Even though we are thousands of miles away, Chinese New Year is celebrated in England with as much gusto as in the country it originated in. With a number of major cities worldwide having well-established China Towns it’s not surprising that this time of year is often looked upon as a great way for shop owners to promote their businesses. Even if you aren’t based in London, celebrating the Chinese New Year is a great way to attract customers, and here at Nova Insurance we show you how:

Give your Shop a Proper Clean

One of the most common traditions of Chinese New Year is to clean you home, however shop owners should also take this opportunity to clean their premises. The meaning behind this tradition is that it clears out the old and brings in the new, as well as removes any bad luck that may have built up in your property over the past year. Even if you don’t necessarily believe in the meaning behind the tradition it’s a great reason to give your shop a proper clean and ensure it’s ready for the upcoming months. After the Christmas period it’s likely you’ll have stock piled up and paperwork to go through, and there’s no time like the present for sorting it all out!

Decorate in Style

There is no denying that one of the reasons countries around the world have embraced Chinese New Year is because of the excitement and opulence associated with it. If you have ever been to China Town during the Chinese New Year period you will often see a flurry of colours as well as numerous parades, all of which are extremely eye catching. So once you have cleaned out your shop why not decorate it with traditional Chinese New Year ornaments such as lanterns, paper cuttings and door gods? Most of these decorations should be in red as it’s the colour of luck and fortune, which is something that every shop owner would like!

Give out Red Packets

Chinese New Year is not just about making luck and good fortune for yourself but also others, which is why it’s a tradition to give out red packets containing money to children and loved ones. Naturally, you’re not going to start giving out money to every customer that enters your shop, however you can create little packets of your own containing a small gift that you give away with each sale. Chocolate coins are inexpensive (and delicious!) and your customers will really appreciate receiving something extra just for visiting your store. If you really want to push the boat out you could also include a small piece of paper with information on the meaning behind the gift and Chinese New Year in general.

Try some Traditional Cuisine

Chinese New Year just wouldn’t be the same without the food; in fact most Chinese families go all out on Chinese New Year’s Eve by creating a huge feast for all their friends and family, complete with a range of dishes. Unless you have practiced cooking traditional Chinese food before this may be one tradition you will have to do your own version of, or order some dishes from a local restaurant or Chinese market. Traditionally, dumplings, glutinous rice flour (Tang Yuan) and New Year Cake is served, however you can always include some of your favourites too. Having a traditional Chinese New Year Eve meal with your shop staff is a great way to bond, and it can even become a new tradition for your business!

Fireworks

Much like all of the other Chinese New Year traditions we have discussed in this blog, fireworks are used to ward away evil and bring good luck for the next year. However, you should be extremely careful if you are planning on letting off fireworks, and you will also need permission from your local council and to check whether your shop insurance policy will cover you if any damages occur. It may be safer and less hassle to give this tradition a miss, or you could just invest in some sparklers and celebrate that way. Don’t forget they should be lit just after the stroke of midnight to celebrate the New Year!