6 Ways to Snag Last-Minute Shoppers For Small Business Season

December 27, 2024

Turn Panic into Profit


The holiday rush is on, and while many shoppers are organized and planned, there's always a wave of last-minute buyers scrambling for gifts. This is your chance to shine and make some last-minute sales before the new year!



You have a few critical days to capture those frantic shoppers and boost your end-of-year sales.


Capitalize on the Small Business Win


Amazon and other online stores may be able to get items to your doorstep almost quicker than you can find a parking place at the mall these days, but at some point, they’re limited by distance. Late into December shippers simply can’t meet the holiday deadline. There’s an ordering cut-off for Christmas deliveries.


That’s where local businesses can shine. You have items that are available now. But availability alone won’t drive sales. You need to ensure people know about what you have to offer.


Here’s how you can appeal to those anxious last-minute shoppers:


Highlight Express Options & Deadlines


Flexibility is key at the last-minute. People often don’t have time to stroll through a store. They want the convenience of shopping online.


Promote online ordering with in-store pickup. It's the ultimate last-minute solution. Make sure this option is clear on your website, social media, and even Google My Business profile. If you offer local delivery, make sure you talk that up too.


For businesses without an online store, post images of popular items along with their prices on your website and social media. Encourage people to order by phone, Messenger, or email.


You can also sell through some social media platforms without an e-commerce site. However, adding a shopping feature to your website is something that should be on top of your list to get done in the new year. People want to buy on their schedule. An online store allows them to do that.


Create a Sense of Urgency (Without the Pressure):


While most people know when the big day is, adding a countdown clock to your website and social media posts emphasizes the dwindling time. Make sure those social media posts (and your website) display your store hours prominently. Don’t get potential customers interested and then make them search to find out if you’re open or not.


If you’re running low on a popular item, post low stock alerts such as "Only 3 left!" These magic words can spur immediate action. It also can convince people to buy something they hadn’t considered because that alert serves as social proof on the gift’s popularity.


Host a flash sale. Short, intense bursts of discounts create excitement and drive quick purchases. If you post them solely on social media and inform people of that, flash sales will also encourage follows.


If flash sales aren’t your thing, consider hosting a Midnight Sale the day before Christmas Eve or a similar attention-grabbing extension of your hours. Make it a party at your business.


Remember, for these ideas to be effective, you need to ensure people know about them.


Make Gift Buying a Breeze


Last-minute shoppers often are paralyzed by inaction. “Waiting for ideas” is a common reason people put off shopping. Curated gift guides such as "Gifts for Him," "Gifts for the Techie," etc., can help shoppers quickly find what they need and be spurred into action.


Another helpful tactic is to take the guesswork out of gifting with a "Bestsellers" list of the most popular items in your business and share it on social.


Finally, offering gift wrapping services can be a lifesaver for time-crunched shoppers! If you don’t have the manpower for giftwrapping, pack each purchase in a nice shopping bag and throw in some pretty tissue paper.


Extend Your Hours (If Possible)


One of the reasons people often choose box stores over local ones is because they know the chains will be open. That’s the biggest impediment to your last-minute sales. To secure those last-minute shopper dollars, you should consider staying open later in the evenings and on weekend leading up to the holiday. Again, make sure you publicize this so people will shop with you.


Don't Forget the Gift Cards!


Gift cards are the ultimate last-minute solution. If you offer digital gift cards, that’s even better as they can be delivered instantly via email. (If you don’t currently have this technology, look into it before the next big sales season. People enjoy the convenience. Plus, it will help you capture a larger market—those who don’t live nearby.)


Additionally, feature gift cards on your homepage and in your navigation menu. Don’t take last-minute shoppers on a hunt for these items. Display them prominently. You can also offer last-minute bonus incentives such as "Buy a $50 gift card, get a $10 bonus card."


Again, none of this works if you don’t get the word out.


Here’s how you can make sure last-minute buyers know what you’re offering.


Master the Digital Marketing Blitz


In the last few days leading up to the big day you can’t market and post enough. Some of the activities you should consider include:


  • Focus on location-based targeting to reach local shoppers.
  • Send out emails with subject lines like "Don't Panic! Last-Minute Gift Ideas" or "Still Time to Shop!"
  • Reengage those who browsed your site but didn't buy through ads, texts, or emails featuring your best last-minute deals.

Finally, put yourself in the shoes of your last-minute shoppers. What do they need? How are they feeling? What can you do to help them come up with a quick and affordable solution?


If you market with this in mind, you will be their hero, and they can shine in the eyes of their recipient. Because even though people put off shopping until the last-minute, they don’t want it to look like they did.

Mid-Year Reset: 5 Smart Moves to Strengthen Your Small Business

June 9, 2025
The year's midpoint is your wake-up call—refocus now to finish strong. Scrutinize your numbers to find what’s working (and what’s not). Reboot your marketing before seasonal shifts hit. Remove workflow roadblocks to boost team output. Reconnect with your business’s core purpose. 597 Words ~ 3 minute read The midpoint of the year often hits like a reality check: goals half-met, momentum lagging, and a to-do list that keeps growing. But this moment is also a strategic gift: a reset button that can set you up for a stronger, smarter second half. Here are five high-impact moves to help you reset with intention and finish the year with confidence: 1. Run the Numbers, Then Rewrite the Playbook Take a hard look at your financials. Are you ahead, behind, or coasting? Scrutinize revenue trends, margins, and expenses. Identify what’s draining resources and double down on what’s driving growth. Use the insights to reshape your financial strategy for the next six months, because winging it isn’t a plan. 2. Reboot Your Marketing Before the Fall Rush If your marketing has lost steam, this is your window to revive it. Launch a seasonal promotion, refine your messaging, or test new channels to re-engage your audience. And don’t wait to prep for fall. Holiday planning starts now. Review your content calendar, track past performance, and align campaigns with your business goals. 3. Clear the Roadblocks Slowing Your Team Small inefficiencies become big headaches by year’s end. What processes are wasting time? Where’s the communication breaking down? Invite your team to flag friction points and co-create solutions. Even modest upgrades, such as automating reports, streamlining meetings and clarifying roles, can drive major gains. Harvard Business Review explores how better collaboration fuels better outcomes. 4. Recalibrate Your Goals and Reset Priorities It’s okay if the goals you set in January don’t fit anymore. Priorities evolve. What matters is focus. Reassess your KPIs and trim anything that’s distracting from your top objectives. Reset your team’s focus around fewer, clearer targets so execution becomes simpler and more powerful. 5. Reconnect with Your Why Amid the grind, your original mission can get blurry. Take a step back to reflect: Why did you start this business? Who do you serve, and how do you want to show up for them? Realigning with your purpose energizes your leadership and clarifies your brand. Fast Company outlines how reconnecting to your “why” boosts both engagement and performance. Bottom Line: A mid-year reset isn’t just a productivity hack, it’s a strategic imperative. It gives you space to pause, zoom out, and ask the critical questions that get lost in day-to-day urgency. By evaluating your numbers, refreshing your marketing, streamlining operations, focusing your goals, and reigniting your purpose, you give your business the fuel it needs to finish the year not just intact, but thriving. This isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing what matters most with greater clarity, consistency, and conviction. --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.

5 Genius Ways AI Can Stretch Your Existing Content

June 9, 2025
Who isn’t feeling the pain of being stretched too thin these days? If you’ve dabbled with AI, you may have cut the time it takes you to do administrative tasks by as much as 26 minutes a day (at least according to a recent survey in the UK). However, it’s possible to do a lot more than that when you move past administrative tasks and see where else you can do more with less. One of these areas is content. Most businesses are sitting on goldmines of content and don’t even know it. This article will show you five genius ways to get more out of what you already have by repurposing and restructuring the media. 1. Turn Longform Content into Shortform Gold Feed your existing blog posts, eBooks, or newsletters into an AI tool to extract highlights, tips, or quotes for social media posts. Creative twist: Use AI to rewrite the same message in multiple tones—professional, humorous, casual—or tailor it for different platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook. 2. Transform Video or Podcast Transcripts into Written Content AI transcription tools can convert spoken content into text. Use a language model to turn that transcript into blog posts, newsletters, or Q&A articles. Creative twist: Convert a video transcript into a “Top 5 Takeaways” post, a tutorial, or a visually rich infographic with AI-generated headlines. 3. Create Content for Different Audiences from One Source Take a general piece of content (like a blog post) and ask AI to adapt it for different member personas such as new members, loyal/engaged members, or industry partners. Creative twist: Turn one blog post into: · A beginner’s guide on the topic · A technical breakdown · A “pitch” version for partners or press releases 4. Build an Email Series from a Single Piece Take a detailed guide or blog post and ask AI to break it into a 3–5-part email series, complete with subject lines, CTAs, and value-focused messaging. Email series can be very effective in helping your content get noticed. People may not take the time to read a 700-word blog post, but if you email the summary points across several days, they’ll get the gist of the message and will most likely remember it better than reading it all at once. Creative twist: Include AI-generated teaser lines or questions at the end of each email to boost open and click rates. 5. Reimagine Content as Interactive Tools or Experiences Use AI to turn tips, FAQs, or how-to guides into interactive quizzes, calculators, or chatbot scripts that educate and engage users. Example: Turn a skincare routine blog into a “What’s Your Skin Type?” quiz, or a business checklist into a “Startup Readiness Scorecard.” The titles you choose for the materials can make the content a lot more appealing. You can even use reimagined, designed pieces as lead magnets. People often won’t recognize it in another format. Speaking of, upload any written content onto NotebookLM and create a podcast on the topic. You can even tell it which parts of the text you want it to pay attention to or avoid. There are so many things you can do with existing content and marketing collateral you already have. If you can’t think of any creative ideas on how to repurpose those critical pieces, ask AI. Tell it your audience and your goal behind repurposing the content. Then ask it to suggest some ideas to you. You’ll be surprised what it comes up with. ------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

When Strategy Stalls: 4 Moves to Regain Momentum

June 2, 2025
Pause to Stabilize: Cut costs and renegotiate to create breathing room. Pivot, Don’t Panic: Explore new markets or customer segments while staying agile. Learn Fast or Fall Behind: Turn setbacks into insights through rapid experimentation. Guard the Downside: Hedge risks and protect what matters most. 600 words ~ 3 min. read Even seasoned leaders know the sting of a strategy that’s no longer working. But the real measure of leadership isn’t avoiding failure—it’s how decisively and creatively you pivot when the path ahead shifts. When strategic plans falter—whether due to market turbulence, internal missteps, or external shocks—leaders must act not with panic, but with precision. Drawing from Harvard Business Review’s “How to Rescue a Failing Strategy,” here are four pivotal moves to help regain strategic traction. 1. Pause to Stabilize If your strategy is wobbling, the first priority is to buy time without triggering chaos. Consider: Reducing burn rate by cutting non-essential expenses Freezing expansion plans that strain resources Renegotiating contracts or vendor terms to ease cash flow Retailers, for instance, might pause new store openings to refocus on e-commerce logistics. Nonprofits may temporarily halt new program rollouts to concentrate on core impact areas. This strategic pause buys clarity—and the space to think critically. 2. Pivot, Don’t Panic Locking into one approach can be dangerous when conditions change. Instead, design options: Enter adjacent customer segments Test low-risk partnerships or distribution channels Pilot tweaks to product offerings or delivery models For manufacturers, this might mean adapting existing equipment to serve a neighboring industry. Professional services firms could pivot to virtual delivery or a subscription-based model. Related reading: McKinsey on adaptive strategies 3. Learn Fast or Fall Behind Use turbulence as a catalyst to turn your organization into a fast learner. That means: Running controlled experiments on pricing, offers, or ops Creating real-time feedback loops from customers and staff Making strategic reviews more iterative, less static Construction firms might beta-test prefab components for speed and cost. Tech startups could A/B test UX changes weekly. Also worth reading: Bain on learning organizations 4. Guard the Downside Pivots come with risk. Your job? Minimize exposure while staying bold. Cap investments in unproven ideas Increase controls around key financial or operational processes Develop contingency plans for likely risk scenarios Think of this as smart aggression—pushing forward without leaving your core vulnerable. Bottom Line Every organization will face moments when strategy falters. The difference lies in the response. Leaders who act with focus—stabilizing, experimenting, and protecting—don’t just recover; they reposition for smarter, stronger growth. --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.