During the most popular shopping period, American Express launched the Small Business Saturday initiative. Its mission is to help encourage holiday shopping on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Signs to look for
A well-designed sign is a great way to get customers into your store. For instance, you may want to invest in an awning. This will let you advertise your products and services while providing extra protection in case the sun decides to take a turn for the worse. In addition, having a small mounted spotlight is a good idea for nighttime trading.
Having an eye-catching and informative ad is the best way to go. While most businesses will have a small sign for their signage, plenty of extensive format options are available. For example, billboards are a big deal in many communities. Using LED technology is a great way to make your sign stand out.
One thing to consider when looking for a sign is the size of your budget. While a large sign may be the best option, you will spend a fair amount of money on the design. This means you should be selective about which characters you put up.
Amex Offers
Among its many offers, American Express has launched Shop Small promotions to encourage cardmembers to spend their money at local businesses. These deals are not offered to all cardmembers but can be valuable for travelers to participating cities.
The American Express website has a map of participating retailers. It also has a new Shop Small with Amex Offers page. The page shows a “red shopping tag” indicating which stores are part of the program. You can filter by type to ensure you get the most relevant results.
The Amex website also has a postcode tool that helps you find small businesses near you. The best way to play the promotion is to make smaller transactions.
It would be best if you also looked for a “flat rate” offer. For example, if you purchase a laptop, you could get a 10% discount.
TikTok
Using TikTok to sell your products can be a great way to increase brand awareness. Many companies have partnered with influencers to promote their products.
Unlike traditional advertising, TikTok gives brands a direct avenue to reach their target audience. Users can purchase products directly from the app and filter by price range.
In addition to the shopping feature, TikTok also provides various tools to help you create a dynamic storefront. These include #ShopSmall stickers, hashtags, and more.
For businesses looking to sell on TikTok, the TikTok Accelerator is a great way to get started. The program offers ad credit for eligible businesses, as well as tips and pointers. You can also learn from big-name TikTok creators and receive best practices to improve your content creation process.
Fluz App
Established in Columbia by Stefan Krautwald and Maurice Harary, Fluz is a money-saving platform offering cash back when you shop at participating retailers. You can also earn some money back by inviting friends and family to join.
You’ll need to download the Fluz app on your phone or computer to sign up. You’ll also need to provide your first and last name, email address, and phone number. You’ll then be asked to create a digital fingerprint, a password, and a four-digit code.
Once you’ve signed up, you can use the app to find offers in your area. You’ll then be able to purchase items from the stores listed. You’ll receive a gift card code to use in-store or online during the shopping process.
You can earn more cashback by sharing your referral link. Then, you’ll get a 1% bonus for each person that signs up and uses your invite.
The impact of a global pandemic
Using survey data from more than 120,000 firms in more than 60 countries, the World Bank has examined the impact of a global pandemic on shop small. The study is based on a questionnaire containing 17 questions distributed into four categories. It was piloted with 10 CEOs and revised based on feedback from senior experts.
Among the survey’s most interesting findings is the number of firms that saw sales increase during the pandemic. While it was not a complete surprise to learn that most firms experienced sales growth, the study found some unexpected results.
The survey found that one-fourth of all firms experienced a 50 percent decrease in sales during the pandemic, which is more than a third of companies that experienced sales increases. Twenty-five percent of the most affected firms also reported a 72 percent drop in sales in the early months of the pandemic.