Tag: gifts

My local downtown merchants have joined together to create a Galentine’s Chocolate Crawl—a fun, creative event designed to celebrate friendship (and chocolate!). The target audience is women who want to spend time with friends while enjoying sweet treats and shopping locally.

Participants receive a box to collect chocolate candies from local merchants, along with exclusive discounts at select shops. The event isn’t held on Valentine’s Day itself, but rather on the first Friday in February, aligning with the monthly First Friday event when merchants stay open late to draw more foot traffic downtown.

This is a fantastic example of how retailers and restaurants can collaborate to attract customers during a traditionally slower time of year. February can feel long, cold, and dark—but events like this create energy, community, and a reason to get out and shop. Importantly, this event doesn’t replace Valentine’s spending; it adds another opportunity for customers to enjoy themselves with friends while browsing for the perfect Valentine’s gift.

Each stop on the crawl offers a sense of delight—friends wonder what chocolate they’ll receive next while discovering new shops and gift ideas. It’s a win for customers and a win for local businesses.

While it may be too late to organize a large-scale event this Valentine’s Day, there is still plenty of time to attract shoppers looking for thoughtful, last-minute gifts. Below are easy-to-implement ideas you can promote quickly through newsletters, email campaigns, and social media.

Simple Valentine’s Promotions You Can Launch Quickly

Create pre-packaged gift bundles.
Make it easy for shoppers—especially husbands and partners who want a thoughtful gift but need a little help. Depending on your product mix, bundles could include soaps, bath bombs, candles, chocolates, books, costume jewelry, teas, mugs, cookies, or perfume.
You can also collaborate with another local business to expand your offerings. Offer multiple bundle sizes at different price points to meet a variety of budgets.

Offer build-your-own gift bundles.
Provide baskets, boxes, or colorful bags and allow customers to select their own items. Pricing is based on the items chosen, giving shoppers flexibility while still encouraging higher-value purchases.

Elevate the experience with creative gift wrapping.
Use Valentine-themed tissue paper, heart stickers, ribbons, bows, confetti, and romantic gift tags. These small details help your business stand out and save customers time.

Add sweet touches to the shopping experience.
Offer chocolates, hot cider, or Valentine’s cookies while customers shop. These simple gestures make customers feel appreciated and encourage them to linger longer in your store.

Encourage friends to shop together.
Offer 2-for-1 or “shop with a friend” promotions—such as 20% off when both shoppers make a purchase. Increase engagement by creating a Valentine-themed photo spot where friends can snap selfies.

Surprise your best customers.
Show appreciation by offering a free small gift with a qualifying purchase. Send an email to your best customers inviting them to select a surprise gift bag. Include inexpensive but appealing items like candles, bath bombs, chocolates, heart-shaped cookies, or small gift cards.

Promote “buy one, gift one” bundles.
Encourage customers to treat themselves while gifting a second item to a friend. Examples include mugs and tea, candles, notepads and pens, or truffles and coffee.

Tie purchases to a charitable cause.
Make a donation for each Valentine’s purchase to a local women’s shelter, animal shelter, or community organization your customers care about. Contributions can be a flat amount, a percentage of sales, or a percentage of profits during Valentine’s week.

Host a Valentine’s giveaway.
Allow customers to enter by making a purchase or engaging with your social media—such as posting a Valentine’s message or tagging a friend. Offer a gift basket or a gift certificate redeemable after Valentine’s Day.

Personalize customer appreciation gifts.
Choose gifts that reflect your customers’ values. For pet lovers, offer a dog treat or pet biscuit. For sustainability-minded customers, a seed packet labeled “Thanks for helping us grow” is both thoughtful and memorable.

As a small business owner, you have many opportunities to celebrate your customers this Valentine’s Day while helping them celebrate the people they love. Remember—without your customers, you do not have a business. They are worthy of your gratitude and care.

“Let all that you do be done with love.”
1 Corinthians 16:14