November is a busy month for a large number of our readers. It should be a busy month for all of our readers. We say this because we see too many businesses that think the holiday season belongs only to those businesses that are traditional brick and mortar.
From personal experience, we took a business that had that same belief. We decided we could be a gift business. And with the change of attitude and marketing we took that first holiday season to become the best selling season the business owner had.
Look at it from a guy perspective; look at those who read our newsletter that are in the landscape or lawn maintenance business. What guy wouldn't enjoy a gift of a year's lawn maintenance as compared to what he is going to traditionally receive.
Take a look in the mirror and think how your product and service can be something different starting this holiday season.
Now for that calendar; the "educator for a day" is November 12 through 16. This is a new take on what was National Teach In Day. This is important for small business owners to tell students about how owing a business is an option for their career. As an example, my friend Dennis cut a lot of grass when he was a kid and continued to do so through high school. He tells of many people asking what he was going to do when he grew up. It was challenging to get his friends to believe he already found his career.
Dennis tells the story that with all of the people who "laughed" at his idea, they all did work in his business at some time in their life. Today his sizable business is a garden center, landscape and lawn maintenance business.
With those in the pharmacy trade, I constantly hear independent community pharmacists stating they were never told that owning a pharmacy was an option. We need to tell people that owning your own business is not just an option, but a very desirable profession. Telling the story means we need to participate in Educator for a Day. Contact your local high schools and ask for the opportunity to participate. I have contacted the high school I graduated from and am hoping I can participate.
The second event is Small Business Saturday which is November 24. Created by American Express, this business celebrates all of us. You need to contact American Express TODAY to get their support material.
And here is a quick bonus for a third event. This is the Monday after Small Business Saturday - November 26. As before there is a lot of media coverage for this event and you can go to grab a piece of that attention for your business. As an example, a group of bookstores created their version and call it Cider Monday as they offer free drinks to all their customers during the day. This was a small group of stores that started the event and it made the news everywhere. What can you do to build excitement for your business and/or community? |
