4 Surefire Ways For Small Businesses To Beat The Summer Slump

Is summer your slow season? In our last blog, we pointed out that summer is often a slower period for many businesses. Because they welcome fewer customers and have reduced foot traffic, summer is a good season to commit to store renovations. If you find that things slow down at your business in the summertime, you could certainly benefit from a little creativity and strategic planning.

Here are four surefire way for small business to beat the summer slump:

1. Introduce enticing summer bundles.

All consumers enjoy saving money. However, it’s not all about offering discounts. Providing greater value per purchase is the way to go. One idea that comes to mind is a café that offers a “Cool Down Combo”. It can consist of a refreshing iced beverage and a delicious summer treat at a discounted price.

“Instead of selling items for less than they’re worth, strive to entice customers to buy by boosting the perceived value of your products and services,” agrees April Maguire on ZenBusiness.com, “For example, a local nail salon could offer a deal in which customers who purchase both a manicure and a pedicure get free nail art.”

2. Sponsor or participate in local events.

Set up a booth or pop-up shop and offer exclusive event discounts to your visitors. This not only increases your visibility but also allows you to connect with potential customers in a fun and engaging environment. For example, if you own a clothing store, you could organize a fashion show and offer special deals for attendees.

“In-person events have become popular again as a way to reconnect,” notes Clover.com, “More towns and cities are having festivals and fairs. This is an opportunity to boost summer revenue and interact with the community and potential customers. As a restaurant, you may want to get involved in a food festival or, as a retailer, set up a booth at a summer fair.”

3. Launch a social media contest.

While people may be spending less time indoors during the summer, they’re likely still scrolling through their social media feeds. Utilize platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to engage with your audience and promote your business. Create summer-themed content, share behind-the-scenes glimpse and run contests or giveaways that encourage user participation.

“Not only is a social media giveaway great for engaging customers and increasing page views, but it also creates goodwill for your business,” says Maguire, “Because Facebook and Twitter tend to remain popular regardless of the season, business owners can be confident that social media contents will help them reach a wider audience and, ideally, boost sales.”

4. Host summer programs and in-store events.

Create a summer-specific program that offers exclusive perks, such as early access to new products or services, freebies or additional discounts. Encourage customers to sign up by promoting the program in-store and online. Emphasize the limited-time nature of the benefits.

As well, consider hosting workshops, demonstrations or interactive sessions related to your products or services. For example, if you run a bookstore, you could host a book club meeting, author signing or a themed reading night.

How can Synergy Merchants help your small business beat the summer slump?

Call us at 1-877-718-2026 or email us at info@synergymerchants.com to learn about how our unique merchant cash advance program can quickly fund your business needs. You can also apply online for a free, no obligation quote!