Last-Minute Summer Holiday Market Opportunities

Summer is a great time for small businesses to make more sales. People are rushing to get everything they need before the end-of-summer holidays and back-to-school season. This means SMBs end up competing with larger stores. Competing with big companies can be tough, but SMBs have some unique advantages. They are flexible, offer personal service, and can get close to their customers.

Personalised Service: The Small Business Advantage

Small businesses are great at making customers feel special. This personal touch is very important and can go along with turning a one-time customer into a repeating one.

Simple tech tools can help small businesses learn more about their customers so they can offer the perfect products and deals. Chatbots can provide instant help, and friendly emails with thank-you notes or discounts can turn one-time shoppers into loyal fans. When customers feel valued, they'll return and tell their friends.

Adaptability: A Small Business Superpower

Small businesses can change and adapt quickly to trends, customer needs, and surprises - something big companies can struggle with.

By keeping an eye on what's popular, small businesses can make smart choices about what to sell and how to sell it. If a product suddenly becomes a hit, they can quickly stock up, change their sales, and adjust prices. They can also try new things like launching new products, having flash sales, or running new ads. This flexibility helps them attract those last-minute shoppers.

Tech-Powered Shipping

Small businesses might not have huge shipping networks, but they can still keep up by using technology. Today's customers expect fast and reliable delivery, especially during busy times like summer. Free or next-day shipping can also be a big draw for customers who want things quickly.

Selling Everywhere

People shop in lots of ways nowadays - on websites, social media, and in stores. To catch those last-minute shoppers, small businesses need to sell both online and in person. This helps them reach more people, especially younger consumers who like to shop online.

Social media like Instagram and TikTok are great for showing off deals. According to ShipStation’s Ecommerce Delivery Benchmark Report, over a third of people under 45 use social media to research products. By using these platforms, small businesses can get noticed, talk to customers, and get new followers. A strong online presence is key for sales, as most shopping starts online. A strong online presence helps increase sales. According to ShipStation's Report about 62% of British consumers begin their buying journey online.

To be successful, small businesses need to make shopping easy no matter where customers are. Someone might search for products online, read reviews on social media, and then go to a store to buy. Keeping online and in-store information the same is important. Products, sales, and customer info should match everywhere. This makes shopping smooth and easy for customers.

Conclusion

Competing with big companies is hard, but small businesses have their own strengths. By offering personal service, being flexible, using tech for better shipping, and having a strong online presence, small businesses can not only compete but also thrive.

About the author

Matthew Trattles is the Vice President of SMBs at Auctane (ShipStation’s parent company), the online shipping solution tailored specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. Matthew plays a pivotal role in overseeing all SMB accounts, ensuring their e-commerce needs are met seamlessly within ShipStation's ecosystem