10 Tips to Maximize Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is one of the biggest opportunities of the year for independent coffee shops. Here are 10 actionable tips to make the most of it.

Before the Day

1. Promote Early and Often

Start building buzz at least a week before:

• Post on social media daily
• Send an email to your customer list
• Put up signage in your shop
• Partner with nearby businesses to cross-promote

2. Create a Special Offer

Give customers a reason to choose you on Saturday:

• Exclusive Small Business Saturday drink
• Bonus loyalty points
• Free pastry with purchase
• Limited edition merchandise

3. Prepare Your Team

Make sure everyone is ready:

• Brief staff on promotions
• Review expected busy times
• Ensure adequate staffing
• Prep extra supplies

During the Day

4. Make It an Experience

Transform your shop into something special:

• Play festive music
• Decorate for the season
• Offer samples of seasonal drinks
• Create photo opportunities

5. Encourage Social Sharing

Turn customers into promoters:

• Create a branded hashtag
• Offer incentives for social posts
• Display a "selfie spot"
• Repost customer content

6. Capture New Customers

First-time visitors are gold:

• Have loyalty sign-up materials ready
• Collect email addresses
• Give a reason to return (bounce-back offer)
• Make a great first impression

7. Upsell Thoughtfully

Increase average ticket without being pushy:

• Suggest add-ons naturally
• Promote gift cards for holiday giving
• Highlight seasonal specialties
• Bundle deals for value

After the Day

8. Follow Up Quickly

Strike while the iron is hot:

• Send thank you emails within 48 hours
• Share photos from the day on social
• Announce how much was raised (if doing a giveback)
• Tease upcoming holiday offerings

9. Analyze What Worked

Learn for next year:

• Track sales by hour
• Note which promotions drove traffic
• Gather staff feedback
• Survey customers

10. Keep the Momentum

Don't let the energy die:

• Continue promotions through the holidays
• Remind new customers about loyalty rewards
• Plan your next community event
• Thank your team

The joe Advantage

With joe, you can:

• Send targeted promotions to bring customers in
• Track real-time sales and performance
• Automatically enroll new loyalty members
• Follow up with personalized messages

Small Business Saturday is just one day, but the relationships you build can last a lifetime.

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Need help preparing for Small Business Saturday? Reach out to your joe success team for customized promotional materials and strategies.