The holiday season is here, full of opportunities for your business to shine. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, there’s a long list of holidays and key event days to make the most of Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, Hanukkah, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Plus, don’t forget about Green Monday, Free Shipping Day, and National Returns Day!

Whether your goal is to boost sales, connect with customers, or enhance team spirit, this is the time to make it happen. To help you get the most out of the festive season from November through January, we’ve put together a checklist of 100 ways your business can thrive. Use this guide as your holiday game plan to take advantage of every opportunity.

Sales Opportunities

The holiday season is the perfect time to boost sales and attract new customers. Here are some creative ways to drive revenue and keep your business thriving:

1. Offer exclusive Black Friday deals. 🛍️
2. Create a Cyber Monday special.
3. Launch a 12 Days of Christmas sale.
4. Offer gift cards with bonuses for customers.
5. Bundle products into holiday gift sets.
6. Run a limited-time holiday discount for loyal customers.
7. Partner with another business for a combined holiday offer.
8. Set up a “Last-Minute Deals” campaign.
9. Promote clearance items with holiday discounts.
10. Reward referrals with holiday incentives.
11. Offer free shipping for a limited time.
12. Create a New Year’s Eve special to clear out inventory.
13. Host a holiday-themed flash sale.
14. Provide a “Buy One, Gift One” promotion.
15. Offer a loyalty reward double-points day.
16. Launch a “Secret Santa” mystery discount.
17. Sell pre-wrapped products for convenience.
18. Launch an early-bird special for holiday shoppers.
19. Offer personalized holiday products or services.
20. Provide a discount to customers who bring in a toy for charity.

Marketing Ideas

Make sure your marketing stands out this holiday season. Here are some ideas to help you connect with your customers and make your brand unforgettable:

21. Send a festive email campaign to customers. 🎄
22. Update your social media profiles with holiday graphics.
23. Run a holiday-themed giveaway.
24. Highlight gift ideas in your blog or social media.
25. Create holiday how-to videos.
26. Collaborate with local influencers for holiday promotions.
27. Host a holiday photo contest.
28. Create countdown posts leading up to major holidays.
29. Partner with a charity for a feel-good marketing campaign.
30. Use holiday hashtags to reach more people.
31. Post holiday-themed customer testimonials.
32. Make a “Gift Guide” for different customer segments.
33. Promote your holiday hours early.
34. Create holiday-themed reels or TikToks.
35. Send handwritten holiday cards to your top clients.
36. Feature customer holiday stories on social media.
37. Create a “New Year, New You” campaign.
38. Use Instagram and Facebook stories for daily holiday specials.
39. Highlight “Made Local” gifts if applicable.
40. Promote stocking stuffer ideas.

Public Relations Strategies

Public relations can give your holiday campaigns an extra boost. Use these strategies to enhance your brand’s image and reach more people in your community:

41. Pitch a story to the local press about holiday shopping trends.
42. Announce your holiday donation or charity partnership.
43. Invite the press to a holiday-themed event.
44. Partner with a local non-profit for a special holiday initiative.&
45. Write a press release about your holiday sales milestones.
46. Sponsor a holiday community event.
47. Share your business’s holiday story in a local publication.
48. Promote your business in a local holiday gift guide.
49. Host a holiday networking event.
50. Send thank-you notes to local journalists.
51. Create a “look behind the scenes” of holiday preparations.
52. Offer tips to your community on how to make the most out of holiday deals.
53. Share customer testimonials of how your products made their holidays better.
54. Run a press campaign about your special holiday business hours.
55. Contribute holiday expertise in guest blogs.
56. Send out a media kit that includes any holiday deals.
57. Partner with the Chamber to get listed in holiday round-ups.
58. Hold a ribbon-cutting event for holiday decorations.
59. Create an infographic about holiday trends in your industry.
60. Write a piece on how your industry changes during the holidays.

Internal Relations and Team Spirit

The holiday season is also about celebrating your team. Boost morale and create a festive atmosphere with these internal initiatives:

61. Host a holiday party for your employees. 🎉
62. Give bonuses or extra time off to your team.
63. Create a “Holiday Hero” award for an outstanding employee.
64. Encourage staff to wear festive attire.
65. Plan a Secret Santa gift exchange.
66. Decorate the office together.
67. Host a holiday potluck.
68. Give holiday cards to your employees.
69. Send gifts to remote workers.
70. Celebrate cultural holidays represented by your team.
71. Create an internal competition for the best holiday costume.
72. Start a “Countdown to the New Year” board.
73. Recognize each employee’s contribution with a year-end shout-out.
74. Give employees discounts to buy gifts for their families.
75. Bring in treats on holiday-themed days.
76. Give out personalized ornaments to your team.
77. Host a team holiday movie night. 🍿
78. Create a fun holiday Spotify playlist for the workplace.
79. Allow staff to volunteer during work hours for holiday causes
80. Give personalized thank-you gifts to your team.

Customer Engagement

Engaging with your customers during the holidays is key to building lasting relationships. Here are some ideas to help you bring the holiday spirit to your customers:

81. Hand out small gifts with each purchase. 🎁
82. Offer holiday-themed classes or workshops.
83. Host a “Holiday Shopping Night” for exclusive customers.
84. Send holiday thank-you emails.
85. Set up a hot cocoa or coffee station for shoppers.
86. Decorate your store with festive lights.
87. Provide gift-wrapping services.
88. Set up a “Wish List” service for customers.
89. Play festive music in-store. 🎶
90. Hold a raffle for a holiday basket.
91. Send personalized holiday thank-you notes.
92. Offer a holiday loyalty card punch bonus.
93. Set up a festive photo op in-store.
94. Host an exclusive New Year’s appreciation event.
95. Provide early shopping hours for loyal customers.
96. Create holiday-themed business cards or flyers.
97. Offer a freebie for kids during holiday shopping.
98. Hold a holiday storytime for families.
99. Send a holiday message with purchase receipts.
100. Set up a festive window display.

Ready to Make Your Holidays Brighter?

We’d love to hear what you’ve got planned! If you have any special holiday deals or events, let us know, and we’ll include them in our upcoming newsletters. Send us your holiday highlights and help make this season even more magical for our community!

This CuyEast Chamber post was written with AI assistance in part.