Spend Time with your Family And Give Back this Holiday Season

The holiday season always remind us to spend as much time with our loved ones as possible, but what about those who aren’t able to spend time with their family? This holiday season, South Sioux City Chamber of Commerce wants to inspire you to give back, and spend some quality time with family. After all, they’re the greatest gift there is!

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army, in simple terms, gives back to those in need wherever, whenever, and however they can. They help disaster survivors, cure hunger, overcome poverty, provide shelter, equip families, teach kids, assist the unemployed, and brighten the holidays. Around the holiday season, you may see the Salvation Army more often because of their Red Kettle Campaign. This campaign is most easily recognized by those ringing bells in public areas next to the red kettle. If you and your family are looking for more ways to give back, the Red Kettle Campaign is a great way to go. The Siouxland Red Kettle Campaign will be ringing it’s bells around the area, and they’re looking for volunteers to help out. The campaign goal this year is $218,000, with the funds helping over 500 families this Christmas. If you’d like to learn more about the Red Kettle Campaign happening in Siouxland this year, please visit their Facebook event.

Cardinal Christmas Basket Program

With help from Dakota County, and support of South Sioux City, the Cardinal Christmas Basket Program will deliver 365 Christmas Food Baskets to underprivileged, disadvantaged, and financially challenged families, along with limited income senior citizens, the disabled, and the Siouxland Family Center. Your help is needed to deliver these baskets to those in need, and what better way to give back to your community and spend time with your family than helping those in need? If you’d like to learn more about this great program and help in the Siouxland community, please visit the Cardinal Christmas Basket Program website.

There’s no better way to celebrate the holidays than spending it with the ones you love. But if you want to go the extra mile, find ways to give back in the community this year. It can be as small as donating a dollar to the Salvation Army, or as large as spending the day helping raise money for those less fortunate. Whatever you decide on, the South Sioux City Chamber of Commerce is proud to help give back. Visit our website to browse events in our area, along with more ways you can spend time with your family during the holidays.

Marketing Opportunities for this Holiday Season

Black Friday might receive a lot of hype, but before there can be a Black Friday there must be a Thanksgiving. Make sure to capitalize on the calendar by creating a marketing plan for this Holiday season and especially the days leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here are some ideas for your small business this Holiday season.  

1. Hype End-of-Season Products

The fall season means pumpkin this and apple that while Christmas tends to smell like cinnamon, pine, and sugar cookies. With so many Thanksgiving meals coming up, create an incentive to use these soon-to-be phased out products. Whether they are pumpkin pies, autumn-scented candles, or apple cookie mix they can be brought as gifts or as desserts.

2. Make Life Easier for Hosts

Some entertainers think that hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner sounds like a fun idea… until it comes time to cook, clean, and decorate. Anything that you or your business can remove from the giant plate of chores will be beneficial to these hosts. Maybe your catering service can bring a prepared Thanksgiving or Christmas meal to the home. Maybe your rental service can rent a giant dining room table to fit the cousins you didn’t even know you had. Maybe your maid service can come make the house spotless before the guests arrive. Regardless, milk these services and market them to hosts and entertainers. Consider a limited-time sales promotion ending on Thanksgiving Day.

3. Be Thankful for Customers

Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks. Make sure to send a targeted email or direct mail piece to your customers with a special offer. This will make them feel special and get them to stop in your store before the crazy Black Friday sales start.

4. Host an Event

This event can be free depending on your businesses size, budget, and generosity. Regardless of the budget,  it will be a great way to build relationship with customers and build morale within your staff during this Holiday season. This warm invitation can be sent out via email or direct mail piece. It can be included in the promotion mentioned in Tip 3.

South Sioux City Area Chamber of Commerce strives to help our local small businesses succeed. We offer helpful tips on networking and other actives. Our office is located at 4401 Dakota Avenue in South Sioux City. To find out more about our services offered to small businesses, call (402) 494-1626 or visit our website. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!