The holiday season starts earlier every year, and the businesses that prepare in August consistently outperform those that scramble in November. Here's what Markham small businesses should be doing now.
September: planning and content
Lock down your promotional calendar. Draft your holiday content (social posts, email campaigns, in-store signage). Order any seasonal inventory.
October: launch teasers
Begin running gentle awareness campaigns. Pre-Black Friday email signups. Update your Google Business Profile with new hours and holiday photos.
November: peak campaign
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are unavoidable for retail. For service businesses, gift cards and pre-paid packages are the move.
December: customer retention
The customers you serve in December are the ones most likely to refer in January. Over-deliver, ask for reviews, and capture contact info.
Marketing channels that work for Markham businesses
Google Business Profile (most underused — claim and update it now). Instagram for visual businesses. Facebook groups for community-focused businesses. Local directories like MarkhamBusiness.com for evergreen discoverability. Email for repeat customers.
What to skip
Don't blow your entire holiday budget on Facebook ads if you haven't built a customer email list. Don't pivot your entire brand for the holidays. Don't underprice to chase competitors.
List your business with us to be included in our holiday gift guides and local roundups.
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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