Flash Sales, Holiday Hustle, and the Power of Saying “No Thanks”

Picture this: You’ve made your holiday plan. Your posts are scheduled, your offers are ready, and for once, you’re feeling pretty good about the season ahead.

Then your company announces a flash sale.

It starts tomorrow. It ends in 48 hours. Supplies are limited. And suddenly you feel like you need to drop everything, make a graphic, write an email, post in your group, and make sure every customer knows about it.

Sound familiar?

Take a deep breath, my friend. You don’t have to promote every single sale your company offers.

Let me say that again for the people frantically opening Canva: You do not have to promote every single sale your company offers.

On this episode of The Other 99%, Lisa and I talked about how to handle those surprise promotions without letting them take over your holiday plans—or your life.

You’re the boss of your business

Yes, you’re a consultant for a company. But you get to decide how you run your business, what you share, and where you spend your time.

Your company may have a great promotion. That doesn’t automatically mean you need to stop what you’re doing to promote it.

Before you jump in, consider:

• Does this offer fit with my holiday plan?
• Will it benefit my customers?
• Do I have the time and energy to share it?
• Will promoting it help my business, or just add more stress?
• Am I excited to share it, or do I feel like I have to?

You can be grateful for an opportunity and still decide it isn’t the right fit for you.

Create a filter for flash sales

In my Intentional Life Workbook, I talk about using a filter to decide which roles and responsibilities belong in your life. You can use the same idea in your business!

Think of it as your personal flash sale rulebook. When a promotion lands in your inbox, run it through your questions before you react.

For example:

1. Is it a good fit for the customers I serve?
2. Does it support the plan I’ve already made?
3. Will it be worth the time or money I put into sharing it?
4. Can I promote it without creating unnecessary stress?

Your questions might look different from mine, and that’s okay. The point is to decide what matters to you before you’re caught up in the excitement—or panic—of a new sale.

And remember: choosing not to promote a sale doesn’t necessarily mean your customers can’t shop it. They may still find the offer on your company’s website or in an email from the company.

Your holiday plan doesn’t have to disappear

Let’s say you’ve spent time creating a Black Friday event. You’ve made graphics, scheduled emails, and told your customers when to shop.

Then your company announces a special that doesn’t quite line up with yours. Of course it does. 😉

You have options:

• Stick with your plan. Your company’s promotion can exist alongside it.
• Share the company offer as an extra. Let customers know what’s available without changing everything you’ve prepared.
• Adjust your timing if it makes sense. Maybe your own bundle becomes an option for customers who missed the flash sale.
• Add a small bonus if it works for your budget and company rules. This could be a thoughtful gift, a future shopping credit, or even a donation to a local food pantry.

You don’t have to make a decision in a panic. Look at the details, think about your customers, and choose the response that feels right for your business.

Lisa also shared a helpful idea: Build some of your promotions around a purchase amount instead of a discount on a specific product. For example, you might offer a small gift with a qualifying purchase. That way, a surprise sale on one product is less likely to unravel your entire offer.

Whatever you choose, make sure it follows your company’s policies and makes sense for your bottom line.

Be clear about the details

One thing I’ve learned from hosting my own Black Friday event is that clear boundaries make things easier for everyone.

For example, if my personal discount doesn’t apply to products already discounted by my company, I say so upfront. If an offer ends at a certain time, I share that deadline clearly.

You might include a simple note like:

This offer cannot be combined with company specials and ends at the time listed.

Of course, your wording will depend on your offer and your company’s rules. The goal is to help customers understand what to expect—and to help you feel confident standing behind the plan you created.

You don’t have to compete with every other consultant

Have you ever seen another consultant’s holiday special and thought, “Oh no. Should I be offering that too?”

I get it. When your feed is full of promotions, it can feel like everyone is offering a bigger discount or doing more than you are.

But you don’t know the full picture behind someone else’s offer. Their expenses, commission, goals, and business situation may be completely different from yours.

And the people scrolling through your feed aren’t necessarily seeing every post you see.

You get to decide what you can comfortably offer. You don’t need to give away more than your business can afford just to keep up.

The relationships you build, the care you provide, and the way you make shopping easier for your customers matter, too.

Make it personal

A sale doesn’t always need a big announcement. Sometimes the most meaningful way to share it is with one person who would appreciate it.

Maybe you know a customer loves a particular product but has been waiting for a chance to stock up. You could send a thoughtful message like:

“Hi! I thought of you because your favorite serum is on sale through tomorrow. Would you like me to send you the details?”

Simple. Personal. No pressure.

And if they don’t respond, it’s okay to leave it there. You offered, and they can decide what works for them.

That kind of customer care comes from knowing your people—not from sending every promotion to everyone on your list.

Let customers choose how much they hear

Some customers love knowing about every sale. Others would rather hear from you less often. Both are perfectly okay!

Lisa shared a great idea: Invite customers to join a special holiday sale notification list. You can mention it in your emails, your customer group, or on your website:

“Want to be the first to know about holiday flash sales? Join my sale notification list, and I’ll keep you in the loop!”

Then you can share extra promotions with the people who have asked to receive them, while continuing to send your regular, helpful content to your broader audience.

Think of company promotions as the gravy

You knew Lisa and I would find a way to bring food into this conversation, right? 😂

Here’s the analogy we landed on:

• Your customer relationships are the table holding everything together.
• Your products and services are the food you serve.
• Your marketing plan is your invitation to the table.
• Your holiday strategy is the meal you’ve thoughtfully prepared.
• Those surprise company promotions? They’re the gravy.

Gravy can be a delicious addition. It might make the meal even better! But you don’t have to pour it over everything, and you don’t have to serve it if it doesn’t belong on the plate.

Your business already has a foundation. A flash sale is simply an extra opportunity you can choose to use—or pass along.

Give yourself permission to do business your way

The holidays bring enough deadlines, decisions, and full calendars. Your business doesn’t need to add to the chaos every time a new promotion appears.

Make your plan. Know your customers. Decide what fits. And give yourself permission to let the rest go.

You’re building a business that supports your life. That means you get a say in how you spend your time and energy this season.

Want to hear the full conversation? Lisa and I share more examples, real-life scenarios, and plenty of honest conversation in this episode of The Other 99%.

Now tell me: Are you the consultant who loves every flash sale, or are you ready to pass on the gravy once in a while? 😉