This week I got a question from a concerned small business owner, who lives in Rochester, NY. He said that the bad weather slows his business down, because he owns a brick-and-mortar furniture store. Here’s his question:
“My name is Doug, and I own a small furniture store in Rochester, NY. During the summer months, we do just fine. However, every year when winter comes around, my business slows down immensely. I’m not sure if it’s because of the bad weather conditions, the holidays, or a mix of both. Either way, I need some ideas for keeping my business rolling during these chilly months.”
That’s a good question, Doug. It can definitely be the holidays that are slowing you down. In that case, we have some ideas to keep the business busy, here. If the weather is what’s keeping you down, which could definitely be the case, here are some ideas for keeping things hot during the cold times:
Offer Specials for your Winter-Renovation Furniture
People spend a lot of time indoors during the winter. While this may not be optimal time for re-landscaping your yard, or working on outdoor projects, many people like to spruce up the inside of their homes at this time. I would recommend notifying your customers of different sets that are on sale each month. You could run a special on a bedroom set, since several people have visitors in the winter months, and let your customers know. You could also run a special on a dining room set or living room set, and let your customers know it is your holiday gathering special. People love to have a nice place to host their holiday parties.
Entice Customers to Come in for Free Hot Cocoa or Coffee
Winter is the perfect time for people to want to warm up with a nice, hot drink. It doesn’t cost much to have a coffee pot going, or a nice hot cocoa mix ready for your cold customers to warm up with. Offering something free is always a great way to get visitors to your location, and during the winter, nothing gets people’s attention as much as something to warm them up. It’s not a big deal to give out free cocoa, but it will definitely bring more foot traffic through your door.
Winter is a time where people naturally stay inside and slow down. Don’t let that discourage you, though. You can still find fun, creative and cost-effective ways to bring new and existing traffic through your door.
For more insights on marketing strategy that actually works for small business, subscribe to the FreshLime Newsletter here. Connect with Jay Bean, Founder of FreshLime and Small Business Marketing Expert on LinkedIn and Twitter. And last of all, if any of these tips have helped you or if you have anything to add please comment below. We’d love to hear from you!