The holidays are the busiest buying stretch of the year, and they’re also the noisiest. Big stores start their ads in early November. If you’re a small business in Edmonton, you don’t need a bigger budget to compete. You need a plan that starts early and a few channels that you actually keep up.
Here are the holiday marketing ideas we’d use if we were running your shop, studio or service business this year.
Know the dates first
Put these in your calendar now so nothing sneaks up on you:
- Black Friday: Friday, November 27, 2026
- Small Business Saturday: Saturday, November 28, 2026
- Cyber Monday: Monday, November 30, 2026
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2026
- Boxing Day: Saturday, December 26, 2026
Most of the ideas below need two to four weeks of lead time. So the real deadline isn’t late November. It’s the start of November.
1. Make Small Business Saturday your day
Small Business Saturday in Canada is run by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), in partnership with American Express. It falls on the Saturday after American Thanksgiving, right between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. In 2026 that’s November 28.
Black Friday belongs to the big chains. Small Business Saturday is the one day people are actively looking to shop local, so give them a reason to pick you.
- Plan one simple offer for the day. A small gift with purchase, a bundle or a free add on works better than a deep discount you can’t afford.
- Make it an event. Coffee in the morning, a local maker’s pop up table or extended hours give people a reason to come in person.
- Team up with neighbours. If you’re in a strip mall or on a main street, agree on one theme with the shops around you and promote each other.
- Use the free materials. CFIB offers a free toolkit to help businesses promote the day. Check their Celebrate Small Business page for the current version.
2. Put your holiday sale on the street
Lots of holiday shopping happens on the way somewhere else. People drive past you on the way to work, school pickup and the grocery store. A sign by the road tells them what you’re offering today.
A portable sign is one of the simplest ways to do this in Edmonton. Ours start at $149 a month for a 4x8, and we can swap your panels when your message changes, so one sign can carry your Black Friday weekend, then your gift card push, then Boxing Day.
Plan ahead, though. Setup usually takes one to two weeks, and the City of Edmonton needs a development permit for portable signs on private property. We help every client with the permit, but it still takes time. If you want a sign up for the last week of November, start the conversation in early November.
A few tips for holiday sign copy:
- Keep it to one message, readable in a couple of seconds. “Holiday Sale This Weekend” beats a list of five offers.
- Add a date. “Sat Nov 28” gives people a reason to come now.
- Make your name or logo easy to spot so people remember where to go.
If you’re unsure where to place it, read where to put a portable sign for maximum visibility.
3. Post holiday updates on your Google Business Profile
When people search “gift shop near me” or “open Boxing Day,” your Google Business Profile is often the first thing they see. Keep it working for you through the season.
- Add your holiday hours. Set special hours for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s so people don’t show up to a locked door.
- Post an offer. Google lets you post an offer with a start and end date. Use it for your Small Business Saturday deal or Boxing Day sale.
- Post an event. If you’re doing an open house or late shopping night, add it as an event post.
- Share fresh photos. Your holiday window, a gift display or your team in festive sweaters all show you’re open and active.
Our guide to Google Business Profile posts covers what to post each week, and the Google Business Profile checklist helps you tidy the rest of your profile.
4. Email your past customers
The people who already bought from you are the easiest holiday sale you’ll make. They know you, they trust you, and they’re shopping for gifts anyway.
Keep it short. Three emails is plenty:
- Early November: a heads up on your holiday plans and anything people should book or order early.
- The week of Black Friday: your Small Business Saturday or weekend offer.
- Mid December: last minute gift ideas, gift cards and your holiday hours.
Only email people who have bought from you or signed up for your list, and always include an unsubscribe link. That keeps you on the right side of Canada’s anti spam law (CASL). If you don’t have a tidy customer list yet, a simple CRM makes this much easier next year.
5. Plan your holiday social posts now
Holiday social media goes better when it’s planned in one sitting, not made up each morning. Map out November and December in an afternoon:
- Gift ideas from your shelves, one product or service per post
- Behind the scenes of getting ready for the season
- Your Small Business Saturday offer, posted a few days ahead and again on the day
- A thank you to customers and your team
- Holiday hours, posted in early December and pinned
Short videos of your space, your products or your team usually feel more real than polished graphics. If your posts tend to stop once things get busy, our social media management team can plan and post for you so the content keeps going when you’re on the floor.
6. Sell gift cards everywhere
Gift cards are one of the easiest holiday sellers for service businesses like salons, gyms, restaurants and clinics. They solve the “what do I get them” problem for your customers.
Mention them on your sign, in every email, on your Google profile and at the till. If you can, let people buy them on your website so a last minute shopper can grab one on December 23.
7. Ask for reviews in January
Your busiest weeks bring in the most new customers, which means the most potential reviews. Once the rush calms down, send a quick thank you with your Google review link. Our guide on how to write a Google review has simple steps you can send customers, and how to get more Google reviews without asking awkwardly covers the asking part.
A simple holiday timeline
- Early November: pick your offers, book your sign, set your Google holiday hours, plan your social posts and send your first email.
- Mid November: sign goes up, gift card push starts, Small Business Saturday posts go out.
- November 27 to 30: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Post on the day and swap your messaging after.
- December: last minute gift ideas, holiday hours reminders and your Boxing Day offer.
- January: thank your customers and ask for reviews.
For the colder months after the holidays, see our winter marketing checklist for Edmonton businesses.
Want help this season?
We help Edmonton small businesses get seen over the holidays with portable signs, social media management and local SEO. Get a free quote and we’ll help you plan the season around your budget.