Valentine’s Day is for lovers, right? So most of your Februrary marketing strategy is geared towards couples, kids, and gift ideas for relatives. Targeting these groups will certainly boost your sales, but don’t neglect the swinging singles! The old stereotype about being lonely without cupid’s arrow in your life absolutely applies today. While some folks are perfectly satisfied without a partner, others feel downright miserable on a day dedicated to romance.
This presents an excellent opportunity for your small biz to stand out from the major brands. Think about how many corporate retailers go overboard with the sappy stuff that alienates the bachelors and bachelorettes. Here’s your chance to do the opposite—show all of your customers how much you care by catering to their individual needs.
7 ways to spread love to singles at your small business
How do you know what single people want on the day of duos? Put yourself in their shoes (unless you’re single yourself), and find creative ways to solve their problems.
Restaurant promo postcards- This one would work best with a lot of data on your hands. Ideally, you have a pretty good idea of who the married people are on your mailing list. If not, they you won’t be able to run a highly targeted direct mail campaign exclusively for singles. But don’t fret because you can kill two birds with a jumbo sized postcard. Split your design down the middle, and create 2 coupons or offers. Make 1 appealing to couples, such as a special romantic dinner for 2, and save the other side for solo diners. Carry out or delivery will probably be preferable so the singles don’t feel left out sitting alone in a room full of couples.
Single’s night club flyers- Give people a reason not to stay in and sulk because they don’t have a date. Throw a special party at your club with $1 drinks, live music, and a dating auction to pack the place. Design flyers to spread the word and be sure to avoid the kind of artwork that only appeals to men. Women probably won’t want to show up if you send the message that they’ll be walking into a meat market.
Funny greeting cards- You can’t get bulk mailing discounts for folded greeting cards, which means your best bet would be to hand out cards in person at the register. Ask every shopper whether they’re taken or on the market, and give them a Valentine’s day card based on the answer. You’ll need 2 sets of cards, and a message that makes the singles crack a smile.
Pampered promotion raffle for girls- This marketing idea appeals to the lovely ladies who might be depressed without a man to romance them. Unattached women are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem this time of year, yet you can hold a raffle to make them feel beautiful. Buy a gift certificate to a local salon or spa and enter all your female customers in a drawing to win the luxurious prize. If you own a salon, this will be a piece of cake.
First date kit for guys- Does your store cater to men more than women? Guys also need a confidence booster, although they may respond better to something that appeals to their sense of conquest. Inspire your studs with a raffle prize that contains everything they need to get the girl they’re crushing on. Gather up ingredients for a romantic evening, such as champagne, movie tickets, chocolates, roses, etc. and put them in a nice gift basket so he’s ready to pass along the present to his dream date.
Fly solo email offers- You’re already planning a holiday email blast. Unless you’ve got a great segmented list of subscribers, you’ll have to add an offer that appeals to everyone. Or you can use the same principal as the postcard and give customers the option to choose the deal that applies to their relationship status.
Celebrate single awareness day- Otherwise known as SAD, this is the single’s alternative to Valentine’s Day. Basically, SAD pokes fun at commercialism and the notion that everyone who’s alone must be miserable. Research suggests that some people could care less about being on their own. Empower these people and encourage their independence. Give them stickers in their shopping bags with pro-single slogans i.e. “Too smart for consumerism” “Single and proud”.