When you are running a smaller business, you can’t afford to slash prices in the same way that the super sized retail chains can, so it is important to find a better way to promote your business. The holidays is a time of year when retail businesses especially feel the pinch of the tightening of the belt so to speak and as is evident by the larger retail establishments they are preparing for a much leaner holiday season.

Smaller business owners should not fear, however, as there are a few fun and inexpensive ways that they can reach out to their customer base and even attract some new customers into their store.

To start with, try offering an early morning special. There are many things that you can do for the early morning customers that will make them feel appreciated and eager to spend money in your store. You can set out a table with coffee and bagels, offer a discount for shoppers during the first two hours of business and maybe even offer a promotional door prize for the first 20 customers. By doing this you are luring customers into your store, before they head out to shop anywhere else, therefore if they see a product on their list they will be tempted to purchase it in order to save themselves a stop during the day. This is a great way to increase your holiday sales and you will notice that people will be lined up outside your store before the doors even open.

Other great ideas include offering incentives to customers who spend money in your store. You can give them a discount off their purchase, or a durable and reusable promotional shopping bag. These items will encourage customers to spend more at your shop and the promotional bag will gain exposure to your store where ever your customer totes it to.

All the promotions that you run during the holiday season should encourage customers to shop with you first and let all their friends know that they should do the same. This is the best way to increase your business sales during this holiday season.

There are many different items that you can decide on when you are shopping for a great way to gain exposure for your company. custom printed clothing is always a big hit, as are promotional key rings. When searching for the perfect item log onto www.ideasbynet.com.