Unwrap the Magic: Using Nostalgia to Boost Holiday Sales This Small Business Season

November 13, 2024

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Cozy lights, warm smells, family nearby, and cheap gifts from big box stores, right?

Not so fast! While the convenience of online giants can't be denied, small businesses have a secret weapon: the power of nostalgia, tradition, and beloved memories.



This holiday season, you can tap into those warm, fuzzy feelings to create a marketing campaign that truly resonates with your customers and beats big every time. Here’s how:


Evoke the Spirit of Holidays Past

Remember the excitement of visiting a local toy store as a kid? Or the aroma of freshly baked goods wafting from the bakery down the street? There are certain sensory memories that are hard to forget, and they lead to purchases. (I’m a sucker for apple cider donuts—and see them as an undeniable sign that fall is here—because they were special treats when we were kids. You can play on these same types of memories.)

Here’s how to capitalize on sensory experiences and powerful memory triggers:

  • Decorate with a nostalgic touch: Think vintage ornaments, classic holiday colors, and cozy displays that evoke a sense of yesteryear. Yeah, that tinsel may not fit in with today’s more neutral palate, but Gen Xers (especially) love nostalgic nods to their youth, no matter how gaudy.
  • Share heartwarming stories: Use your marketing channels to share stories about your business's history, family traditions, or how your products played a role in holiday celebrations. You can also share your own holiday memories of “businesses gone by.” Reminding people of all the wonderful businesses that are no longer around can illustrate the importance of their support in much the same way the Ghost of Christmas past showed old Ebeneezer Scrooge what he no longer had in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
  • Create a sensory experience: Engage all five senses. Play classic holiday music, offer festive treats, and use scents like cinnamon or pine to transport customers to a magical holiday wonderland.


A quick word about the science of scent: Scent is extremely powerful in evoking memory and if it works for your business, you should use it. The olfactory system, which processes smells, has a direct connection to the parts of the brain involved in memory and emotion. Smells bypass the cognitive processing that other senses undergo, making the connection between smell and memory more immediate. Additionally, smells are often linked to emotional experiences. For example, the smell of freshly baked sugar cookies might evoke memories of waiting for Santa.


Become Part of New Traditions

Even if you’re new to the area and are thinking, “My place isn’t associated with memories or holiday traditions,” today is a great day to start. You can become part of your customers' evolving holiday traditions by:

  • Hosting unique events. Parents with littles, people with out-of-town guests, and a host of others are looking for activities to keep their friends and family busy and get them in the “holiday spirit.” Think cookie decorating classes, holiday-themed workshops, or special shopping nights with exclusive discounts.
  • Offering personalized gifts: Provide gift-wrapping services, personalized ornaments, or custom gift baskets to make holiday shopping more meaningful.
  • Supporting local causes: Partner with a local charity or community group to give back during the holidays and show your commitment to your community. Some businesses have Angel Trees or collect toys for a nonprofit.


Realize Community is Key

Your business can thrive by building community connections.

  • Run contests encouraging customers to share their favorite holiday memories or traditions associated with your business.
  • If you sell handcrafted goods, showcase the stories of the makers behind them.
  • Participate in Small Business Season and celebrate shopping local. Team up with the chamber and other small businesses in your area to promote the benefits of shopping small.


Embrace the Digital World

Nostalgia isn't just for your brick-and-mortar store. Use your online presence to evoke those same warm feelings. Post old photos of your business or town during the holidays on social media. Incorporate vintage-inspired graphics and fonts in your email marketing and social media posts. Create a "holiday memories" board on Pinterest. Curate images that evoke a sense of nostalgia and link them back to your products or services.

Additionally, if you offer an online store, make sure people know about it. Often they buy online from box stores because they don’t think about their local store selling on the internet. Market your online offers as well.


The convenience of online shopping is undeniable, but convenience is not as memorable as an experience. Small businesses offer something money can't buy: a genuine connection to the community and the magic of the season. By tapping into the power of nostalgia and tradition, you can create a holiday marketing campaign that not only drives sales but also builds lasting relationships with your customers.

April 7, 2025
Google's AI-generated search summaries shift SEO from rankings to relevance. Local businesses must prioritize clarity, context, and authority in their content. Structured data, featured snippets, and site experience now influence AI visibility. Building topical depth helps businesses become the trusted source AI turns to. Winning SEO in 2025 means answering questions—not just attracting clicks. 581 words ~ 3 min read The SEO landscape is changing—and fast. But contrary to what you may have heard, SEO isn’t dead. It’s getting smarter, thanks to AI. Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) is a prime example. Instead of simply listing websites, Google now displays AI-generated summaries in response to user queries. These summaries pull from what the algorithm sees as the most trustworthy and relevant content—and that means your business needs to think differently about how it shows up online. This evolution is especially important for local businesses . A potential customer may never scroll down to your link if Google’s AI answers their question up top. But if your content is included in that summary? You’re not just visible—you’re the answer. What’s Changing?  Traditional SEO focused on keywords, backlinks, and meta tags. Today, search engines use AI to understand intent , not just terms. That means creating human-first content that clearly answers questions, reflects authority, and builds trust. Instead of writing for algorithms, businesses now need to write for clarity. AI doesn’t reward keyword stuffing—it elevates content that solves problems. Think of it this way: SEO used to be about getting found. Now, it’s about being useful. Case in Point A local HVAC company in Texas revamped its FAQ and service pages to clearly address customer pain points like “Why is my AC leaking?” and “How fast can you repair an AC unit in summer?” They added schema markup and structured headers. Within weeks, their content began appearing in AI-generated summaries. Bookings rose 22%—and their brand authority grew along with it. Your AI-Ready SEO Checklist Here are four moves your business can make today: Optimize for Featured Snippets Structure your content to answer common customer questions clearly and concisely. Use headers, lists, and direct answers. Build Topical Authority Group your content into clusters—blogs, FAQs, videos—that cover a topic deeply. This signals to AI that your site is a credible source. Enhance User Experience Fast load times, mobile optimization, and easy navigation aren’t just good UX—they’re now ranking signals. Use Structured Data (Schema Markup) Help search engines understand your content. Schema tags tell AI what your page is about—and how it fits user intent. Why This Matters for Your Business AI is changing the way customers find and choose businesses. If your content isn’t being surfaced in AI summaries, you risk losing visibility—even if your site ranks on page one. But this isn’t a threat. It’s an opportunity. Businesses that provide clear, trustworthy answers to common questions will not only stay visible—they’ll become the go-to experts in their space. And for Chamber members , this shift is a competitive edge. Most small businesses aren’t yet adapting to AI-driven search. By moving early, you stand out. What to Do Now ✅ Review your website’s top-performing pages. ✅ Ask: Do they clearly answer your customers’ most common questions? ✅ If not, update them with clarity, structure, and supporting content. ✅ Add schema markup where possible. ✅ Improve mobile speed and user experience SEO isn’t just about being found. It’s about being trusted. In the AI era, businesses that earn that trust—through clear, quality content—will lead the way. --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.
April 7, 2025
Some people think chambers of commerce work magic—and in many ways, they do. But to see real results and get the most from your membership, you need to be involved. Joining is a smart move, but the true value comes when you actively engage. If you’ve been wondering whether you’re making the most of your membership—or if you’re just starting out and you’re not sure how to get the most out of it—here are ten practical ways to tap into the value your chamber offers. 1. Show Up and Be Seen The simplest way to maximize your membership is to attend events. Networking mixers, ribbon cuttings, educational workshops, and signature luncheons put you face-to-face with other members, community leaders, and potential customers. Visibility builds trust, and trust builds business. - Looking for a Chamber event? Visit our calendar and filter by “Chamber Event”! See you there! 2. Introduce Yourself Online Most chambers offer a member directory, website listing , or social media shoutout for members. Take advantage of it! Ensure your business profile is up to date, includes a compelling description, and links to your website and social media.  - Unsure of your company login? Contact us: Office@LLChamber.com If your chamber tags members online, engage with their posts to boost visibility. Not sure what they’ll do for you on social—ask. Some chambers have tiers that give more social media and marketing exposure, while others are happy to give you a shoutout. - Want another place to share your company news? Visit our Facebook group ! Open for all to join, but only open for Chamber Members to post their news. Speaking of… 3. Use Member-Only Marketing Perks Chambers often provide exclusive opportunities to advertise in newsletters (or on their website), sponsor events, or be featured in business spotlights. These are often far more affordable than traditional advertising and directly reach a targeted local audience. Ask about low-cost or free ways to get featured. - We have two emails – a job search (Working Wednesdays) and an announcement email (Community News). To submit your open hiring positions or upcoming event/company announcement, please send the information to: Office@LLChamber.com - We also have a community job board we’ll add your open positions on! - Our online calendar is open to submissions! We feature our member events and (attempt!) to feature all events in Leavenworth County. You can submit your event here ! 4. Host or Sponsor Events Sponsorships aren’t just about logos on banners—they’re about association and visibility. Whether you sponsor a lunch and learn, co-host a networking mixer, or provide space for a meeting, you position your organization as a local leader and supporter of the community. Not into event sponsorships? There may be other opportunities such as naming conference rooms, sponsoring giveaways, or in-kind donations. Many chambers are doing some innovative and fun events with creative sponsorship opportunities. They may even be open to you suggesting your own. - Check out our speaker/host proposal form on our website! - Want to know about upcoming sponsorship opportunities? Just ask: Office@LLChamber.com 5. Participate in Advocacy Efforts Your chamber is your voice at city hall and beyond. Stay informed about local legislation, zoning issues, and economic development initiatives that affect your business. Many chambers host candidate forums, legislative briefings, or policy committees—get involved to shape the future of your local economy. Additionally, voice your concerns and opinions so your chamber knows best how to advocate for you and your industry. - We are constantly working to do our best to advocate for our membership community. Join our Government Affairs Committee ! Second Thursday of every month, 9-10AM, at the Chamber Offices. - Or, visit our YouTube channel and watch some of the fantastic videos from events hosted by our GAC! 6. Leverage Learning Opportunities From business planning to digital marketing to hiring best practices, chambers often host workshops, webinars, and panel discussions to keep you abreast of trends and best practices. Use them. These sessions can save you hours of research—and sometimes thousands of dollars. Plus, you know the products, services, and companies presented in these learning ops are vetted and (usually) chamber members. - Again, see our playlists ! - Check out our Leadership program ! 7. Connect with Other Members Chambers are a goldmine of potential partnerships. Need a CPA? Looking for a nonprofit to support? Want a trusted supplier? Look to your fellow members first. When you do business with others in the chamber, you contribute to a stronger, more connected local economy. These new partners may also send business your way. - Visit our Directory! 8. Tell Your Story People want to do business with people they know, like, and trust. Share your milestones, success stories, or community impact with the chamber staff. Many chambers are happy to highlight member achievements in newsletters or on social media—it’s great exposure and helps build your reputation. - We’ve mentioned our newsletters, but you can also submit your stories to our Press Releases ! This can be done in your membership login, or send it to us at: Office@LLChamber.com Get personal. If your chamber asks you for a new member writeup for your business. Give it some thought. What do you want people to know most about you? How can you make them more curious about you so they’ll sample your offerings? Don’t just copy and paste your website’s about page. You want to give people moments where they feel connected to you. Ask yourself what is it about you and your business that people will identify with or find interesting. 9. Get Your Team Involved Your membership isn’t just for you—it’s for your whole team. Encourage staff to attend networking events, professional development events and leadership programs, or industry roundtables. It can boost morale, expand your reach, and help with talent retention. - We’re always glad to see our members! Whether you’ve been with the organization for decades or just started an internship, we appreciate seeing you, meeting you, and having you participate in our events . 10. Ask Questions and Offer Ideas Finally, know chambers are member-driven organizations. If you’re unsure how to plug in or have an idea for a new program or service, speak up. Chamber staff are usually eager to help and love hearing member feedback. Your input could lead to new initiatives that benefit the whole community. Your Chamber is a Partner, Not Just a Provider Chamber membership benefits your business even if you don’t partake in all its offerings, but you’ll get a lot more if you’re an active member. Whether you’re a solopreneur, a nonprofit director, or the CEO of a growing company, your chamber is there to support your success. Get involved, build relationships, and use the tools available. You’ll not only grow your business—you’ll strengthen your community in the process. - Other benefits include: A. Medical Plans (For companies with 2 – 100 W-2 employees) B. Advertising Value Report (As long as you have a Chamber Membership, your directory listing is getting views) C. Low Cost Merchant Account (Looking at credit card processing?) -------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Medium: @christinametcalf Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith
March 31, 2025
Employee recognition costs nothing, but delivers massive returns. Specific, timely praise boosts morale, retention, and productivity. A consistent habit of appreciation builds a resilient, loyal culture. Small acts of recognition create big business impact. Leaders set the tone—start with one shout-out a day. 579 words ~ 3 min. read What if one small leadership habit could boost morale, cut turnover, and increase productivity—without spending a single dollar? For small businesses competing with larger companies offering higher pay and flashier perks, recognition can be the great equalizer. It’s free, immediate, and incredibly effective. Why It Works Employees crave meaning just as much as money. According to Gallup, only one in three workers strongly agree they received recognition in the last week. Yet those who do are more productive, more loyal, and less likely to burn out. As Richard Branson famously said, “Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of the clients.” What Meaningful Recognition Looks Like To make recognition effective, use the S.A.T. Method : Specific: Don’t just say “great job.” Say “thank you for staying late to help that customer—you really went above and beyond.” Authentic: Be genuine. Praise should come from a place of real appreciation, not obligation. Timely: Deliver it close to the moment. Recognition loses power when it’s delayed. The Cultural Multiplier Recognition sets the tone for a culture of positivity and respect. When leaders model appreciation, others follow. This creates a ripple effect that lifts morale across the organization. Recognition reinforces the behaviors and values you want to see more of—whether that’s teamwork, customer care, or problem-solving. Over time, this reinforcement becomes part of your business DNA. Quick Wins for Busy Leaders No time? No problem. Here are a few fast, high-impact ways to make recognition a regular habit without overhauling your schedule: Start every team meeting with one shout-out: Kick off meetings by highlighting a recent win or effort by a team member. It sets a positive tone and encourages others to recognize good work, too. End your day with one thank-you message: Before you log off or head out, take two minutes to send a quick thank-you email or Slack message to someone who made an impact that day. It’s a small gesture with lasting effects. Post a “Win of the Week” on your team board: Dedicate a visible space—physical or digital—to spotlight one achievement each week. Rotate who gets featured and make sure it's tied to your values or goals. Create a rotating “Peer Recognition” award: Empower your team to recognize each other by passing along a fun, informal award each week—like a baton, badge, or symbolic trophy. It builds community and encourages peer-to-peer appreciation. These simple actions don’t require a budget—just intention. And the more consistently you practice them, the more embedded recognition becomes in your culture. Build the Habit It’s not about doing more. It’s about noticing more. Start with one authentic piece of recognition each day. Over time, you’ll notice the shift—not just in morale, but in performance, collaboration, and loyalty. Recognition is a leadership practice, not a perk. It tells your people: You matter. I see you. Keep going. Further Reading: Gallup: The Power of Employee Recognition (https://www.gallup.com/workplace/236441/employee-recognition-low-cost-high-impact.aspx Forbes: Why Employee Recognition Is More Important Than Ever (https://www.forbes.com/sites/markcperna/2025/03/07/how-recognizing-your-team-can-change-everything-for-the-better)  --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.
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