Fall has officially arrived! You’re starting to feel a chill in the air (or not, if you live in Florida like we do) and the excitement of increased business. Thanksgiving marketing is always a good investment for florists, since customers begin their serious holiday shopping on Thanksgiving weekend.  With the right type of marketing, you can grab a good chunk of business from those who’ll be decorating their homes and offices for the holidays.

Here are a few ideas:

Host a DIY Workshop

Bring customers into your shop with a DIY Thanksgiving Centerpiece Workshop. You can use the idea we’ve included in this issue or come up with your own. Create excitement for the workshop on your social media pages, and take reservations in advance so you have all the necessary materials prepared. For those who can’t attend, promote that you’ll be streaming it on Facebook Live so that they can get in on the action. Make sure you do a couple of practice runs first, so you’re ready to go live on the day of the workshop.

Send Thank-you Notes

Show your customers how grateful you are for their Thanksgiving business by including a handwritten thank-you note with their arrangement. This is a wonderful way to bring a more personal touch for those customers who order online: They may never have come into your shop, but this will give them a good idea of who you are and how much you appreciate them.

Give Holiday Presents to Your Best Customers

According to a study done by the Journal of Consumer Research, customers appreciate a free gift more than a discount. What better time than Thanksgiving to give a present to your best customers? Include a gift along with their arrangement, such small succulent in a rustic tin or box, along with a card letting them know how thankful you are to have them as a customer.

Feature Customers in Your Marketing 

A great way to thank your customers is to feature them on your social media accounts, in your email newsletter, or on your blog. Have them submit a picture of themselves with one of your arrangements, then choose as many as possible to feature throughout the month. If you have so many submissions that you can’t select all of them (a great problem to have!), make sure you like and comment on each one to show your appreciation.

Reach out to Wedding and Event Bloggers

Compile a list of wedding and event bloggers from an internet search, then visit each of their blogs to see how many followers they have. Contact the ones with large followings and ask them if they’d be willing to review one of your arrangements in exchange for blogging

about it and your business. You may also want to offer the blogger a chance to host a Thanksgiving arrangement giveaway for their followers, then offer those who participate a discount on any future floral purchase from you.

Create Themed Product Bundles

It’s always a great idea to bundle similar products together and offer it for less than customers would pay if they bought the items separately. Maybe it’s a “Thanksgiving Decorating Bundle” that includes a floral centerpiece plus Thanksgiving-themed napkins, a table runner, and candles. Get creative and have fun with this, since customers will love these either for themselves or as gift-giving ideas.