Valentine’s Day is less than a month away! Consumers spend an average of $130.97 per person on their sweethearts, so clearly there’s a lot of potential for small businesses in the retail and restaurant industries. Those of you in the service-oriented space can still celebrate this holiday even though the festivities might not increase your sales. Remember, a big part of branding is making people feel good about working with your company. So February 14th gives you an opportunity to make meaningful connections with your clients.
14 Creative Ways to Love Your Customers on Valentine’s Day
EDDM Campaign for Restaurants- Every Door Direct Mail would be the best choice for any local marketing campaign, but I’m focusing on restaurants for a reason. Fine dining and Valentine’s Day go hand in hand. I suggest fancy restaurants target couples in high income areas. Casual diners, cafes, bakeries, etc. should stick with customers within a 5-10 mile radius of your location. Don’t forget to put coupons on your postcards!
Send Custom Greeting Cards- Business Valentine’s Day greeting cards rock for any type of small biz, but cards may be the most valuable for professional service sectors i.e. accounting, construction, veterinarians, etc. For extra bonus points, write a handwritten message to give the cards a personal feel.
Give Candy and Serve Hot Cocoa- This one’s a no brainer. Everyone loves candy hearts and chocolates. You can put a little dish by your cash register or make goodie bags to put inside shopping bags or online orders. Since this holiday falls in the middle of winter, hot cocoa will be a welcome treat for shoppers. Plus, your store may smell of rich chocolate after a while, which appeals to the senses
Happy Couples Photos – Share pictures of happy couples who stop by your store on your Facebook page, Twitter, Google Plus, etc. If you’re feeling more adventurous, set up a special spot in the store where couples and familes can pose for fun photos. Be sure to remind them to tag you when they post the images online.
Promote Your Gift Certificates- It doesn’t matter what you sell—now’s the perfect time to push your gift certificate campaign forward. Post about your gift certificates on your website and social media. Be sure to add in store signage to the mix!
Lovely Themed Tweets- You’ll find that holidays generate a lot of social activities. While users tend to celebrate offline, they frequently post about their plans online, especially on Twitter. Valentine’s Day is already a trending topic! Themed tweets give you a way to join the conversation without seeming spammy because your content relates to the topic. Go all out, and post Valentine’s images on #WordlessWednesday, #ThrowbackThursday, etc.
Decorate Your Storefront- I say this every holiday because I prefer to buy from stores who care. As a consumer, I see cute decorations as a sign that you’re happy to be a part of the community.
Review Local Restaurants on Your Blog- I’m always trying to get small businesses to collaborate for bigger results. If you live in a sleepy suburb or rural area, then use this tactic for a cross promotion (you post a review of a restaurant on your blog, they post gift ideas from your store on social, etc.)
Create Printable Designs for Kids- Don’t forget your littlest customers! Set up a table with art supplies for kids to get creative while mom or dad searches for a present. Don’t have enough space? Wait till the children get to the register with their parents and hand them a fun paper craft to color.
Make His and Hers Gift Sets- There’s tons of potential here. Expand on the theme with gift packages for moms, dads, grandparents, young lovers, single studs, teenage puppy love, whatever profile your customers fit. Take pictures, upload the gift sets to your blog, and then run an email campaign with the material.
Holiday Giveaway/Contest- It just so happens that PrintFirm will be running a Valentine’s Day giveaway. You can do the same thing, just make sure the prize is relevant to your business. A gift certificate would be a good choice or maybe a coupon for dinner for 2 at a neighborhood restaurant you reviewed!
Free Gift Wrap- Why force your customers to find their own gift bags or wrapping paper? Stock up on supplies, and make your own labels with your logo to give the packaging more branding impact.
Heart Shaped Hang Tags- Die cut price tags or gift tags dress up your inventory to match your decorations. Custom tags also give people a reason to remember your store.
Love Poem for Your Newsletter- Newsletters shouldn’t focus on selling; they’re for updates and tips, and anecdotes about your business. Why not write a poem dedicated to your customers to show the love in February?