketing shine.
7 DIY Christmas ideas for 2022:
- Refresh merchandise with Christmas-ready retail tags.
- Let business cards double as referral cards.
- Use stickers to spruce up packaging.
- Package in-store purchases with branded bags.
- Add style to delivered orders.
- Offer local gift delivery and easy in-store collection.
- Step up your social media game with a giveaway.
- Create a seasonal calendar.
1. Refresh merchandise with Christmas-ready retail tags.
Whether pinned to a shirt or tied around a jam jar, customised retail tags are an easy way to add branded festive flair to almost any item. Order a special batch for the festive season (maybe something with gold foil for a little shimmer) and even encourage your customers to use the reverse side as a ‘To/From’ gift tag.
2. Let business cards double as referral cards.
Business cards can be used for so much more than just, well, business cards — especially during the festive season. You might use business cards as referral tools all year, but right now is a great time to really lean into it. Generate some word-of-mouth marketing by placing a card with a special refer-a-friend perk in each order. Whether you offer free delivery, a festive freebie or a discount on their next purchase, you’re creating a thoughtful connection with your customer…and enticing them to come back. Don’t forget to show your appreciation for their loyalty by thanking them for their business as well.
3. Use stickers to spruce up packaging.
Great packaging can make a difference, especially in the age of Instagram and TikTok unboxings. Place your logo or a unique design onto stickers and make sure they go on everything you send out during the festive season. You can even use sheet stickers instead of tape when wrapping products in custom tissue paper! Or, add something fun to every order with a single sticker — shoppers will love getting a gifted bonus item from your business.
4. Package in-store purchases with branded bags.
When branded with your logo, shopping bags are an easy way to spread the word about your business — why not let your customers carry your brand forward? You can either order a batch of bags printed with your logo or a festive motif, or customise your current plain paper bags with logo stickers or a personalised stamp. You can even reward your best Christmas shoppers with a special tote bag — they’ll use it well beyond the festive season, and this kind of speciality swag will make them feel extra appreciated.
5. Add style to delivered orders.
If you’re posting orders to customers, coordinate your packing with the rest of your marketing materials. Add your logo to your return labels and packaging tape, and order Christmas-ready mailer boxes and shipping envelopes so everything you send out will arrive in style. Want to get even more personal with packages? Add a handwritten thank you note or Christmas postcard to each order to show your appreciation.
6. Offer local gift delivery and easy in-store collection.
In the past few years, we’ve seen a surge in contactless deliveries and collections. Continue offering these services throughout the festive season to give your customers some added convenience. Streamline the process by designating a collection area outside of your brick-and-mortar shop or studio, or offering doorstep delivery of wrapped, ready-to-gift items. And don’t forget to spread the word about these services with posts on your social channels or as a P.S. on your next postcard mailing.
7. Step up your social media game with a giveaway.
Get customers excited about Christmas — and your small business — with a giveaway. Create a social media post that asks customers to enter by following your account and tagging a friend or two in the comments. This will increase your visibility in a low-cost way, and can help you gain new followers and engage your existing ones. Whether you decide to give away a branded tote bag, complimentary service, gift card or another piece of merchandise, a giveaway is a surefire way to create some excitement around your business.
VistaPrint Tip
Add a festive feel to your social posts with a festive-inspired template from VistaCreate. Find one you love, then customise it with your brand colours, logo and business name.
8. Create a seasonal calendar.
We’re all familiar with Advent calendars…but what about a Christmas marketing calendar for your small business? Consider creating a calendar that you can print on flyers and hand out to your customers, or print on a poster and display in your shop. It can just cover the month of December, or start as early as October (don’t forget about spooky season!) and run into the new year. Fill the days and weeks with promotional offers, customer challenges, in-store events, giveaways, rewards and more — get creative and get shoppers excited.
