As a local U.S. business, Thanksgiving marks the perfect opportunity to show your appreciation to the local community that supports your business year-round. There are so many ways to give back to the community in a meaningful way. And, your good deeds won’t go unseen. Customers take notice of what their favorite businesses are doing, and staying involved with the community by giving back results in great marketing and a positive local reputation for your business.
Need some ideas on how your business can show appreciation for your customers and community this Thanksgiving?
- Adopt a local family. What better way to spread good will and give back than by providing Thanksgiving dinner to a local family? Shop for ingredients to make a delicious feast, or order a pre-made dinner to deliver to a family who may otherwise not be able to prepare Thanksgiving dinner on their own. Use Google to search for local organizations that can help you identify families in need.
- Sponsor a Thanksgiving Day race or event. Many communities host events on Thanksgiving morning that benefit a local organization and need sponsors in order to make the event successful. There are many ways to become a sponsor – can you provide coffee and pastries to participants? Can your employees help staff different checkpoints along the race course? Do you want your business name or logo to appear on signage or giveaways? Get in touch with organizers early to see how you can help out.
- Run a special deal or sale. The holiday shopping rush begins in November, making this month the perfect time to run a special deal or sale in honor of Black Friday or Small Business Saturday. Can you offer a buy-one-get-one deal or provide a discount on a favorite item, food dish, or service? Or a special one-time only sale for regular customers to get something free included with their purchase? Give thanks to the people in your neighborhood who helped make your business successful with a Local Deal this holiday season.
Bailey Dental of Bailey, Colorado is hosting a Thanksgiving food drive in exchange for a free exam and X-rays.
The Naked Tart of Charlotte, North Carolina is providing free delivery or free fudge this Thanksgiving.
- Donate a portion of sales to a local non-profit, charitable organization. Let customers know that you’ll be donating a percentage of sales from a specific time period to a local charitable organization. Encourage them to visit your business in person and/or digitally on your website to make purchases during that time in order to maximize the donation.
- Organize a neighborhood food drive. Food banks need support year-round, but especially during the holidays to ensure that no one goes hungry. Contact your local food bank to acquire a box or barrel for employees and customers alike to fill with non-perishable goods during the month. Many organizations will even schedule a pick-up in order to get the donations back to their facility.
