With the first day of summer upon us, vacation season is finally in full swing! People throughout the country are gearing up to get away, soak up the sun, and seek new experiences (or a lounge chair and a cold drink).
Summer tourism presents the opportunity to bring a new market into your small business, as tourists aim to immerse themselves in their vacation destinations. The Vacationer reports that about 85% of Americans plan to travel this summer, which means it’s crucial to find ways to appeal to tourists this season.
These tips can help your small business become a hotspot for hot weather tourism.
- Offer something free. After spending a lot of time in the heat, tourists are eventually going to need a bit of a break. An air-conditioned local business with free light refreshments could be the perfect place to cool down. Providing water, a soft beverage, and small snacks for free is a great way to get people into your small business and pique their interest in your offerings.
- Get outside. To get summer tourists to come to your small business, try going to them first. There are a number of ways you can bring your small business to the outdoors. Some ideas to consider are setting up a merchandise table by your storefront, participating in a local outdoor vendor market, or greeting customers outside with a coupon or free sample.
- Introduce seasonal products and services. Summer weather and activities may call for certain products and services that are not offered the rest of the year. Introducing seasonal offerings can help your small business meet customers’ specific needs and interests. Think about what tourists may need for days at the beach, a comfortable stay away from home, or souvenirs to bring back to jealous friends and see where your small business can fill in those gaps.
- Celebrate themed holidays with special deals. Beyond the traditional holidays we’re used to celebrating, there are also many fun, niche holidays for every single day of the year. Look at a national day calendar and think about how you might be able to apply them within your business. Photography businesses can offer discounted pet portraits on American Pet Photography Day, restaurants and bars can offer a free beer on International Beer Day, or any small business can offer a discount when you come in with a friend on National Friend Day — the possibilities could make up several blog articles alone.
- Be social with your customers. Connecting with consumers online is just as important as connecting with them offline. Get the conversation on social media going by creating a summer-themed hashtag related to your business or staging an in-store photo op perfect for post-vacation photo sharing. You should also promote any special summer deals or offerings on social media.
- Collaborate with other local businesses. By partnering with other neighborhood small businesses, you can create a unique local experience for summer tourists. Try setting up a local business scavenger hunt, writing a checklist of items needed for summer activities and where to find them, or establishing a discount system for customers who visit your business and your local business partners.
Summer tourists will likely be unfamiliar with your small business and its community, so it’s important to be creative in reaching them and making them feel welcome. Applying the right strategies can bring your small business summer success and give visitors a vacation memory they’ll never forget.