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This article is part of the America's Favorite Mom & Pop Shops series. Read more stories
Key Takeaways Incorporate AI into the shopping experience to meet customer demands and increase discoverability.
Offer flexible payment options like BNPL to drive conversions and customer confidence.
Create a seamless omnichannel presence to engage consumers across all shopping environments.
The last quarter of any sporting event is when the stakes are the highest. It’s less about making big moves and more about executing the plan, staying focused and adapting to what’s ahead. The same is true for merchants heading into the holiday season: preparation, consistency and adaptability are what make the difference.
But the difference now is that consumers are not just shopping, they’re shopping smarter. They’re comparison shopping, using AI to find the best deals and expecting convenience and flexibility at every step. This constant change in consumer demand can make merchants feel like they are in a mad dash to capture shoppers’ attention and drive conversion. And in my work with small businesses, I see success comes from preparation and insight — understanding your customers, adapting quickly and competing confidently.
At PayPal, we commissioned a survey to understand how U.S. consumers are approaching the 2025 holiday season. The message was clear: They want value, they want choice and they want it to be easy. Backed by data, here are three ways businesses of all sizes can stay in the game this holiday season and set themselves up for long-term growth.
Related: Americans Will Spend $979 Billion This Holiday Season — Here’s How Your Business Can Claim a Bigger Share
Enable AI to be your storefront assistant
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