Blog
Time for change – how to get your leaflets delivering
Monday 28th September 2026
As we head into October and the inevitable (and, depending on your enthusiasm for dark mornings - rather unwelcome) clock change, something noticeable happens in how people spend their evenings – and their money. It’s dark by teatime, the sofa’s suddenly a lot more appealing than the high street, and daily routines shift. So, too, do spending habits.
For local businesses, that’s not a downside - it’s a positive opportunity. But only if your marketing offer is right in front of the right people when that happens…
More Time at Home Means More Local Spending
Think about how your own routine changes when the nights draw in. People spend more evenings at home, which means more takeaway orders, more nights watching TV instead of going out. But – and this is often overlooked — there’s a seasonal uptick in gym sign-ups as the darker, colder months prompt people to think about getting through winter feeling good and keen to find new ways of beating the winter blues.
Local takeaways, gyms, pubs and hospitality all see a real shift in demand around this time of year as people adjust to longer evenings and the need for a spur-of-the-moment feel-good boost. Home services, food and drink sales, health, fitness and wellbeing businesses, gyms, personal trainers and wellness studios, taxis and local transport services and seasonal events can all benefit from this seasonal shift.
The timely question to ask, however, is whether your business is the one they think of first.
Consistency Builds the Recognition That Gets the Call:
This is exactly where long-term campaigns do their work. A single leaflet drop timed around the clock change might catch a few people at the time, but your business needs long-term results and repeat orders.
A consistent campaign means your flyer is landing on doormats again and again throughout autumn and into winter — so when someone’s at home on a wet November evening deciding between takeaway menus, or deciding it’s time to join a gym, yours is the name they already recognise.
As we’ve said before, repetition builds recognition, and that’s what gets the phone to ring.
Pubs and Venues Have a Real Reason to Invest Now
There’s also a timely financial angle specifically for pubs, bars and live music venues. These outlets began receiving a 15% business rates discount earlier this year, easing some of the cost pressure the sector has been under.
That saving is exactly the kind of headroom that can be redirected into marketing rather than used elsewhere — and a well-planned door drop campaign, with its low unit cost, is one of the most efficient ways to put that saving to work building extra footfall.
Looking Ahead to 2027 should be Part of your Plan
It’s also worth thinking further ahead. The government has promised a further 20% cut to business rates for pubs, clubs and eligible live music venues from April 2027, on top of the support already in place.
For venues planning their marketing budgets over the next 18 months or so, this is a good moment to start building brand recognition now, so that when the additional saving lands in 2027, you’re not starting from scratch — you’re building on a customer base that already knows and trusts you.
Consistent marketing today means the extra rates relief in 2027 goes further, because it’s reinforcing an established presence rather than trying to create one from a standing start.
Short Bursts Get Forgotten; Steady Presence Gets Remembered
It’s tempting, when budgets are tight, to think about cutting marketing spend altogether or running a single short burst and hoping for the best. But that’s usually the moment consistency matters most.
Businesses that pull back during a squeeze often find themselves forgotten when things start to improve, while those that keep a steady, affordable presence going are the ones customers remember and return to.
A 3- or 6-month campaign, delivered at a lower unit cost, lets you maintain that presence through the autumn and winter months without the cash-flow strain of a big one-off spend.
Clock change and the end of summertime is a small, predictable moment in the calendar — but it triggers a real and measurable shift in your customers’ spending behaviour and gives you a real reason to speak directly to your customers again.
Businesses that build familiarity through consistent leafleting are best placed to benefit, and with rates relief building through 2026 and into 2027, there’s never been a better time to plan ahead - rather than being left trying to catch up.
Drop us a message today to talk through how a long-term autumn or winter campaign could work for your business — we look forward to hearing from you.
And remember, we offer full design & print services, and of course, we are always happy to advise you on how best to plan and implement your campaign.