Looking Ahead to 2026: Design and Marketing Trends for Small Businesses and the Tourism Industry
As the end of the year draws closer, many of us are reflecting on the highs and lows of 2025. Here at OmniWorx Design, we celebrated winning the Professional Services Award at the PK Chamber Excellence Awards and spearheaded a donation campaign to the Peterborough Humane Society. There were some personal challenges but we are looking forward to the months ahead!
The most resilient businesses are usually the ones that plan ahead. A new year brings a chance to reset, refresh, and refocus on your business goals. The slower winter months allows tourism based businesses to prepare for the summer season. Setting aside time for marketing, networking, and planning new experiences or products. This month OmniWorx will be sharing a set of actionable insights to help you stay fresh and focussed on marketing in the months ahead.
Refresh Your Visual Identity for the Year Ahead
What was popular and looked great in 2023 may now feel tired and old. Trends are consistently evolving which means your brand should too. Is your colour palette still up to date? Are you using relatable photos and images? Are your fonts readable? Is your logo scalable? A modern, authentic look can help attract a younger or broader audience.
Tip: A brand refresh doesn’t mean a full rebrand — sometimes a little polish is all that’s needed. Change the font on your website, swap out colours. It’s the small things that count.
Prioritize Mobile-First, Speed-Optimized Websites
Mobile traffic continues to dominate online activity. For the tourism industry, over 60% of searches happen on cellphones and tablets. Now more than ever it is important to create websites that load quickly, with clean navigation and user friendly booking processes. The best way to address user friendliness is to create accessible websites, using sans-serif fonts, high contrast colours, and descriptive page titles. It not only helps users it also boosts your SEO!
Plan for Authentic, Year-Round Marketing
It’s important to plan for marketing year-round. January and February are slower months, which makes them excellent times to create content in batches for the busier season. By planning ahead you reduce stress during peak season. Some content ideas can include: behind the scene prep, staff spotlights, visitor stories. You can also plan for new experiences, products, and partnerships with local businesses in advance.
Local focus: Winter in the Kawarthas offers unique appeal — snowshoeing, studio tours, romantic getaways are incredible events to advertise.
Design for Experience, Not Just Promotion
Customers aren’t looking for just a product or service, they are seeking experiences and emotion, from relaxation on a patio to admiration at the waterfall or lakeside. The entire visit, including perusing your website and arriving at your front door, is part of the customer's experience. Be sure that your packaging, signage, menus, and all materials reflect your brand and the emotions you want your customers to feel.
Tip: A beautifully designed welcome binder at a short-term rental can leave a lasting impression and boost reviews. It shows how attentive you are to your customers' needs and wants.
Invest in Local Visibility and Community Connections
The slow winter months are the ideal times to set and achieve business goals. In terms of marketing, planning for networking opportunities, sponsorships, and events for 2026 are excellent choices to focus on. Reach out to local businesses and attractions to plan partnerships or join regional maps and guides. OmniWorx can help design materials for festivals, partnerships, and visitor centre placements.
Businesses that succeed plan ahead, and are direct, clear, connected, and consistent. OmniWorx Design encourages you to use the winter months to plan, improve, and innovate. Don’t wait until the hustle and bustle of the summer! Need help visualizing your 2026 strategy? OmniWorx Design offers design, print, and digital services tailored for small businesses and tourism in our region.