The holiday season has arrived yet again, and this year the hustle and bustle means that your customers will give you the perfect opportunity to end the year on a high note. Retailers are opening their doors earlier than ever to accommodate demand and launching sales promotions even earlier. The good news is that you don’t need to have crazy holiday hours to take advantage of all the opportunities the holiday season has to offer. We’ve got some easy marketing tips to help you make the most of the busy holiday shopping season.
Host Holiday Events
Is your coffee shop a cozy space that people love to gather in? Why not promote it as an event space for holiday parties? You could offer coffee & tea tastings, your signature drinks, and team up with a local caterer to offer tasty food tidbits. Many local companies may be looking for a space to hold a holiday gathering – a great opportunity to introduce their caffeine-starved employees to your shop and create brand awareness.
Promote Gift Cards
Gift Cards are the quick and easy gift that everybody loves to receive. You may choose to offer incentives early in the season, such as a free $5 gift card when you purchase $25 worth of additional cards. Simply displaying gift cards next to your register or creating some printed marketing materials making customers aware that you offer gift cards can help boost this part of your marketing plan. Training employees to suggestive sell them is another great way to maximize the potential that gift cards have to offer
Create a Holiday Gift Pack
A holiday exclusive gift package can pair your awesome product with your brand’s personality. Order coffee mugs and tumblers with your shop’s logo and information and package them with gift cards, coffee beans, or any other popular coffee related products. Have fun mixing and matching items and have them available at several different price points for customers.
Get Involved with the Community
The holidays offer a plethora of opportunities to get involved while simultaneously creating brand 
awareness. You can get involved by supporting your neighboring retailers through their crazy holiday hours, having employees volunteer at a local non-profit, or taking some coffee samples to your local police or fire station office. If you’re a little more pressed for resources, you can get involved without ever leaving the shop by hosting a toy drive, working with PTAs to invite local teachers in for a free cup of coffee while they do their shopping, or partnering with a local food bank.
Sample a Taste of Holiday Cheer
Often times during the holidays customers are shopping for others more so than themselves, and they may not have an idea of which type of coffee would be the best gift. Offering samples and training your employees to make suggestions and recommendations are great ways to make their purchase much easier. Offer customers waiting in line samples of any new or seasonal products, but make sure they get it before they get to the register in case they decide to order it.
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