Small Biz Tip #7 – Special Offers

Some of you may already be familiar with my #ShopSmall Special Offers blog page. If you’re not, I’d highly recommend taking a look, both as a shopper and seller. It’s full of plenty of wonderful small businesses and it’s a great way to support each other too.

I think we are all familiar with discounts and sales, but it’s great to be creative and that little bit different nowadays. Bringing in new customers and retaining the loyal ones is key to increasing those sales, so here’s a few ideas to get you started:

1. Free gift with every purchase
I absolutely love this one. I can’t count how many times I’ve bought things before, that I don’t need, purely because I want the free gift. What am I like! This doesn’t have to be something big in value and can be something as small as a sheet of stickers or little notepad. 

2. Freebie at milestones purchases
You could offer a freebie of some sort (such as gift wrapping, greetings card or gift) when you reach certain milestones in sales, eg. first sale, 10th sale etc. 

3. Free greetings card with every purchase (or gift purchase).
This is perfect for those buying gifts for others because it saves you having to shop around for a card! But even if it’s not a gift for someone else, it’s always worth stocking up your card box from small businesses. 

4. Free personalisation.
Obviously this would only apply to those items that can be personalised but this is a great way to rake customers in. As a customer, if you don’t have to pay anything extra to get it personalised you are on to a winner, particularly if it’s a gift.

5. Free Shipping
This is always very popular. So many of us are all happy driving miles and miles to buy a gift but the minute £2.99 shipping pops up online, we’re all quick to close the browser!

6. Bulk Buys
This is great for low cost items, such as greetings cards. You could specify a certain number to be bought and in return a certain number will be free eg. buy 5 cards get 2 free.

7. Last but not least – Entice them back
This is big. You want your customers to return to you and buy again and again. Consider putting a slip or coupon in with their order to entice them back for more purchases. Examples could include any of the above!

Don’t forget running an offer or promotion may not always be a success, it is there to encourage customers and put the icing on the cake for them. 

These are only suggestions and I’d love to hear if you have any others I could add to this post. If you’d like to read any of my other Small Biz tips then please do take a look here.