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5 Tips for Preparing for One of the Busiest Saturdays of the Year

The busy shopping season that is jumpstarted after Thanksgiving reminds everyone of the immeasurable value of supporting their local entrepreneurs. For small business owners, that first Saturday after Thanksgiving is more than just a day; it can set the stage for success throughout the year.

The National Retail Foundation (NRF) reports that 63.4 million consumers shopped in-store on that Saturday in 2022, up from 51 million in 2021. A significant majority (77%) said they knew it was specifically a day to support their local businesses, & that was their primary motivating factor.^{^[1]}

Here are five steps you can take to help ensure you maximize the opportunity of the increased traffic through your doors on November 25 (& any other busy holiday or weekend):

1. Make wayfinding simple:

Use color-coding or universal icons to indicate departments throughout your business. If you need to write signage, keep it short .

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2. Preview your deals:

Introduce customers to special offers 1–2 weeks before the event so they have time to plan their visits to your business

3. Offer buy-now options:

When you give a sneak preview of deals, allow customers to buy ahead of time to capitalize on demand.

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4. Label checkout lines clearly:

Label checkout lines clearly: Deploy “mobile checkout” cashiers to handle high-traffic areas & reduce bunching

5. Map your store:

Whether physical or digital, offer store maps for customers to navigate their preferred deals as quickly & efficiently as possible.

Also, consider teaming up with one or more of your fellow small business owners on a day that's all about spreading good community vibes. You could plan collaborative marketing & promotional campaigns like swapping discounts or joint giveaways. Don't forget to give each other shoutouts on social media to help spread the word.

1 NRF, “Record 196.7 Million Consumers Shop Over Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend,” November 29, 2022

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