3 Ways Your Sports Training Academy Can Participate in Small Business Saturday

Like many years, it seems like we’ve blinked and the holidays are already upon us.

And this week especially, between Thanksgiving, football, shopping, and more, the holiday frenzy seems to be at a high.

Introduced by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday has grown into a shopping holiday of its own, encouraging Americans to shop local and support their communities. An article by Forbes found that 53% of shoppers are planning to “shop local” this year.

As a small business owner, you work hard day in and day out to support your clients and help them achieve their goals. Small Business Saturday gives your clients an opportunity to celebrate you and show appreciation for what you do.

So, how can you participate in Small Business Saturday? Here are 3 ideas to help you promote your business this holiday season.

3 Ways You Can Participate in Small Business Saturday

1. Host an open house

One way to build brand awareness and promote your small business is to host an open house event. This provides a free opportunity for people to come check out your facility, meet your staff, and mingle with other community members. You may choose to offer facility tours, or perhaps offer a special coupon code with purchase as a ‘thank you’ for stopping by.

For prospective clients, you are able to establish a relationship and build rapport. And, for your current clients, you can continue to show appreciation for their business and for their being a part of your community.

Additionally, you can provide an opportunity for those who stop by to purchase packages or retail at a discounted price on that day. This will not only incentivize people to participate, but will also create a sense of urgency to purchase.

2. Promote your business online

In addition to in-person events, there are also ways for you to celebrate Small Business Saturday digitally.

One easy and inexpensive digital channel to leverage is email. There are a number of ways you can engage with your clients via email:

• Coupon code or discount
• Invites for in-person events
• A gift guide of your most popular retail items
• And more.

(Bonus tip: This is a great opportunity for you to reassess your retail inventory! Consider offering a discount on last seasons’ items to make room for new inventory in the new year! Keeping things fresh will keep athletes’ eyes on what else you may have to offer!)

If you’re looking for a more simple way to show appreciation for your clients, you may also opt to just send a “thank you” email to show appreciation for their past and continued support of your brand.

Additionally, there are ways to interact with your community on social media. For example, you can run a “contest,” asking athletes to submit their best trick shot or a post-holiday workout. This will help you grow your brand awareness in your community, as well as provide a fun, competitive challenge with prizes.

When posting to social media, be sure to use hashtags like #SmallBusinessSaturday or #SmallBizSaturday to help increase your exposure.

3. Run a promotion or discount

Speaking of providing discounts, it would be remiss for us to neglect one of the most popular ways to promote your business on Small Business Saturday – running a special holiday promotion. Send out an email to your clients with a limited time discount or coupon code, or offer a discount to those who stop by your facility to purchase a lesson or package.

Bonus tip: To create a sense of urgency, you can set an expiration date.

Running a promotion will not only help you show appreciation for your current customers, but it will also help you grow your clientele, attracting new athletes to your business. If you are looking for some tips and best practices to run a successful promotion for your business, check out this article.

Related: Here’s how you can create custom coupon codes with Upper Hand!

Don’t forget to spread the word that you are participating

A successful Small Business Saturday begins with spreading the word that you will be participating. As shown in recent polls, consumers are eager to support local businesses. So, be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to grow your brand. Post on your social media, update your website, or add an announcement through your sports club management software.