7 Innovative Ideas to Boost Your Sales on Small Business Saturday

It’s small local retailers’ time to shine with these Small Business Saturday marketing ideas.

In a time where shopping has been dominated by big-box retailers, small businesses and neighborhood shops deserve a day where they can showcase their products and engage with the community—and that’s exactly what Small Business Saturday stands for.

This special day is a golden opportunity for small businesses to set the momentum for an overall increase in sales, better brand awareness, and the formation of a local customer base. 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 Saturday, small businesses must innovate with ideas, tools, and concepts, such as social media marketing and a QR code generator with a logo, to stand out from the competition and achieve record-breaking sales.

Through this blog, you’ll have a walkthrough of innovative ideas that can help you boost your sales on this special day.

What is Small Business Saturday?

Small Business Saturday is a shopping holiday happening every Saturday after Thanksgiving. In 2023, it falls on November 25.

It was created by American Express in 2010 to help small businesses promote their brands amid a season where big-time retailers are doubling down their promotions through Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

American Express’ Small Business Saturday has become a successful shopping holiday over the years. In fact, the shopping holiday recorded a hundred percent year-on-year increase, from 18% in 2020 to 36% in 2021, for consumers who plan to shop during the holiday.

Is there a Small Business Saturday in the United Kingdom?

Yes, there is a Small Business Saturday in the UK.

This special day isn’t just held within the United States.

Now in its 11th year, the United Kingdom even holds its own version of Small Business Saturday, which has been consistently growing every year. Unlike in the US, where it’s held after Thanksgiving, it happens every first Saturday of December. It falls on December 2 in 2023.

Similarly to the US, American Express is one of the Principal Supporters of the shopping holiday’s successful campaign and implementation in the UK.

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?

With these seven creative Small Business Saturday ideas using QR technology, you can surely win your target customers’ hearts.

Seven innovative Small Business Saturday promotional ideas

Take a look at these innovative ideas you can use to stand out and boost your sales on this special day.

1. Send an invitation via email and text blasts

If you have the contact information of your customer base, invite them on Small Business Saturday. 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 a 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 give customers a unique code in the email or text, which they can apply on 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.

2. 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 take advantage of consumer psychology to reap high sales on Small Business Saturday.

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 for the best results in your sales numbers.

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.

3. Link up with other small businesses within the community

More than having a profitable day, one of the primary purposes of Small Business Saturday 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.

4. Create an event across all social media platforms

Visibility is the name of the game for a 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 “small business near me.” Small Business Saturday cross-pollinates interested customers who may want to purchase at the event.

Through a custom QR code for all social media, businesses can effectively promote all their online platforms with just a swift scan.

This smart solution can store social media links allowing scanners to like, follow, subscribe, and connect to your pages without jumping from one app to another.

5. 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

6. 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 Small Business Saturday.

Aside from a good deal, customers love a sense of fulfillment, knowing that their purchases have been for society’s betterment. 

On the shopping holiday, 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 so customers have a better understanding of your goodwill to society.

For this reason, you see big-box retail stores include donation boxes or prompt associates to inquire whether customers would like to donate. The same thing 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.

7. 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 Small Business Saturday 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 your potential customers to physical stores but also boosts your chances for repeat purchases.

Repeat customers are the foundation to becoming loyal customers, which means a constant revenue stream for your small business.

Why use QR TIGER for Small Business Saturday 2023 campaigns

A dynamic QR code generator is one of the most useful tools that small businesses can use to launch a successful Small Business Saturday 2023 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:

1. Update or modify the links to dynamic QR codes
2. Real-time tracking of QR code scans with analytics
3. Centralized page to manage your QR code campaigns
4. Reflect your overall brand identity with the QR code design
5. 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 you generate. Static QRs are free and do not expire, while dynamic QRs 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).

Use a QR code generator with logo in seven quick and easy steps

Creating a custom QR code with a logo using QR TIGER is easy. This secure software is a highly-rated QR code software on G2, Trustpilot, and SourceForge.

To create one for your campaigns, here’s how:

1. Create or log into your account QR TIGER to unlock a freemium version.
2. Choose from the QR solution menu selections based on what you need.
3. Enter the information for your chosen QR code solution.
4. Select between Static QR and Dynamic QR.
5. Click Generate QR code.
6. Customize your QR code based on our brand’s identity, logo, colors, and more.
7. Save your custom QR code in your local file by clicking Download.

To generate a free QR code, you can choose static QR. You can also generate a free dynamic QR code with QR TIGER’s freemium plan.

Ready to upgrade your campaigns? Start with QR TIGER

Boost your sales on Small Business Saturday with the industry-leading QR code software, QR  TIGER. Transform a simple tool such as a QR code into a revenue-generating machine that can take your small business to new heights.

Get in touch with QR TIGER QR Code Generator to achieve record-breaking sales in your small business this shopping holiday spree season!

Sign up today to get started.

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of Small Business Saturday?

It is a yearly event to encourage people to shop online and locally. It creates a great opportunity for small businesses every November to boost their sales.

Do small businesses need a QR code?

Whether small or large, any business size in every industry needs a QR code.

QR codes are very versatile. This smart tech tool can help you not just in marketing and advertising but also in your business operations.

With QR codes, you can easily and effectively implement a QR code-based system, such as contactless payment, check-ins, or access to various information.

How do I create a QR code for my business for free?

Creating a QR code for your business for free is super easy with QR TIGER. This ISO-certified QR code software offers free QR codes.

To create, simply go to QR TIGER online > Select a solution > Add the required data > Generate QR code.

You can choose to generate your QR in static or dynamic. Static QR codes are totally free. If you opt for dynamic QR codes, you can avail of their free plan.

What is a dynamic QR code for small businesses?

A dynamic QR code for small businesses is an editable type of QR with a tracking feature. This means you can edit a QR code or update the stored data in your QR code any time.

Aside from this, you can also track the QR’s performance and enjoy its built-in features like retargeting tool, GPS tracking, and more.