9 Event Ideas to Boost Q4 Sales

Get ready, Pet Boss, ‘cause Q4 is coming to town! 

The fourth quarter of the year sneaks up on you fast, doesn’t it?! And it’s packed with so many different holidays and promo opportunities for your pet business– like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, all the December holidays, AND New Years. 

Pet industry revenue in the Q4 months tends to be higher since so many people shop their socks off for various reasons. You can take that one step further and make the MOST of your busy months with events! 

If you haven’t already started, now is the time to get your pet business’ Q4 events planned out on the calendar. Whether you’re trying to get customers in the door, or providing a key experience to your clients, effective events during Q4 can help lead you to your overall goals. 

Need a few ideas for pet industry Q4 events? Well, you KNOW we have you covered: 

Halloween Ideas

Ghosts, ghouls, spooky scenes, and (most importantly)… Pets in costume!  Halloween (or Howl-O-Ween, as you might know it) is a spooky, silly, fun oppawtunity for your pet business each year. It’s a great chance for photo ops, memory building, and themed toys and treats. (Bonus Tip: Themed bakery treats sell really well for Halloween!) 

1. Host a virtual or in-person costume contest. 

Pet Boss Club Member, Sherry Redwine, owner of Odyssey Pets in Dallas, TX, hosts an annual Woof-O-Ween with raffles, prizes, and a costume contest. The best part is that each year, she chooses a different theme, and she creates a fun display to match! Check out this year’s “Barking 20’s” display. 

2. Pet costume parade. 

Fall weather is perfect for getting outside and strutting your stuff! Use the cool weather vibes as a chance to host a pet costume parade. Offer different prizes for the most creative, spookiest, funniest, etc. Prizes could include gift certificates to your business to keep your customers returning to shop. 

3. Fall festival with vendors/partners. 

Get the whole community into the Fall and Halloween spirit! Fall festivals will be in full swing, and partnering with other vendors is a great idea as you head deeper into Q4. A rising tide lifts all ships, so supporting each other by doing events will produce a great return for everyone.

Small Business Saturday Ideas

Small Business Saturday is about celebrating YOU– your business, how far you’ve come, and where you’re going. This is a time for you to share your story, tell your customers what makes you unique, and showcase your impact on your local community. You can also host an actual event or promo to thank your customers and generate sales! 

1. Give a gift with each purchase.

And it doesn’t have to be big! A treat, toy, a coupon for the next visit, a goody bag, a tote… there are lots of options! This is a gesture to show your customers just how grateful you are for their support.

2. Small Business Saturday Selfie Contest.

You can promote this as a one-day event with a GRAND prize for the winner! Anyone who enters your location on Small Business Saturday takes a selfie, puts it on social media, and tags you is entered to win. It’s a fun and interactive celebration that will increase foot traffic and, ultimately, sales. 

3. Host a local celebrity. 

A great way to bring new faces into your pet business on Small Business Saturday is by bringing in a familiar (and locally famous) face! Is there a town mascot, State Representative, pup-fluencer, or another local celeb who your ideal customer would love to stop by and meet? Reach out and partner with them to support small businesses in the community! 

December Holidays 

66% of US households have at least one dog, and likely, even more, have a pet in general. And do you know what many of those people consider their pets? 

FAMILY. 

And they give gifts to their pets like they’re family, too! Not only that, but they’ll be in a holly jolly giving spirit, so they might spoil the pets of their neighbors, co-workers, and other family members. Use this time to connect with your customers who will have their pets on their holiday shopping list, even though they’re super busy! 

1. 12 Days of ________. 

You can get creative with the name (12 Days of Giving, 12 Days of Deals, 12 Days of Sales, etc.), but this is always a fun and effective promotion! Feature a new promotion/sale each day for 12 days. It’s a great way to clear out inventory and keep customers on the edge of their seats to see what the next sale will be. Don’t carry inventory? Come up with 12 gifts to give to your employees each day!

2. Participate in local holiday parades or holiday vendor markets.

The holidays create a sense of community, so there’s no better time to get involved in local parades or vendor markets. Getting in front of your potential customers will keep you front of mind when it’s time to complete their holiday shopping lists! Nicole Schuster Olesen from Woofs and Waves participates in a local holiday parade and says, “We have done our parade of lights parade for several years, and it’s a lot of work but so fun!”

3. NYE Party.

3…2…1… HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wrap up the year with inventory clearing savings, promotions, and a fun (and maybe a little bit fancy) paw-ty. You could do a mock “countdown” every hour in-store, Instagram and Facebook lives to showcase the fun, and a Ball Drop (that fido can fetch!). Cheers to your customers and another great year ahead! 🥂

Don’t get overwhelmed by the potential of your fourth quarter in your pet business! Set some time aside to brainstorm which types of events will help you to reach your goals and plan accordingly (and with creativity). 

If you loved these 9 ideas, you’ll love the MANY more we feature in our Pet Boss Club®, along with the support and advice to execute them without a hitch. Click here to get on the waitlist and never run out of show-stopping, revenue-generating ideas during EVERY season. 

Learn more with us!

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