Pulse November 2017 | Page 30

solviNg iNdustry ProBlEMs By KElly HEitz Getting in the Holiday Spirit with Small Business Saturday s an organization that serves small business owners and customers, ISPA is proud to support Small Business Saturday this November 25. Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 as a response to Black Friday and Cyber Monday to help strengthen local economies. Today, it’s a holiday shopping tradition celebrating a greater nationwide movement dedicated to uniting commu- nities and supporting all kinds of small businesses, including local spas. To position both your spa and your retail space in front of holiday shoppers, it’s important to put a little extra into your marketing efforts this time of year. It’s time to get ready now, before you get overwhelmed by the day-to-day holiday A 28 PULSE ■ November 2017 rush. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2015 Holiday Trends and Expectations study, more than a third of shoppers begin their holiday purchases by Halloween, which means it’s time to get moving! Here are some great last-minute ideas to jump-start your holiday season. 1. Get your name out there. If ever there’s a season and a reason to step up your marketing, it’s the holidays. The problem is, most small spas don’t have the budget to hire a marketing or publicity firm to get their name out, which makes it hard to compete with larger businesses. That’s why leveraging the marketing tools Small Business Saturday has is perfect for spas. Small Business Saturday is now one of the biggest shopping days of the year, and customers will specifically focus their attention on the small and local businesses that are such an important part of their communities—and they’ll be ready to spend money. 2. Work together. Banding together with other local businesses brings more attention and customers to your area. Work with a Small Business Saturday Neighborhood Champion to help plan and participate in local events. If your neighborhood doesn’t have one yet, you can apply to become a Neighborhood Champion for your neighborhood or community at shopsmall.com/rally.