Small Business Saturday – Are You Prepared?

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner and just two days after that, we celebrate Small Business Saturday.  American Express, the sponsor and founder of the day and the associated “shop small” initiative hopes that your small business is ready to seize the day.  If you’re not sure if you are ready to handle the purchasing and payment processing, give us a call!

American Express founded Small Business Saturday in 2010 to encourage consumers to support their local small businesses and to help those small businesses promote themselves in their communities.  In 2013 Small Business Saturday spending reached $14 billion and was topped in 2014 with an estimated $14.3 billion in spending from more than 88 million consumers.

So, are you ready?

Big Change for Small Business Saturday 2015

While there are impressive growth statistics since its inception, it remains to be seen whether Small Business Saturday will be as successful in 2015. One reason is because American Express has made a major change in the way it is promoting the event. 

In previous years, AE cardholders could register their accounts to receive statement credits for making a purchase at a participating small business.  That promotion has been discontinued this year; and while AE is devoting additional resources to promoting Small Business Saturday, and to providing advertising and marketing assistance to small businesses (particularly those who accept AMEX cards for payment), the loss of the statement credit may dampen enthusiasm for shopping small.

Are you ready?

How to get your business ready:

• Put up marketing materials. American Express offers a suite of free marketing materials, but hurry. You need to request them by Nov. 16. You’ll find the list of goodies at www.ShopSmall.com (under “Promote Your Business”)
• Plan an event in your business. Own a gym, restaurant, spa, kitchen or crafts store? Plan a special class or event to attract customers. Shoppers will not only come, they’ll stay longer, too.
• Sell online? Get your website ready, too. Drive traffic with special offers, create a landing page of the day, and get active on social media. (If you need help with online payment processing, we can help!)
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Keep customers coming back:

• Build your mailing list by asking customers to share their contact info so you can stay in touch year ‘round.
• Engage on social media and keep the momentum going through the holidays and beyond.
• Offer deals for 2016. In November and December, offer discounts for products or services to be used after January.

Small businesses have enough to worry about.  Payment processing shouldn’t be one of them.  As you and your business gear up for Small Business Saturday, make sure you have all the systems in place to make any transactions smooth ones.  If you need help, call us!

1.855.424.6736 x. 116

If you have questions about Small Business Saturday or have a topic you would like to see addressed in this blog, we’d love to hear from you!

Zach Allen Regional Vice President at Chosen Payments
Credit Card Processing | ACH | Gift/ Loyalty Cards | Mobile & Ecommerce Payments | ATM
Toll Free: 1.855.424.6736 x. 116
zach.allen@chosenpayments.com  |  www.ChosenPayments.com 
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