The businesses that have a good December decide it in September. Here is a month-by-month plan — and, because generic advice is everywhere, the Markham-specific infrastructure that most owners never use.
September: decide the calendar
Pick your promotions now and work backwards: what goes on sale, when it is announced, and what needs to be ordered or staffed for it. Draft the content — email, social, in-store signage — while there is no pressure. If your Google Business Profile and your directory listing still show summer hours, this is the month to fix both.
October: build the audience you will need in November
Run gentle awareness now so your November offers land on people who already know you. The cheapest November customer is an October email signup — a draw, a waitlist, or an early-access list all work. Photograph your space and products before the rush; you will not have time later.
November: sell — but match the offer to the business
Black Friday pricing suits retail. For service businesses — clinics, salons, tutors, studios — the stronger play is gift cards and pre-paid packages: December buyers become January customers. Publish holiday hours everywhere you have a profile, the week before they start.
December: keep them
The customers you serve in December are the likeliest to refer in January. Over-deliver, ask happy customers for a review while they are standing in front of you, and capture contact details for the quiet months.
The Markham-specific part
Three local channels most small businesses never touch:
- Your business association. The Markham Board of Trade — over 700 member businesses per its profile — runs networking and member programs year-round, and the holidays are when cross-promotion between members pays. The directory's associations page lists nine chambers and BIAs, including community-specific ones.
- Your BIA, if you are on a main street. The Unionville BIA and the Markham Village BIA both program their streets through the season — the Village BIA runs the Main Street farmers' market through Thanksgiving. Seasonal foot traffic on those streets is organized; be part of what it is organized around.
- Your directory listing. There are 1,043 businesses listed on MarkhamBusiness.com. A claimed listing with current hours, photos, and a real description is evergreen discoverability that outlasts any one campaign — claim yours, and see featured placement if you want the front page in December.
What to skip
Do not spend the whole budget on paid ads before you have an email list to retarget. Do not rebrand for the season. Do not underprice to chase competitors — December demand is the one time of year you do not need to buy.
Browse the full Markham directory to see how your listing compares to your category.
Data verification: every business named in this article is a record in the MarkhamBusiness.com directory, and every number is computed from those records as of August 20, 2026. Details change — each linked page carries the current record. Run a business that belongs here? Claim or add your listing.
About the Author
Business Tips Editor
Priya Sharma is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. She has spent over fifteen years advising small and medium-sized businesses across the GTA, with a particular focus on owner-operated firms in Markham and Richmond Hill. Priya runs a small consulting practice in Richmond Hill and writes about practical business management, tax planning, hiring, and growth strategies for local entrepreneurs.
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