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I’ve been trying to help my cousin come up with ideas for her little bakery because she keeps saying that “shop small” campaigns work only for a weekend and then people disappear again. Last year she joined a citywide promo and got a huge spike in visitors, but most of them never came back after the event ended. Have any of you seen campaigns that actually keep customers around long-term? Maybe something more personal or community-focused rather than just discounts?
From what I’ve seen, the only “shop small” efforts that build real loyalty are the ones that create a connection instead of just giving out coupons. One store near me started doing tiny behind-the-scenes posts and sharing quick stories about how they prep for busy weekends, kind of like what they talk about on the small business saturday . It made people feel attached to the humans behind the shop, not just the products. My local coffee place also keeps a handwritten board with regulars’ names and little thank-you notes — customers really respond to that kind of attention.
I walked past a craft market last weekend and noticed how vendors interacted with people even when they weren’t buying anything. Some were showing how they make their items or chatting about unrelated things like pets or travel. It made the whole area feel warm and lively, and folks stuck around much longer than usual. Moments like that seem to make a place memorable without anyone pushing sales.
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