The holiday season is here and businesses everywhere are gearing up for the busiest shopping day of the year- Black Friday. Over 74 million Americans shop on Black Friday (if they were to form a country, it would be the 20th most populous on Earth!) Is your business ready?!

With so many stores offering huge deals on Black Friday, it can be difficult to stand out against all the noise. However, incorporating a few simple strategies can help your business provide an excellent Black Friday experience and leave a lasting impression on your customers.

Staff well

The crowds….the lines. We all know what this national shopping day is like. Make sure you have plenty of staff to get your customers through the checkout lines quickly. If your store is understaffed, it will be a very long and frustrating day. Black Friday shoppers are expecting lines, but your store can offer a refreshing experience by being extra organized and efficient.

Make it fun

Black Friday is a long and busy day for your staff, so make it fun by bringing in lots of snacks and goodies for the break room. You can even offer contests and prizes for meeting goals at the end of the day. Making it fun for your employees will help to create a positive atmosphere which will translate to a great customer experience with your store.

Keep your store looking extra special

According to a recent study, foot traffic to big box stores is expected to increase by 34% this year. Many small and medium retailers located near these stores could expect a spike in traffic as well. It is important for your businesses to prepare for this additional traffic by making sure your store looks in tip-top shape. Bringing out your latest merchandise, sprucing up your window displays and keeping things in order throughout the big day will be sure to leave a great impression on your customers.

Don’t try to compete with the big box stores

Let’s face it, the retail giants will always be able to offer bigger and better deals on Black Friday. Trying to compete with the big stores will only hurt your business by eating up all your margins. Instead, your business needs to focus on what those box stores can’t offer- a personal experience. As a smaller business, putting community and family values first is essential for generating loyal customer relationships. So, don’t bother opening on Thanksgiving because your customers will appreciate your businesses more for staying closed on the holiday.

Offer coupons with future dates

With the influx of traffic to your store on Black Friday, it is important to implement a strategy to encourage those shoppers to keep coming back. A great way to do this is by handing out coupons to customers at checkout. Be sure that those coupons are dated for a week or two in the future. This will bring shoppers back to your store during a less rushed time and could lead to long-term customer relationships.