How to Turn the Post-Holiday Slowdown Into a Strong Start for 2026

At Digital Main Street, we’ve seen over and over that the businesses who use this period intentionally—whether they’re a neighbourhood storefront or a fully digital entrepreneur—are the ones who bounce back fastest when things pick up again.

Let’s walk through a few ways you can make the most of this quieter season without feeling overwhelmed.

Reconnect With the People Who Showed Up for You

One entrepreneur once said something that stuck with me: “If someone buys from you once, it’s a sale. If they come back, it’s trust. If they tell others, that’s a brand.”

The post-holiday slowdown is the perfect moment to nurture that trust.

A simple “thank you for shopping local” email to the folks who supported you in December can go a long way. Let them know you appreciate them. Share what you’re planning for the new year and invite them to be part of what’s coming. You’d be surprised how often a thoughtful message leads to a repeat customer later in the year.

And if you haven’t done it already, this is a great time to strengthen (or finally start!) a loyalty or email list. It doesn’t need to be complicated—just something that encourages people to stay connected with you. 

(Learn how to craft the perfect message with our email marketing blog.)

Look Back Before You Look Forward

While the holiday rush is still fresh in your mind, take a moment to look at what really happened. What products sold out? What didn’t move at all? Which marketing channels actually brought people to you? Which posts or emails unexpectedly took off? These answers become even more valuable when you fold them back into your digital strategy. Maybe that means updating your website to feature your best-performing items, adjusting your ad audiences, or creating a simple content calendar so your marketing doesn’t feel so last-minute next time.

Tools from partners like Square and Google, or even insights shared through the Digital Main Street Newsletter, can help you understand your customers a little better. It’s information you can use immediately to make smarter decisions for the months ahead.

And if you’re planning your financial or operational goals, the Mastercard Small Business Navigator is a great resource to explore.

Give Your Digital Presence a New Year Refresh

January is the perfect time to update the things you didn’t have the bandwidth to touch during the holidays. Maybe your website needs cleaner navigation or updated photos. Maybe your Google Business Profile needs a refresh. Maybe your online store could benefit from clearer product descriptions or a more obvious “what’s new this year” section.

If you’re a digital-only business, this is also a good time to rebuild retargeting audiences, test new landing pages, or tweak your checkout flow. Small changes now can turn into big wins when sales pick up.

Lean Into Your Community

Even if people aren’t buying as much in January, they’re still paying attention. This makes it the perfect time to show up in quieter, more meaningful ways—whether that’s behind-the-scenes content, sharing your story, or highlighting the people who support your business. It’s also a great moment to tap into your neighbourhood network. Check in with your local Business Improvement Area(BIA) to see if they’re planning any winter or spring events, collaborations, or festivals you can participate in. If you’re in Toronto, you can easily find your local BIA using the directory.

And if your area doesn’t have a BIA—or your business isn’t formally part of one—you can still benefit from the community energy around you. Many BIAs host public events or welcome collaboration from nearby businesses. Sometimes just being connected, visible, and part of what’s happening locally can put you on your customers’ radar in a powerful way.

It doesn’t have to feel like “marketing.” It’s simply a reminder that your business belongs in the community, and you’re still here, adding value even in the slower months.

Use This Time to Plan Your Year Instead of Chasing Quick Sales

January always tempts us to plug the slowdown with heavy discounts or last-minute promos. But more often than not, the smarter play is to pause and plan. Instead of scrambling for quick wins, use this window to map out what the next six months should look like — not just in sales, but in how your business runs.

What new products or services do you want to introduce? Which systems or workflows broke down during the holiday rush? How organized were your marketing efforts… really? Maybe this is the moment to finally refine your digital strategy, build a simple content calendar, clean up your website, or set up tools you didn’t have time for in Q4.

This quieter stretch gives you breathing room — the kind you never get in peak season — to rethink how you want your business to operate by summer. With a bit of structure now, your decisions become intentional instead of reactive, and that’s where real momentum begins.

Put Customer Loyalty at the Centre of Your 2026 Strategy

Acquiring new customers costs money. Keeping the ones you already have costs attention—and the return is often much higher.

Consider how you can make customers feel valued this year. It could be early access to new products, a simple rewards system, personal check-ins, handwritten notes, or referral incentives. Nothing fancy—just human.

A little loyalty goes a long way. It’s one of the strongest signals of a healthy, resilient business.

Take the Pressure Off—You’re Not Behind

It’s completely normal to feel the comedown after the holidays. Many business owners do. But you’re not behind. January isn’t a race. It’s a reset.

Use this month to reconnect with your customers, understand your data, refresh your digital storefront, and set intentions for the new year. You don’t need to do everything at once. Small steps add up.

And remember—you don’t have to figure all of this out alone.
We’re here to support you, your business, and your growth every step of the way.

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Written by: Aaron Dsouza (Digital Service Squad | Digital Main Street)

Aaron is a digital strategist with over a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs tell their stories and grow their businesses online. As part of the Digital Service Squad with Digital Main Street, he works one-on-one with small business owners to simplify digital tools, strengthen their online presence, and build lasting connections with their communities. Aaron is passionate about seeing local businesses thrive and believes that when small businesses succeed, neighbourhoods become stronger and more vibrant.