11 Ways to Improve Sales on Small Business Saturday 2025
By: Kathrine C.Update: December 02, 2024
Small Business Saturday marketing ideas are a great opportunity for small local retailers to stand out.
In a time when large chain stores rule the retail world, it's important to give small businesses and local shops a chance to display their goods and connect with the community—which is exactly what this one-day event represents.
This particular Saturday after Thanksgiving presents a prime chance for small businesses to establish momentum for a general sales boost, improved brand recognition, and the development of a local customer following.
However, this one day is when small businesses face the strongest competition from like-minded small businesses within the community.
To make the most out of this event, small businesses must innovate with ideas, tools, and concepts, such as social media marketing and a QR code generator with logo integration, to stand out from the competition and achieve record-breaking sales.
This blog walks you through different innovative ideas that can help you boost your sales on this special day.
Small Business Saturday (SBS) is a special shopping holiday for small businesses that happens every Saturday after Thanksgiving in the United States.
This year, it will be November 30, 2024. It's a day dedicated to encouraging people to support small, local businesses during the holiday shopping season.
It was founded by American Express in 2010, following the Great Recession, to help local, small businesses promote their brands during a season when big-time retailers are doubling down on their promotions through Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Through their "Shop Small" initiative, Amex encourages shoppers to support small businesses.
SBS has become a successful shopping holiday over the years. In fact, the holiday recorded a hundred percent year-on-year increase, from 18% in 2020 to 36% in 2021, for consumers who plan to shop during it.
How it differs from Small Business Day
Both events prioritize assisting and encouraging small businesses. Nevertheless, the main differences lie in the timing and extent of the assistance offered.
Small Business Day can be on any day and isn't tied to holiday shopping. It generally celebrates small businesses year-round, often organized by local groups or governments with events to highlight their economic contributions.
What is AmEx Shop Small?
It is an American Express initiative motivating customers to back local businesses, especially during SBS.
This program offers marketing materials, resources, and promotions to assist small businesses in attracting a larger customer base.
It collaborates with SBS to encourage shopping at local stores instead of large retailers, especially during the holiday season.
It is also a method for American Express to motivate its cardholders by giving them rewards or cashback for using their AmEx small business card.
In a sense, it benefits both parties: small businesses see increased customers, and shoppers are happy to support the local economy.
Why shop local on Small Business Saturday?
Unlike big companies with a lot of resources, small businesses run on a very limited capacity, with most of their operations concentrated within the community.Buying from small retailers within the community allows them to keep their doors open.
Moreover, small businesses create localized jobs, revitalize the local economy, and improve the quality of life for residents by creating a sense of community.
On this shopping holiday created just for small businesses, Americans are encouraged to purchase from small businesses and support the community.
Now, the question is: How do QR codes work, and how can you best apply them to your campaigns?
Innovative SBS promotional ideas
Take a look at these innovative ideas you can use to stand out and boost your sales on this special day.
With these eleven creative SBS ideas using QR technology, you can surely win the hearts of your target customers.
Create a custom QR code gift guide
Curate a QR code gift guide to simplify holiday shopping for your customers. By creating a digital catalog with your top-selling or most recommended products and linking it to a QR code, you give shoppers quick access to a curated selection.
With just a scan, customers can explore your holiday gift suggestions, making their shopping smoother while gently steering them toward higher-value items.
Consider a URL QR code to link directly to the digital guide, or use a custom QR code landing page for a more personalized experience. The landing page can highlight your top products with recommendations tailored to different types of shoppers.
This approach not only makes finding the perfect gift easier but also shines a light on your best-sellers.
Send an invitation via email and text blasts
If you have the contact information of your customer base, invite them to SBS. Email and text blasts are an often overlooked platform in favor of social media, but they can be very effective in boosting brand loyalty and engagement.
Having a contact list of your previous and existing customers enables you to send them exclusive deals and discounts. Giving special offers increases repeat purchases, which helps build a loyal customer base in the long run.
For shopping in a brick-and-mortar store, you can use QR code software to create customized QR codes and let loyal customers scan them upon checkout at the counter.
For e-commerce websites, you can send customers a unique code via email or text QR codes, which they can apply at online checkout.
To fully optimize the effectiveness of email and text blasts, remind them now and then about your participation on this day. It also doesn’t hurt to send products you may want to upsell during the shopping holiday.
Host a range of sales and promotions using a QR code generator
All customers love a good deal, especially if they are marked down. With the holiday explicitly designed for shopping, small businesses use consumer psychology to reap high sales on SBS.Hosting a one-day sale is one of the most popular Small Business Saturday promotional ideas to boost your sales. However, if you want to take it up a notch, you can host a limited-time deal, buy-one-get-one deals, and discounted prices for purchasing the second item.If you have both a physical and an online store, you can mix and match these deals and promotions to maximize your sales.To make it easier for your customers, you can create a custom discount or coupon QR code. Once scanned using their smartphones, they can instantly avail of your discounts.
Link up with other small businesses within the community
More than having a profitable day, one of the primary purposes of SBS is to connect people and businesses within the community.
Strengthening ties within the community by building or joining an association opens plenty of opportunities where your small business can expand, increase potential revenue streams, and generate more sales all year round.
This special day is a gateway for an upward trend in sales and profits, which can last even beyond the one-time shopping holiday.
Host a treasure hunt
Excite customers by creating a dynamic QR code treasure hunt in your store. Hide QR codes throughout the shop, each offering discounts, exclusive deals, or even free items.
The excitement of finding each code keeps customers engaged, while the special offers encourage more purchases. This interactive experience sets your business apart from competitors.
With dynamic QR codes, you can easily update the rewards behind each code without reprinting materials, allowing you to offer different prizes throughout the day.
Create an event across all social media platforms
Visibility is the name of the game for successful seasonal campaigns.One of the most effective ways to increase awareness about your participation, promotions, and special products for the shopping holiday is through social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.Networking through these platforms can produce positive results, as users can quickly react, share, and leave a comment on your event.By creating an event page, your business will likely appear in online search results when customers look up “local business near me.” SBS cross-pollinates interested customers who may want to purchase at the event.Through a custom QR code for all social media pages, businesses can effectively promote all their online platforms with just a swift scan.Link Page QR code is a smart solution for storing multiple social media links. It allows scanners to like, follow, subscribe, and connect to your pages without jumping from one app to another.
Engage with the community by telling a story
A purchase is usually driven by emotion—use this to your advantage to generate sales.
For example, if you’re a neighborhood cafe that sources coffee from local growers, highlight how you’ve forged this relationship and how it has benefited both parties.
Include stories about how growers can farm more sustainably and your business’ contribution to this change.
Regardless of how you want to tell this story, share it wherever possible:
Post on social media
Play promotional videos on your physical store TVs
Lead customers to online content through a QR code on posters
Offer time-sensitive deals
Create urgency by offering flash sales or limited-time offers throughout the day using QR codes. Each code could unlock a new discount or promotion at different hours.
Smart URL QR codes are perfect for time-sensitive flash sales. Depending on the time of the scan, these codes can lead to different promotions or discounts.
For example, customers who scan between 10 a.m. and noon get 10% off, while those scanning afternoons get a gift with their purchase. This feature lets you keep your promotions dynamic and exciting without needing multiple QR codes.
Give back to the community by setting a portion of your sales
In relation to tugging customers’ emotions, you can also give back to the community with a portion of your sales generated from SBS.
Aside from a good deal, customers love a sense of fulfillment, knowing that their purchases have been for society’s betterment.
On a shopping holiday like SBS, you can launch promotional material in your online and offline stores, stating that a dollar per $20 spent, 10 percent of the one-day sale revenues, or whatever works for you, will be donated back to community efforts.
If you can connect to organizations that promote good causes, such as shelters for the homeless and feeding programs, you can also highlight this. Hence, customers have a better understanding of your goodwill to society.
For this reason, big-box retail stores often include donation boxes or prompt associates to inquire whether customers would like to donate. The same applies to online shops with banners asking for donations.
Of course, as a business owner, you have to stay true to your word. Customers will highly appreciate a follow-up promotional effort to this donation.
Incentivize customers to visit the physical store
If you want to increase your sales in your physical stores, you can incentivize customers who have made an online purchase on SBS with a special deal or a QR code that they can only redeem in a physical store.Providing them with a discount not only redirects potential customers to physical stores but also boosts their chances of repeat purchases.Repeat customers are the foundation to becoming loyal customers, which means a constant revenue stream for your small business.
Exclusive loyalty program enrollment
Encourage your SBS shoppers to join an exclusive loyalty program using a QR code. By scanning the code, customers can quickly sign up and unlock ongoing benefits such as early access to future sales, special discounts, or personalized offers.This strategy not only enhances customer retention post-SBS but also provides you with direct access to a loyal customer base for future promotions.You can use a vCard QR code, enabling shoppers to scan, save your business details, and instantly enroll in your loyalty program.Alternatively, opt for a Link Page QR code, allowing customers to seamlessly sign up via your website or preferred loyalty platform. This keeps the process convenient while ensuring that potential loyal customers remain engaged for future offers.Looking for more ways to use QR codes in marketing? Click the link now!
Why use a dynamic QR code generator for SBS campaigns
A dynamic QR code maker is one of the most useful tools that small businesses can use to launch a successful SBS campaign.
Aside from personalizing your logo in the QR code for increased brand awareness, you can do a whole range of things by using a trusted QR code maker, such as:
Update or modify the links to dynamic QR codes;
Real-time tracking of QR code scans with analytics;
Centralized page to manage your QR code campaigns;
Reflect your overall brand identity with the QR code design; and
Download a high-resolution QR code in PNG or SVG format.
Now, you may also ask, “Do QR codes expire”? Well, this depends on the type of QR code you generate. Static QR codes are free and do not expire, while dynamic QR codes require a paid subscription.
However, dynamic QR codes are the best option for businesses as they have advanced built-in features: QR code password, expiry, GPS tracking, retargeting tool, scan reports via email, and UTM code generator (URL QR).
Create a custom QR code: A guide
Using QR TIGER, creating a custom QR code with a logo is easy. This secure software is highly rated on G2, Trustpilot, and SourceForge.
To create one for your campaigns, here’s how:
Create or log into your account QR TIGER to unlock a freemium version.
Choose from the QR solution menu selections based on what you need.
Enter the information for your chosen QR code solution.
Select between Static QR and Dynamic QR.
Click Generate QR code.
Customize your QR code based on our brand’s identity, logo, colors, and more.
Save your custom QR code in your local file by clicking Download.
Your blueprint for boosting sales and community impact
Small Business Saturday is more than a shopping occasion; it is a movement that honors the foundation of local economies.
Small businesses can achieve unprecedented success by incorporating new ideas like email and text campaigns, working with the community, and using QR code technology through the best QR code generator.
The key is to engage, excite, and offer customers something unique that big-box retailers can’t—personal connection, community spirit, and exclusive deals.
With a well-crafted strategy, you can turn this annual event into a year-round sales boost while reinforcing your role in the local community.
FAQ
How much do people spend on Small Business on Saturday?
According to recent surveys, consumers spent approximately $23.3 billion at independent retailers and restaurants on SBS in 2022.
What is the impact of Small Business on Saturday?
SBS significantly boosts sales for local businesses, enhances community engagement, and raises awareness about the importance of supporting small enterprises.
