Halloween is just around the corner. Give your business a little something extra by getting in the spirit. These last second ideas are an easy way to build stronger customer and employee relationships.
Create a Halloween Version of Your Product
Seasonal specialties have become a consumer favorite. Can you give your product a bit of Halloween flair? For example, if you’re a baker you might make orange and black cookies or pumpkin bread.
Host an Employee Costume Contest
Holidays are a great way to get more than just your customers excited about your business. Use this opportunity to engage your staff too. Chances are good they will jump at the chance to dress up. Add an engaging spin to the day by hosting a contest, awarding the best dressed with something fun and instantly enjoyable like a box of chocolates of a Starbucks gift card.
Bonus: Snap a group picture that you can share on your website and through social media. This is a good way to humanize your business and make you more attractive to future employees.
Give out Candy
Adding a candy dish to your checkout counter is a no-brainer. It’s an easy way to send customers out the door on a sweet note.
Play Some Scary Music
Create a playlist of fun, Halloween themed music. This list of the top 10 Halloween songs is a great place to start.
Offer Your Best Customers “Scary” Good Deals
Alert your best customers to an exclusive sale. Make sure they know they’re being invited because they’re one of your best customers. (Everyone likes to feel important.) These type of flash discounts can work really well if you sell a product, but they are also exceptional if you’re selling a service. For example, if you offer a series of online webinars, you might allow your best customers to purchase bundled “refresher” course for less.
Midnight Madness
Stay open late to offer deals at the stroke of midnight. If you have a lot of inventory you need to clear out in order to prep for the next holiday – like Thanksgiving – this is an easy way to get a little help.
Go Black and Orange
Stop by your local dollar store and pick up some inexpensive black and orange decorations. Streamers and balloons won’t break the bank and are eye catching. Use these to decorate your shop or storefront with a bit of Halloween.
Hide the Hat
Hide a witch’s hat somewhere in the neighborhood around your business. Then announce your last second scavenger hunt through social media and your email newsletter list. Include a treasure map or prompt. And, be sure to clearly detail what the finder will win. You might also alert local businesses, so they can help spread the word.
Share Safety Tips
The National Fire Protection Association has a list of safety tips ideal for Halloween. Print out this list and share it with parents and kids who visit.
Host a Halloween Costume Discount
Encourage your customers to dress up when they visit you by offering a costume discount. For example, Chipotle has hosted burrito costume discounts in the past and they’ve had lines out the door.
All and all, just make sure you have fun with the holiday.
