Labor Day (known elsewhere as Workers Day) is a holiday in support of the American worker. What better way for your local small business to celebrate its workers than with a Labor Day message?
In this guide, we’ll discuss several Labor Day message ideas for small businesses. We’ll also explore how you can incorporate this important holiday into your marketing strategy.
With a Labor Day message, you can show your employees and community that you appreciate their efforts—each Labor Day and beyond.
What is Labor Day, and why does it matter for small businesses?
First recognized in 1882, Labor Day is a celebration of the social and economic progress of America’s workers. The labor movements of the 19th century changed many people’s attitudes toward the American worker. These movements inspired love and respect for America’s working class.
Today, the holiday is characterized by picnics and barbecues, parades, and pool parties. For many people, Labor Day also marks the “unofficial end of summer.”
How does Labor Day impact small businesses?
Labor Day can be especially meaningful for small businesses. That’s because many people consider local small businesses as the heart and soul of the American economy.
Furthermore, small businesses employ 48% of American workers. These workers not only help keep small businesses running. They often play integral roles in their communities. As a result, many small businesses display gratitude towards their workers on Labor Day.
Labor Day can also be meaningful for small businesses for the following reasons:
- Labor Day is a time of transition – For many people, Labor Day marks the “unofficial” start of fall. As a result, many small businesses may use this time to create fall and winter marketing campaigns.
- Labor Day is a time of relaxation – Many people have Labor Day off. If your local small business isn’t open on Labor Day, consider using the day to simply relax.
- Labor Day is a time of sales – If your local small business is open on Labor Day, you might see an uptick in sales. That’s because many people have the day off and may choose to shop.
How to incorporate Labor Day messaging into your marketing
Now that you know the history and meaning of Labor Day, let’s discuss how to incorporate Labor Day messaging into your business strategy.
Here are a few ways to market Labor Day so that the people who matter most are front and center: your workers.
#1 Display messages of gratitude for your workers
At the end of the day, Labor Day is all about workers who make social and economic progress possible. As a result, your Labor Day messaging should center around your workers. Here are a few ways to spotlight your employees:
Post a statement of worker solidarity on your website
Statements of solidarity show your workers that you appreciate them and that you have their backs. Furthermore, customers may be excited that you care so deeply for your workers. Make this statement count by keeping it on your website all year long, or by showing how you’re honoring employees by giving them time off this Labor Day.
Here are some messages you could use to show support for your employees:
- This Labor Day, we lift up and honor the efforts of our employees. We couldn’t do it without them.
- At [Business Name], we believe that an excellent work environment enables us to provide the high-quality service we’re known for. That’s why we make every effort to build a rewarding and supportive culture for all of our employees.
- Happy Labor Day! In recognition of our employees’ dedicated efforts, our business will be closed this Labor Day to allow time for relaxation and celebration. We’ll be back and ready to serve you again starting [Date].
Display banners and signs at your business
If your business is completely online, you’ll have to post messages on your eCommerce platforms. But if you run a brick-and-mortar business, you can display messages of support at your business. These displays can simply say “Thank you,” or they can display longer messages of support.
Examples include:
- From all of our team, we wish you a safe and happy Labor Day weekend
- Happy Labor Day! This weekend, we celebrate our team’s efforts. Enjoy 20% off!
- Whether you cook out, stay in, or relax all day, we hope you have an amazing Labor Day weekend.
Highlight your employees
In addition to posting a solidarity statement on your website, you could also highlight your employees. To do so, you might simply describe your employees on your platforms. These descriptions might include their interests and passions outside of work.
If your small local business can close for Labor Day, giving employees the day off is another display of gratitude. That said, you’ll want to alert your community before closing. Nextdoor allows you to make this announcement so that it reaches your community.
A hyperlocal social networking platform, Nextdoor allows you to build a Nextdoor Business Page. From there, you can update your business hours to show you’ll be closed on Labor Day. That way, your community members will know to visit your business after the holiday.
#2 Offer coupons, discounts, and specials
Coupons, discounts, and specials are fantastic ways to spread Labor Day messages. By including specific Labor Day messages with these promotions, you’re accomplishing two goals:
- Informing the community about Labor Day and your workers
- Emphasizing your products and services
Sample Labor Day promotions might include:
- Buy-one-get-one free deals
- Themed events
- Discounts on goods and services
- Special menus or programs
Regardless of your promotions’ formats, weaving a consistent Labor Day-themed message into your promotion is important. After all, you want consumers to know why you’re holding this promotion in the first place.
For example, let’s suppose you operate a small local construction business. Your Happy Labor Day message might say:
Haven’t nailed down your Labor Day plans? Start with that DIY project! This Labor Day weekend, celebrate your hard work by taking 20% off nails, pouches, and hammers.
Based in Asheville, NC, the Moose Café is a small local business that knows the power of effective Labor Day promotions. Their website states that their restaurants will be open for Labor Day and that they will feature a special Labor Day menu.
By incorporating Labor Day into its messaging, the Moose Cafe is able to celebrate Labor Day weekend while emphasizing its farm-to-table cuisine.
Other Labor Day promotion messages you could employ include:
- As you say goodbye to summer, don’t forget to recognize all your work this year. Celebrate Labor Day with 50% off one full-priced item.
- In honor of all the efforts of our workforce this holiday weekend, we’re offering a buy one, get one free Labor Day special on all products. Treat yourself this weekend—you deserve it.
#3 Advertise Labor Day through all of your marketing channels
Spreading a Labor Day-themed message through all of your marketing channels can be a fantastic way to reach all of your customers. That’s because some customers may only subscribe to your emails, not your social media posts, and vice versa.
The key is consistency. Whether you’re spreading your message through email, word-of-mouth, or social media marketing, sending a similar Labor Day message can be beneficial.
Here are a few ways to use your marketing channels on Labor Day:
Email marketing
If you use email marketing, send a holiday-themed promotional email to your email list. Or, simply remind customers that you will be closed on Labor Day and will reopen the next day. You might also consider Labor day wishes of support for your workers in your emails.
For instance, consider this Labor Day email message sent by NYC-based jewelry business, Aurate, that uplifts and honors employee contributions:
Today we honor the artisans behind the brand. Some are fourth-generation craftspeople, and others have spent decades honing their art. All of them are as fixated on getting your piece exactly right as we are.
Social media marketing
Don't settle for the Happy Labor Day message and standard Labor Day greeting –– instead, get creative. Posting Labor Day-themed messages on your social media accounts can also drive engagement with your brand. Like email marketing, social media Labor Day marketing can highlight your employees. It can also provide customers with Labor Day-specific information such as closures and promotions.
Consider this social media message from Lexington, South Carolina-based business, Saluda Hill Landscapes:
Happy Labor Day from Saluda Hill Landscapes! This Labor Day Weekend, we would like to recognize our AMAZING team of hard workers for everything they do daily to make our clients happy. We would not be the company we are today without our crews and management.
Text-based marketing
Text-based marketing, specifically push notifications, can alert customers to your Labor Day promotions. Or even if you don't have promotions, you can send your customers Happy Labor Day wishes via text. Text-based marketing typically has higher open rates than email marketing. As a result, customers can take advantage of your Labor Day promotions before the long weekend ends.
The trick with text-based marketing is to keep your message short and sweet. Here are examples of some text-based marketing messages you could use this Labor Day:
- This Labor Day, it’s time to sit back, relax, and honor your achievements. To help you celebrate, we’re offering 15% off all in-store merchandise.
- Warm wishes for a Happy Labor Day from all of us at [Insert Business Name]. We hope you have a relaxing long weekend!
Blog-based marketing
If you have a website with a blog, you might also add Labor Day-focused blog posts. That way, your customers can read about the history of Labor Day, a notable hardworking American in history, your employees, and what you plan to do to celebrate the holiday.
For instance, this year, the Springfield, Illinois-based dental office, Raj Dhamrait DDS General and Family Dentistry made a short, fun blog post beginning with this message:
Labor Day is upon us, and that means the non-official end to summer. Before the kids head back to school and temperatures start to cool down, this is your last chance to barbeque in the beautiful SPRINGFIELD, Illinois community, head to the lake, and wear your favorite pair of white pants.
Likewise, Golden, Colorado’s Golden Real Estate is a small local real estate business that uses blog posts effectively. In addition to posts discussing real estate, their posts highlight community events such as car auctions. Their blog would thus be a good place to inform the community about their Labor Day initiatives.
Spread your Labor Day messages with Nextdoor.
For many people, Labor Day is a time to honor working people, relax with friends and family, and participate in community events. If you operate a small business, it’s also a time for Labor Day messages. Luckily, Nextdoor can help your warm wishes reach your community.
Our hyperlocal networking platform allows you to tap into your community like never before. Once you set up your Nextdoor Business Page, you can post updated Labor Day hours and promotions. You can also create Labor Day-themed ads to help generate brand engagement.
As a local small business, you do a lot for your community. Let Nextdoor work for you this Labor Day.
