The holiday shopping season is underway, and this year small businesses have less time to capitalize on the busy shopping period.
Only 27 days separate Thanksgiving and Christmas — five fewer than last year. But there are still ways to make the most of a shorter season.
The National Retail Federation predicts that retail sales will rise between 2.5% and 3.5% compared with same period a year ago. Online shopping is expected to grow too. Adobe Digital Insights, a division of software company Adobe, predicts an 8.4% increase online for the full season.
But small businesses have to work extra hard to compete against bigger retailers. One key strategy is to promote deals to customers wherever you can, from social media to physical ads. Also, cultivate repeat customers by offering special deals to loyalty program members.
Roberta Perry, owner of ScrubzBody Skin Care Products shop in Farmingdale, N.Y., said she started offering a “Buy One, Get One Free” promotion a week early — the Friday before the Black Friday holiday shopping weekend. The holidays are key for her because she makes 30% of her sales in the six week holiday period.
Offering the discount early “has given us the opportunity to hype our own special sales day, and take away some of the pressure from people who start their season the following week,” she said. “It also gives us a week before the true holiday season begins to send out the orders and get set for the next few weeks.”
On Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, she offered a free gift with purchase and then for the rest of the holiday season is offering free gift wrapping and cards.
She also extends her hours in December.
“Anything to make our customers lives easier,” she said.
Amy Peterson, co--founder of Rebel Nell, a jewelry shop in Detroit, dealt with the shorter season by starting promotions early and creating a “Design Your Own Jewelry” event to draw in customers.
“These efforts help us stand out and give customers a reason to shop early and often,” she said. The “Design Your Own Jewelry” experience is “a great activity for friends and family, allowing customers to craft something truly unique,” she said.
The shop also launched a special holiday collection featuring crystals and pieces made with material from a historic theater in Detroit, Fox Theatre, which recently went through a renovation.
Those pieces “resonated with customers seeking meaningful, one-of-a-kind gifts,” Peterson said. “Trends show shoppers are still expecting Black Friday promotions, and while small businesses like ours can’t match the margins of big box stores, we’ve embraced the opportunity to remain competitive and show appreciation to our loyal customers.”
FILE - People wait in line for hot donuts at Bryant Park's Winter Village, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jayden Daniels was not worried when he and the Washington Commanders trailed the Philadelphia Eagles by 14 points after just seven minutes, and the rookie quarterback was similarly undaunted staring down a 13-point deficit going into the fourth quarter, long after Jalen Hurts was sidelined with a concussion.
“I always believe that we can win the game no matter what,” Daniels said. “The game’s never over till the clock hits zero.”
Daniels got the ball when the clock read 1:58, and he delivered his latest masterful performance by finding Jamison Crowder in the end zone with 6 seconds left to give the Commanders an emotional 36-33 comeback victory Sunday that ended the Eagles' winning streak at 10 games. It was his fifth touchdown pass of the game as Daniels shined and kept Philadelphia from celebrating an NFC East championship.
“You got those guys that came in on the win streak they were on, they were hot and they’re a very good team — rightfully so, good offense, good defense, all-around well-prepared team and you want to go out there and see where you match up against those type of guys,” Daniels said.
"Those type of situations when it’s on thin ice and plays need to be made, that’s what you live for. If you really love this sport, you live for those big-time moments where it comes down to the end.”
Daniels is the first Washington QB to throw for five touchdowns since Mark Rypien in 1991. That was Washington's most recent Super Bowl-winning season. Rypien, who was the MVP of that Super Bowl, was in attendance for Sunday's game.
Daniels bounced back from two interceptions, including one in the final minutes, to lead a 57-yard touchdown drive against the NFL's best defense. Washington (10-5) is now on the verge of making the playoffs after handing the Eagles (12-3) their first loss since Sept. 29.
The Eagles played without Hurts for the vast majority of the game and failed to clinch the division and one of the conference's top two seeds despite Saquon Barkley running for 109 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone.
Daniels was the primary reason for that, beating the Eagles a month after losing to them on the road. He was 24 of 39 for 258 yards with a pair of TDs to Crowder and Olamide Zaccheaus and one to Terry McLaurin — and Daniels was Washington's leading rusher with 81 yards on nine carries.
Daniels is the first rookie quarterback to throw for five or more touchdowns and rush for 65 or more yards in a single game in NFL history.
“It doesn’t get too much harder going against a team like that, back against the wall,” said McLaurin, who had five catches for 60 yards to eclipse 1,000 for a fifth consecutive season. “But when you’ve got to have it, when the game’s on the line, he made the plays and we just tried to make the plays with him.”
Daniels' brilliance was enough to overcome Brian Robinson Jr. losing two fumbles in the first half and Dyami Brown another early in the third quarter and Marshon Lattimore getting flagged three times for pass interference.
The Commanders also found a solution for Barkley, who was held to 41 yards after the first.
“Obviously when a quarterback goes out, we knew that a lot of the attention was going to be on him,” linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “He’s a special player, so you just want to contain him.”
Philadelphia's offense stagnated with the drop-off from Hurts to backup Kenny Pickett, who threw an interception to Frankie Luvu in his first meaningful NFL action in more than a year.
“We didn't do enough,” Barkley said. “We left a lot of plays out there, including myself.”
Luvu also leveled the hit on Hurts that knocked Philadelphia’s starting QB out of the game just a few minutes in. Hurts’ head also bounced off the ground at the end of his previous run, and he was ruled out after two trips to the medical tent on the sideline and the concussion evaluation that followed.
Hurts’ status is a question that will linger for the Eagles into their final two games of the regular season as the Super Bowl contenders eye a long playoff run. Pickett was 14 of 24 for 143 yards in relief, throwing a touchdown pass to A.J. Brown and the interception.
DeVonta Smith dropped a late pass that would have given Philadelphia a first down rather than a second field goal from Jake Elliott, and the receiver took responsibility for the mistake.
"I just dropped the ball," Smith said. “It cost us the game.”
Eagles: Beyond Hurts, edge rusher Josh Sweat left with an ankle injury and defensive tackle Jordan Davis limped off in the second quarter. ... Pickett said he had his ribs X-rayed and would undergo further testing.
Commanders: Lattimore and Brown left with hamstring injuries in the fourth quarter. ... Right tackle Andrew Wylie did not finish the game because of a groin injury. ... Rookie linebacker Jordan Magee left early in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury.
Eagles: Host Dallas next Sunday.
Commanders: Host Atlanta next Sunday night.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) running with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) acknowledges fans as he heads off the field at the end of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) heads off the field at the end of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jamison Crowder (80) celebrates his touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jamison Crowder (80) scores a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jamison Crowder (80) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Jamison Crowder (80) scoring a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scrambles as he carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (14) celebrating his touchdown against Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (7) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (14) scores a touchdown against Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo (22) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (14) scores a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) breaks away from Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) and runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) breaks away from Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) and runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) avoids a tackle by Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship (32) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (14) celebrating his touchdown with Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) and others during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
