The holiday season is a time when small businesses can really shine. With the right planning and execution, you can make the most of this busy time and create some major successes for your business. To help you get started, the Boardman Chamber of Commerce has put together a checklist of things to do before and during the holiday season. So read on, and get ready to take your business to the next level!

1. Decorate Your Storefront

Brightening up the outside of your store with some nice decorations is one of the best ways to encourage everyone to open their hearts to the holidays – not to mention their wallets. After all, your storefront is the first thing customers will see when they walk down the street, so you want to make sure it looks warm and inviting. Put up some holiday lights, hang some wreaths, and generally make your store look festive. It’s also a good idea to incorporate as many of your own products as possible into your decorations for some additional free advertising.

2. Prep for the Holiday Rush

The holidays are a busy time for everyone, so you need to make sure you're prepared for an increase in customers. First, check your inventory and make sure you order plenty of goods to meet customer demand. The last thing you want to do is miss out on this golden opportunity because you got your orders in too late! Also, restock your shelves regularly and train your staff on how to handle the holiday rush.

3. Hire Seasonal Staff

If you're expecting a lot of customers during the holiday season, you might need to hire some seasonal staff. This can help you cope with the increased customer demand and ensure that your business runs smoothly. Seasonal staff can be a great asset to any business, so it's worth considering if you're looking to improve your customer service during the busiest time of year. Also, make sure you let your staff know how much you appreciate their hard work – especially when business picks up and the long lines and crowds naturally cause stress levels to rise a little bit.

4. Create an Eye-Catching Gift Guide

Customers are always looking for the perfect present, which is why you should have an easy-to-follow guide that helps them find their loved ones' favorite things. You can create both physical and online gift guides, depending on your preference. Or better yet, create both!

In fact, if you want to take your marketing to the next level, finish creating your PDF gift guide, then use this free tool to split it into multiple PDFs that you can then share with different social media groups for some additional targeted marketing. This is a great way to help get the word out while demonstrating an active interest in the needs and interests of your customer base. 

5. Update Your Marketing for the Season

Make sure your marketing materials reflect the holiday season. Specifically, that means changing up your website, creating special holiday-themed social media posts, and sending out seasonal email newsletters.

6. Create Intriguing Promotional Offers

Christmas is a great time to create promotional offers and discounts to entice customers into buying from you. In addition to the PDF gift guide discussed earlier, try to design some eye-catching promotions or coupons that you can share via social media. 

7. Decide How to Give Back to the Community

Remember, being a business owner during the holidays isn’t just about work and profit. In fact, giving back to the community is an important part of being a responsible business owner. There are many ways you can do this, such as donating products or services to charity, sponsoring a local family in need, or volunteering your time at a local soup kitchen or food bank.

8. Lure Last-Minute Shoppers

Last-minute shoppers are always looking for good deals, so make sure you have some great offers and promotions lined up for them. You can advertise these deals online or in-store, or both! By following these tips, you'll be sure to have a successful holiday season.

The holidays are an important time for small businesses when shoppers spend billions of dollars on gifts. Follow this checklist to get your business ready for the holiday season, including decorating your storefront, stocking up on supplies, hiring seasonal staff, creating promotional offers, and giving back to the community. With some preparation and effort, you can make this holiday season your best yet!