It won’t be long now! The official start of spring takes place on Sunday, March 20th. For business owners, this is a pretty exciting time of year. The spring season is one enjoyed by many Canadians for the obvious reason that it marks the end of winter. Utilizing this time of year as part of a marketing strategy is a great way to attract customers. After all, people will be leaving their homes more often when the weather heats up.
Here are four small business marketing strategies to grow spring sales:
1. Host a ‘Spring Cleaning’ event.
It goes without saying that spring cleaning is a popular tradition at this time of year. Why can’t your business get in on the action? Clear out your winter-based inventory with a “Spring Cleaning Sale”. Bundle products and offer them at discount prices so that you can get them off your shelves.
“You don’t have to own a cleaning company to host a ‘Spring Cleaning’ event,” Lisa Furgison reminds us on Fivestars.com, “Your business can clean out old inventory and offer it at marked down rates. Tell customers that you’re cutting prices on popular items to make room for newer items, even if it means restaurant menu items you’re taking down until next year.”
2. Try to secure some product testimonials.
Is there anything better than word of mouth promotion? We think not. Nearly all business owners are sure to agree. Consumers trust the words of other consumers. To boost sales this spring, post some testimonials from your most loyal customers. On Fundbox.com, Stephanie Taylor Christensen encourages business owners to reach out to shoppers who may have large social media followings.
“Ask them to describe one or two specific benefits they experienced from the product that changed their life in some small way, which can include saving them time, money, or reducing stress,” she suggests, “Feature one new customer testimonial on your website for each day or week of spring, selecting testimonials that specifically communicate how your product or service provided a ‘fresh start.’”
3. Create a Mother’s Day contest.
The springtime brings us the wonderful celebration of mommies everywhere. This year, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 8th. This gives you ample time to prepare a special promotion surrounding the annual celebration. Furgison recommends a photo contest that you can conduct via social media.
“Ask your fans to upload a picture of their mom and explain why she is an inspiration,” she advises, “Dove, the maker’s of beauty products, created a campaign just like this. Using #BeautyStory, the company asked fans to submit a picture of their mom and explain a beauty lesson that their mom passed down. Submissions came rushing in. Why? Everyone has a mom, so it’s a relatable contest.”
4. Upgrade your POS terminal.
Make it easy for your customers to process their payments in your store. At Unity Payments, we proudly offer Canadian merchants a variety of high-quality POS terminals to choose from. You can easily and securely accept credit card and debit card payments with the Newland 910, the Ingenico Desk 5000 or the Ingenico Move 5000. To learn all about your options, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-661-3761. You may also email us at info@unitypayments.ca.
