Summer is the time to strengthen sales and deepen customer relationships. There are unique opportunities for franchises / small businesses to connect with customers, drive traffic and increase sales. If we think creatively, plan ahead and take certain steps, we can make the most of the season’s opportunities. By Jack Monson

Summer is the time to strengthen sales and deepen customer relationships. There are unique opportunities for franchises / small businesses to connect with customers, drive traffic and increase sales. If we think creatively, plan ahead and take certain steps, we can make the most of the season’s opportunities.

For some small businesses, it’s naturally the busiest time of year. For others, it’s a slower time of year, when they struggle just get customers in the door.

Either way, there are several steps you can take to have a BIG summer. As of this column’s publish date, you have about one month until Memorial Day, so there’s still time to execute!

Understanding Your Customers’ Summer Vibe

Customer behavior during summer includes more leisure time, a vacation mindset, lots of outdoor activities and a preference for seasonal products/services. It’s important to align promotions with summer-specific interests to grab customers’ attention.

Maximizing Promotion Impact

Multi-channel marketing will be important to spread the word about your business’s summer promotion. Utilize email newsletters, social media, local advertising and in-store signage. Engaging storytelling and visually appealing content will resonate with the summertime vibe.

Start brainstorming your unique summertime promotions today. Remember, your setup month starts now! You have a short window to capture the summer spirit in your sales strategy.

Fresh Ideas for Summertime Promotions 

Here are a few ideas to consider: 

  • Themed Sales Events: Organize events around popular summer holidays or perhaps a beach-themed weekend with special deals.
  • Outdoor Pop-Up Shops: Take advantage of the weather by setting up temporary outdoor sales spaces or partnering with local outdoor events for booths or sponsorships.
  • Social Media Photo Contests: Consider a contest with a summer theme, where customers post pictures with the business’s products in summer settings, offering prizes for the best entries.
  • Limited-Time Summer Products & Services: Introduce seasonal items or services that are only available during the summer months to create a sense of urgency and exclusivity.
  • Loyalty Program Specials: Enhance loyalty programs with double-points days, special summer rewards or early access to new summer products for members. 

Jack Monson

Jack Monson is the host of Social Geek, home of the No. 1 podcasts in franchising and the CEO of Brand Journalists. He has been working with franchises brands and small businesses in marketing for 15 years. socialgeekradio.com