March is the biggest single month for used car sales in Las Vegas. During these 31 days alone, local pre-owned vehicle dealers are expected to bring in $83 million in sales. This will represent 10% of their annual revenue.

By the end of May, these dealers owners will sell more than $230 million worth of pre-owned cars and trucks. This, undoubtedly, makes March-May 'used car season' in Las Vegas.

Although most Clark County used car dealers are small business owners, they do really big business. In all, over the next 12 months, more than 280,000 pre-owned vehicles will be driven off their lots.

To capture a larger share of the area's $830 million used car market requires pre-owned vehicle dealers to advertise. By any measure, the best way for these business owners to advertise is on Las Vegas radio.

As Valentine's Day sales begin to dwindle, that's when Clark County small business owners start thinking about Mom.

Mother's Day, which happens on the second Sunday of May, is second only to Christmas in terms of holiday spending. Last year, Las Vegas consumers spent more than $173-million celebrating the women in their lives. That number is expected to grow again in 2020.

To claim a significant share of this Mother's Day cash, local retailers and restaurants will need to advertise.  By almost every key metric, advertising on Las Vegas radio is the best choice.

Low unemployment, a boom in housing starts, and confident consumers are propelling robust sales for Las Vegas furniture stores.

In 2019, local consumers in Clark County spent $950,000,000 on furniture and home furnishing. This number is expected to grow.

Based on estimates developed by Furniture Today’s Strategic Insights team and Easy Analytic Software Inc. (EASI), the total furniture and bedding market is projected to expand by more than 22% by 2024.

If a Las Vegas small business owner who sells furniture, furnishings, or home decor would like to grab a larger share of this expanding market, then advertising is necessary.  By almost every key metric, advertising on local radio is a sound marketing investment.

Small business owners have been advertising on Las Vegas radio since the first station, KENO, went on the air in 1940.  By almost every metric, the medium remains the best way to successfully market goods and services to local consumers.

Before Clark County small businesses finalize their marketing plans for this year, here are five facts they should know about radio advertising.

Las Vegas consumers cannot get enough pizza.

In 2012, there were just about 740 local pizza restaurants. Today, however, that number has grown to over 800. In 2019, these establishments racked up $376,000,000 in total sales.

Fifty-nine percent of pizza sales in Clark County are rung-up by one of the top-50 chains like Domino's or Pizza Hut. The remaining 41% of revenue is controlled by independent, small business owners.

To compete for a larger share of the pizza pie in the Las Vegas area requires local restaurant owners to bring in new customers. A proven way to accomplish this is with advertising.

The US Small Business Administration recommends that every Vega small business advertise consistently.  

Consumers in Las Vegas spent a record $2.7 billion on home improvements in 2019. This level of spending is projected to drop modestly next year, according to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.

“Declining home sales and home-building activity coupled with slower gains in permitting for improvement projects will put the brakes on remodeling growth,” says Chris Herbert, the center’s managing director.

“However, if falling mortgage interest rates continue to incentivize home sales, refinancing, and ultimately remodeling activity, the slowdown may soften some.”

If Clark County small businesses that sell home improvement products and services would like to continue to grow despite the softening market, then advertising will be required.

Clark County small business owners need employees...desperately.

According to a report from the National Federation of Independent Business, 26% of small business owners say finding qualified workers is their number one problem. 

The report goes on to say that 88% of small business owners looking to hire new employees are finding there are no qualified candidates.

The historically low unemployment figures in Las Vegas appears to be the root cause of local hiring woes. The metro area's jobless rate stands at 4.0%. There are just not enough qualified workers to go around.

Most small business owners have exhausted the traditional methods of recruitment. These include online job board posts, newspaper ads, referral bonuses, and help wanted signs. All to no avail.

To successfully attract the qualified applicants they yearn for, local small business owners need to command the attention of 'passive' job seekers. The number one source for these candidates is Las Vegas radio.

For Las Vegas small business owners who depend on Valentine's Day to spike first-quarter sales, this year could prove to be a battle as the decline in celebrants is expected to continue.

Based on estimates from the National Retail Federation, 1,100,000 Clark County consumers will be participating in the holiday this year. This is 20% fewer than ten years ago.

There is good news, however, for local  business owners. Although there are will be fewer customers, local Valentine's Day spending is expected to grow to $175-million. This is 28% higher than a decade ago.

So, how does a Vegas retailer or restaurant win the battle for the hearts and wallets of romantic consumers?  Advertising is a necessary weapon to win this war.

No weapon is as potent as advertising on Las Vegas radio.

The buying power of Black consumers in the Las Vegas Area is now $6.5 billion. Over the past 19 years, according to Nielsen, the pace of spending by African Americans has grown 28% faster than by White consumers.

If a Clark County small business owner would like to earn a larger share of this spending, the best place to start is with advertising.

"For African American consumers, advertising of all types is an important touchpoint in their shopping journey," says a recent study by Nielsen. "African American consumers are more likely than the total population to agree that advertising provides them with meaningful information about the product use of other consumers."

"African Americans are avid media consumers, across multiple media channels, which gives advertisers ample opportunities to connect with them."

The best advertising medium, though, for small business owners to reach the Vegas African American consumers is local radio.

Small business owners in the Las Vegas area must advertise to claim a fair share of the $39.7 billion retail economy.

“Think you have a great product?” asks the U.S. Small Business Administration. “Unfortunately, no one’s going to know about it unless you advertise.”  The SBA goes on to say, “Advertising, if done correctly, can do wonders for your sales, and you know what that means: more revenue and more success for your business."

During 2019, many Las Vegas small business owners sought advertising guidance on the advice pages of www.AdvertiseInLasVegas.com. Below are the top ten most-read articles from the past 12 months.