Lauri Flaquer has huge plans for Small Business Saturday. Her objective for the night is to make new contacts for her business and other local small businesses. Flaquer runs her business, a consulting company called Saltar Solutions, out of her Minneapolis home.
Her plan: At 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 26, she and a few hundred colleagues will descend on the Anita Sue Kolman Gallery downtown for a multi-hour networking session. Flaquer (pictured) will provide food and drinks and will hand out prizes to people who do business that night.
“I’m inviting all of my clients, potential clients and customers and encouraging them to invite all of their contacts, as well," she says. "It will give people an opportunity to solidify existing relationships and build new ones.” Her choice of location is strategic: The gallery is one of her clients.
“Nothing would make me happier and more excited than if people came to me and said they made great connections that night. I want home-based business owners to hold their heads up high and say, ‘I have a real business—not a hobby—and I happen to work from home,’” she says.
Flaquer offers a few tips for how to market your home-based business on Small Business Saturday.
Host an event
Consider opening your home to your clients for a few hours, Flaquer recommends. Decorate your place for the holidays and offer a few munchies. Your customers will love getting to know you on a more personal level.
Another idea: Pair up with another home-based business and host an event. Both businesses can split the rental cost of the event location.
What if you don’t know any other home-based business owners in your area?
“Check on Facebook and ask retail establishments if they have home-based suppliers. A lot of times, home-based artists will sell to shops and they may love to partner up for an event,” she says.
What if you set up an event and a key customer can’t attend?
Just use Skype. That is exactly what Flaquer is doing at the art gallery. One of her clients runs a business out of his home in Thailand, so she’s setting up a computer at the event for people physically in attendance to network with him, digitally.
Hold a contest
If you’d rather not socialize in person on Small Business Saturday, Flaquer suggests running a contest on Facebook to increase your day-of sales.
“You could tell customers if they buy more than $50 of your product on Nov. 26, they will be put into a pool for a prize. Consumers love contests,” she says.
Sell a series
Repeat customers are the best customers, so why not encourage clients to buy a series of items instead of just one?
“Lets say you are a massage therapist that works out of your home—instead of just selling single massages on that day, put together a package,” Flaquer offers. “The goal is to sell more on that day than you normally sell.”
Give a gift
Put the word out that purchases made on Small Business Saturday will include a gift.
What if you don’t have something to give? Look to your clients.
“If you have a client that is a chocolate maker, for example, buy a large quantity of chocolates and give them out as gifts—it’s a nice way to cross promote,” Flaquer says.
What are you doing to prepare for Small Business Saturday?
Image credit: successwithsaltar.com