Why You Should Ramp Up Your Marketing This Winter — Not Slow Down

As the cooler months roll in and the summer buzz settles, it’s tempting for businesses—especially in hospitality, retail, and service-based industries—to scale back their marketing efforts. Foot traffic might dip, events quieten, and customers naturally retreat indoors.

But here’s the truth: winter is not the time to go quiet. It’s the time to get clever.

Why Slowing Down is a Mistake

Many businesses fall into the trap of thinking, “It’s our slow season, so let’s just wait it out.” But doing nothing means losing valuable ground—visibility, momentum, and connection with your audience. Your competitors who do show up during the quieter months? They stay top of mind, build loyalty, and come out stronger when things pick up again.

Winter is your opportunity to nurture relationships, test ideas, and get smart with your data.

? 3 Ways to Warm Up Your Winter Marketing Strategy

1. Use the Data You Captured During Peak Season

You’ve just come out of a busy stretch (hello, summer events, peak sales, school holidays…). Chances are, you’ve collected valuable customer data—emails, phone numbers, buying behaviours, location info. Now’s the time to use it.

Segment your lists:

• Locals vs out-of-towners
• Past customers vs leads
• High spenders vs browsers

And speak directly to them with tailored offers and relevant content.

2. Engage With SMS Marketing (Yes, Really!)

Don’t underestimate the power of a well-timed text. SMS has an open rate of over 90%, and when paired with the right offer, it gets results.

Ideas for SMS campaigns:

• Flash winter deals (“$10 off your next coffee – this week only!”)
• Last-minute appointment availability
• VIP early access to an event or product drop
• Local-only promos to bring in the neighbourhood crowd

Keep it short and sharp and include a call to action—think “Book now,” “Show this text,” or “Tap here to claim.”

3. Create Irresistible Winter Offers

Now’s the time to launch cosy, creative, and local-friendly promos. Think:

• Winter warm-up bundles (pairings, packages, or limited-edition seasonal items)
• Mid-week madness or slow-day savers
• Referral rewards for bringing in friends
• “Locals only” incentives to build loyalty in your own backyard

Make people feel like they’re getting something special and exclusive by showing up during the quieter months.

The Takeaway?

You don’t need to hibernate through winter. You need to shift your strategy. Use the quieter pace to reconnect, remarket, and re-engage the people who already love what you do. When done well, winter can be the season that builds loyalty, drives repeat business and sets you up for a red-hot spring and summer.

Need help getting started? Let’s chat about a custom winter campaign that speaks directly to your audience — even better, let’s turn your summer data into cold-weather gold ???