![Woman with apron uses laptop at floral shop](/sites/default/files/styles/hero_image_basic/public/2024-02/Valentines%20H.jpg?h=3653c9e5&itok=GVF2Crw9)
Outside-the-Box Ideas To Boost Valentine's Day Sales
Outside-the-Box Ideas to Boost Valentine鈥檚 Day Sales
Increased sales during Valentine鈥檚 Day could be just the pick-me-up for small business owners experiencing a lull of sorts following the busy holiday season.
Even if your business doesn't carry the customary jewelry or chocolate, there are still ways to promote your products, services, and brand for Valentine鈥檚 Day sales this month.
Consumers are looking to buy 鈥 Valentine鈥檚 Day ranks up there with Father鈥檚 Day in terms of sales by occasion. Last year, shoppers spent an estimated $25.9 billion for Valentine鈥檚 Day, with each person spending close to $193 on purchases, according to the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights and Analytics鈥 annual survey.
Here are a few outside-the-box ideas to help your small business boost sales for Valentine鈥檚 Day.
Look beyond romance
Valentine鈥檚 Day is all about celebrating love, but it鈥檚 no longer considered a romance-only occasion.
The good news for businesses? That evolution has led to an increased variety of gift-giving for Valentine鈥檚 Day, opening up opportunities for more businesses to get in on sales.
Because more shoppers are looking for a variety of recipients, you have the chance to market your product or service as a unique gift or party favor for different types of gatherings, such as
Galentine鈥檚 Day.
Or, depending on your offerings, you could promote ideas for parents or grandparents shopping for their children or for kid parties, i.e., toys, arts and crafts, or a gift card for an item you sell, such as ice cream, cupcakes, or other kid-favorite treat.
鈥淒on鈥檛 restrict your thinking 鈥 Valentine鈥檚 Day gifts come in all shapes and sizes,鈥 writes Catherine Erdly, founder of The Resilient Retail Club, in a post on her company鈥檚 website.
鈥淲hat matters most is your messaging. Small businesses have so much to offer Valentine鈥檚 shoppers 鈥 you must let them know!鈥
Involve social media
No surprise here 鈥 social media posts should be an automatic for small businesses wanting to promote their business for potential Valentine鈥檚 Day customers.
Join in the fun on social media and draw attention to your business by using hashtags and language that celebrate love and friendship.
If you want to get even more creative, marketing experts say, come up with Valentine鈥檚 Day-themed hashtags that incorporate your brand or even a specific product that fits the occasion.
Remember Galentine鈥檚 Day
Started by a fictional TV show character more than a decade ago, Galentine鈥檚 Day has become a real thing (as in a gift-buying, party-worthy occasion).
Gatherings start as early as Feb. 1, but Galentine鈥檚 Day is 鈥渙fficially鈥 Feb. 13, as designated by 鈥淧arks and Rec鈥 character Leslie Knope in a 2010 episode as a time to celebrate and appreciate her women friends. (The timing also means single and committed friends can come together without jeopardizing any V-Day plans.).
For your business, though, it means more opportunities to draw attention to your products and services as fun gifts, party favors, or venue ideas for Galentine鈥檚 Day.
Broaden your thinking
The more you broaden your thinking around the Valentine鈥檚 Day concept beyond couple-centric romance, the more options you鈥檒l have to market your business, products, and services for increased sales opportunities.
One demographic to consider is single people. They could easily be attracted to the idea of buying something for themselves. For example, you could catch their attention with a 鈥渢reat yourself鈥 promotion if you have products or services that fit the self-care or celebration-at-home category.
Consider last-minute shoppers
Targeting the last-minute Valentine鈥檚 Day gift-buyer could be another way to generate sales for your business this month.
Procrastinators all over the world will appreciate any offers that will make their shopping easier and available on time for their Valentine's Day.
For example, if you鈥檙e an online business, offer overnight or even same-day shipping for customers who spend over a certain amount. Or you could frame your products/services in a Top 5 list of 鈥減erfect last-minute gift ideas鈥 to help attract the 鈥渙h-no鈥 shoppers who need your help.