Being Relevant To Your Customers

Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays

We are calling this a Holiday Guide because it spans across multiple Holidays from November through January.

However, for a specific Holiday celebration whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Festivus during this time, consider how you will you refer to this season. From all areas of your business:

• how your employees greet customers,
• how you decorate in-store, and
• special product offerings.

The last thing you want to do is offend your customers by using a Holiday label to which your customers do not relate.

So which is best? Merry Christmas? Happy Holidays? Or, something else?

The short answer is to truly know your customers to know which is best.

If you’re in a neighborhood and primarily attract customers who celebrate Hanukkah, you may want to cater to that group. If your customers primarily celebrate Christmas, go that direction. If you have a mix, perhaps have a mix of decorations.

You have at least three choices:

1. Avoid any religious reference to any specific Holiday – use universal icons from snowmen to gingerbread to holly to presents,
2. Focus and decorate on a single Holiday that your customers best connect with,
3. Represent a touch of all the major Holidays to offer a little connection to everyone.

If you want to avoid offending a particular group, avoid using overtly religious symbols and representations of a specific Holiday. Instead, focus on the universal family, celebration, sharing and giving.

“Happy Holidays” is a warm, inclusive way to greet all customers no matter what your customers are celebrating!