Once again, it is time to celebrate. Thinking back upon the year, there have no doubt been many trials that you have had to overcome.

There may have been many opportunities for which to rejoice.

Maybe you opened a business. Maybe you achieved your lifelong goal.

In any case, the year is nearly over and it is time to wrap up all that you have accomplished and take a moment to relax and take stock.

No matter what happened in 2008, 2009 is just around the corner - full of more chances for change and moments for success.

So live it up for a few days. Take a vacation or just a short break at home.

Be with loved ones and clear your head.

Prepare for the year to come with joy and thanksgiving.

You’ve earned it.

It’s snowing now, and depending on where you live, shoppers may be finding it a little challenging to get out and into your store.

This is precisely why your online sales team has got to move into overdrive.

Send an email alert to all your customers notifying them of overnight shipping.

After all, today is the last day to guarantee gifts to arrive in time for Christmas morning.

Sometimes all it takes is a gentle reminder to push customers in the right direction.

As we all know, many people insist on waiting until the last minute to complete holiday shopping, so this is your opportunity to give those procrastinating consumers a kick in the rear end!

Another great option to let your customers know about is that you gift wrap! You don’t? Well, start!

Offer the service for free or charge a small fee ($5.00 or so) and see your sales go up! The more you can do for your customers to make their lives around this very hectic time easier, the better.

You better not pout!

That’s how the song goes anyway. And with less than a week until Christmas, the pressure is mounting.

You better not cry, I’m telling you why…

Consumers are armed with shopping bags and ready to pounce.

Had a slow year? Not to fear.

Now is most certainly not the time to be throwing in the towel.

Believe it or not, with the economy the way it is, people still want to spend money. And lots of it.

The roads are as packed as ever and the stores as busy.

Santa Claus is comin’ to town!!

Job losses are at a historical high.

And you, as a small business employer, may be feeling the heat.

No, the pressure isn’t as intense as large corporations that are faced with numerous layoffs, but you feel the economic struggle just the same.

No one wants to let go of valuable workers, but there may come a time when you have to.

Before things get to that point, however, it might behoove you to consider a few alternative possibilities.

Business Week recently reported that small business owners are “instituting job-sharing programs, across-the-board pay cuts, reduced hours, and unpaid vacations in an effort to keep their workforces intact.”

Do what you can. That is all anyone can ask of you.

As a small business owner, you don’t want to rely on tricks and traps.

People see right through those sneaky maneuvers.

You want to be honest, yet assertive.

One way to get (and keep) the attention of visitors to your store is to lure them into signing up to receive your online newsletter!

Don’t yet have an online newsletter? Oops. Where have you been?

Here’s how to do it. Place a clipboard at your register with a lined sheet of paper attached.

Let your customers know that if they sign up with their name and email address, they will be added to the mailing list.

Those on the mailing list will receive updates on sales and store events, coupons and any other rewards or information you deem fit.

But that may not be enough. Throw something in - a free cup of coffee, a 20% off voucher, a tube of lipstick.

That way, your customers feel they are getting something great for free and YOU are getting access to THEM. Once added to the mailing list, you can stay in contact with your customers and further influence them to spend with you! Just don’t go overboard…or you’ll be added to the Spam file.

Thinking of ways to advertise for little or no money?

It’s possible, and more and more small business owners are opting for ways to get their name out there without unloading a ton of dough.

One way to do it is to create a Facebook profile, and to build up your “friends” list by recruiting people who appreciate what you have to sell.

Word gets around fast on the Internet, and this is one way to drive your message home.

Another way is to blog. I do it. Why shouldn’t you?

There are plenty of ways to get creative with advertising, you just have to take the time to brainstorm!

Have an in-store party. You’ll have to supply food and drink, but what better way to get people to come in and take a look around than by offering them a glass of champagne?!

Holiday spirit: if you don’t have it, fake it.

This is an undoubtedly stressful time for many people, but one of your greatest mistakes could be taking on a Scrooge point of view.

I recently patronized an Italian restaurant that, on a Saturday night, was packed.

My party was told to wait by the door. Now, this place was tiny, and by waiting, we were forced to inevitably be a hindrance to the wait staff.

They were frustrated, squeezing by us and making faces. And this, in turn, made myself and those I was with extremely put off, as well!

What were we supposed to do? Did these people not want our business? Did they want us to leave just to get out of the way?

Well, all it took was a simple comment made by one of my friends…”Let’s just go to Round Table”…to turn the restaurant’s attitude around!

We were seated in less than three minutes.

If you find yourself getting fed up because you are TOO BUSY…get over it and count your blessings.

Don’t be a Scrooge. Be grateful.

It seems no matter how tough the economy gets, hard-core shoppers agree on one thing:

Participating in Black Friday is a must.

And so the mobs of consumers get up early the day after Thanksgiving and rush to get their retail therapy.

You’d be crazy, as a small business person, not to give in to the madness!

With their wallets ready, this is the one day that guarantees shoppers actively searching for great deals, money in hand.

Just one piece of advice: be safe.

Customers get a little crazy, and the frantic “I gotta have it!” mentality has gotten people hurt year after year.

If you’ve got a frenzied group outside your door, hire extra security to maintain the masses.

You wouldn’t want something as small as a petty fight to get in the way of big, big sales.

It’s an interesting phrase, if you ponder it long enough.

Today is about “giving thanks.” And that’s what we do.

But what does that mean? It’s more than just “being” thankful. It’s giving something.

The gift of thanks. And if you think about it, being thanked is a gift.

It feels good to have someone give you a “thank you,” as small a sentiment as it is.

This holiday, don’t forget to give thanks to you customers.

Send a little card or an email just to thank them for their business throughout the year. Give them the gift of being recognized and remembered.

A little “thanks” goes a long way…