Winter Solstice 2025 Reflections: 3 Simple Marketing Tips to Illuminate Your Small Business in 2026
After the longest night of the winter solstice comes the quiet promise: the light always returns.
Are you ready for your business to step into it?
As I write this, the days have gotten noticeably shorter here in East Texas, and the ranch is settling into that quiet, cozy rhythm that only winter brings.
We're heading into our studio closure for the holidays (much-needed recharge time with family, furry friends, and maybe a few too many cups of hot cocoa), but I couldn't let this week away pass without dropping a little Grain of Salt wisdom your way.
December 21 was the winter solstice 2025—the shortest day, longest night, and the magical pivot where darkness peaks... and light begins its quiet return.
Ancient cultures celebrated with bonfires, feasts, and rituals honoring the sun's return—think Yule logs glowing in Nordic hearths, pomegranate gatherings in Persia, saffron buns in Sweden, or solitary walks through sacred groves awaiting the first rays of dawn—traditions reminding us renewal is always on the horizon.
It's a timeless metaphor for small business life: those "long night" seasons of slow months, ruts, or exhaustion. But just like the days now lengthening, your consistent efforts (even the small ones) are building momentum for brighter days ahead.
3 Solstice-Inspired Marketing Tips for 2026
Low-effort ways to embrace the returning light (now that the solstice has passed and the days are officially getting longer):
Illuminate What Already Works
Take a quick audit of your year: What one campaign, post, or email brought in the most engagement or sales? Dust it off and refresh it for January. A simple tweak (new images, updated offer) can reignite interest without starting from scratch.Embrace the Quiet for Deeper Planning
The solstice invites us to embrace the darkness before the light returns—a sacred pause to acknowledge challenges and hard-won lessons, trusting renewal is already quietly stirring.Use this downtime to do the same: reflect gently on your year, then set three simple intentions for 2026.
One of mine? Hosting small-group retreats right here on the ranch—inviting clients to unplug, recharge, and rediscover clarity amid the windmills, cedars, and wide-open East Texas quiet. It’s about creating that rare space for deep renewal and creative breakthroughs so many of us crave.
Send a Little Light to Your Audience
Schedule a heartfelt thank-you email or snail mail (or both!): Share a personal reflection, a sneak peek at 2026, or a small exclusive gift or note. It's cozy, deeply memorable, builds lasting loyalty—and you can prepare it now, so it arrives while you're unplugged.
I’m so grateful for this community—you've truly brightened my 2025.
One final solstice tip: Find a quiet moment this December to walk your own path—literally, if you can. Step into the woods, the fields, or even just around the block. Let the crisp air clear your mind and remind you that, just like the figure stepping toward the light, your next bright chapter is already waiting.
Wishing you a peaceful solstice, a very Merry Christmas, and a 2026 full of returning light and hope. Trust the turn.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
— John 1:5
I’ll be back in January, refreshed and ready.
With a grain of salt (and hope),
Suzi
P.S. Itching for a brand refresh or audit to start the new year strong? My calendar opens January 5th—RSVP now to get on the list!