Top tips for Canadian businesses to survive the holiday season

Ho-ho-hold up…the holidays are here?  

If you’re a small Canadian business, “shock and surprise” isn’t where you want to be—especially now!  

It’s never been more important for customers to show their support for all things Canadian and .CA! If your products are locally sourced and made, that’s an incredibly powerful story to share. 

So, let’s look at surefire strategies that’ll help ensure you’re as prepared as possible for an increase in holiday commerce, making it as easy as possible for customers to support Canadian businesses like yours.  

Now, grab a steaming hot cup of cocoa, get cozy and let’s begin!  

Top tips for Canadian businesses to survive the holiday season 

1. Look back at last year’s holiday successes  

Before you plan this season, take a moment to reflect on how things went last year. Reviewing past holiday performance is the best way to see what worked and what could be improved.  

Look at which inventory you purchased and what sold well. Identifying popular items—whether purchased or frequently visited on your website—helps you understand trends that may perform again this year.   

Think about what you wish you had done differently: like a specific holiday promotion, adding festive touches to your website, or creating more content to engage your audience. Make a list of priorities and ideas you want to achieve to set yourself up for a successful holiday season.  

2. Organize your website for success  

There’s no time like the present to ensure your website looks great and is fully ready. Nothing turns customers away faster than broken links, wrong descriptions, and a slow website.   

Here’s a checklist for you to check twice before your launch.  

1. Speed things up: a fast-loading page helps your retention enormously and creates a friction-free experience. Use tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights to test and improve performance. 
2. Ensure all links are accurate: broken links can frustrate customers and drive them away. Make sure all URL’s work properly and are accurate.  
3. Freshen up your visuals: take the time to review the photos and descriptions on your website—high quality imagery attracts customers’ eyes and sells.  
4. Keep product listings up to date: if a product is no longer available or is about to sell out, update your site right away, or clearly state the amount available for purchase.  

3. Be transparent with your shipping details 

When it comes to shipping, the best policy is to be as transparent as possible. There’s nothing more frustrating for customers than finding that perfect gift, only to realize that the shipping details are unclear.  

Be sure to include these details:  

• Where your business is located  

• Where you ship your products (local area, province-wide or Canada-wide)  

• Shipping rates  

• Shipping deadlines and cutoff dates for placing orders 

• Any other terms and conditions  

If you can, get extra creative with handling services. Consider offering options for customers to ship items to multiple addresses or add personalized notes or gift packaging for an extra fee. These touches can help encourage shoppers to do more of their holiday shopping with your business.  

Don’t forget curb-side pickup—it’s a great way for you to streamline your delivery process while ensuring customers leave satisfied.  

4. Get in the festive spirit with fun business promotions  

Tap into the excitement and wonder of the holidays and spread joy across your marketing channels.  This season is a perfect opportunity to get creative as you roll out exciting offers, curated gift ideas, festive social posts and promotional emails. 

Here are some festive promotions that you can implement to help get your business in the holiday spirit: 

1. Create a gift guide: at CIRA, we love a good gift guide, and for good reason. Not only does it inspire gift-givers, but it also shows the abundance of products that your business offers. Think about creating short, curated guides that appeal to your customers’ interests – like self-care, outdoor and nature lovers, or cozy homebody picks. 
2. Promote gift cards: promoting gift cards offers gift-givers ultimate flexibility. It guarantees a customer will return and helps spread order fulfillment until after the holidays, giving you more breathing room!  
3. Use email marketing to your advantage: set up cart-abandonment reminder emails. Gift-givers are “in the zone,” looking for the best deals and it’s easy for them to get distracted with all the excitement. A gentle reminder will help them get back on the righteous path of following through with their transaction.  

5. Share your proudly Canadian story   

Here is our final piece of holiday promotional advice—show your customers that you are a Canadian business. One of the easiest ways to do this?  Grab yourself a .CA domain. Not only does a .CA show your Canadian pride, but it will help your customers know that all your prices are in CAD dollars and that you ship across Canada. Don’t have a .CA yet? Use our domain search tool below to find an available .CA today! 

Canadians love supporting local businesses like yours, so let them know who you are and where you’re from to build a personal connection. Share where your products are made and where you source your materials. If your products are locally sourced and/or environmentally friendly, highlight these details—they are powerful selling points and a vital part of your story.   

As your business celebrates this year’s festivities, we wish you nothing but the best in facing the holiday rush! May it deliver all the (right) kinds of surprises and transactions this season.