1. Know your demographics. This is the undisputed first law. Break down your customer base as thoroughly as possible before even thinking about any sort of connection with Kwanzaa or Hanukkah. For instance, a business situated in a community with a tiny African-American population may not elicit much response from a Kwanzaa display; the same holds true for a business with a small Jewish clientele. That, notes James Walsh, author of "Mastering Diversity," is nothing more than a follow-through on a consistent business image. "If you've crafted a business image already, create a public image that further reflects that identity," he says.

2. Ask. If your business attracts a substantial African-American or Jewish customer base, it never hurts to ask them if they'd enjoy some element of celebration. Some may want it, while others might not care one way or another. Talk to customers informally; for more detailed feedback, send out a mailer or distribute a questionnaire.

3. If so, how? Should you conclude that your customers would enjoy some sort of celebration connected with either Kwanzaa or Hanukkah, make sure you match visibility with interest levels. For instance, receiving enthusiastic feedback for Kwanzaa may warrant a window display showing the seven basic symbols of the celebration. A like level of interest in Hanukkah can mean a menorah and dreidel presentation. However, if customer appeal is lukewarm, it might be better to relegate Kwanzaa or Hanukkah displays to less visible positions. That way, those who are interested can enjoy it, while others can bypass it.

4. Get it right. Nothing can prove a bigger slap in the face than a well-intended acknowledgement of another's holiday that backfires. If you'd like to include Hanukkah or Kwanzaa in your overall holiday season celebration, make absolutely certain you know what you're doing. If need be, find someone who's well-versed in the holidays' symbols, traditions and what goes where and when. That way, you won't overlook anything significant or include something that's inappropriate or plain wrong.

5. Don't overdo. It's terrific to be as inclusive as you possibly can, but don't go overboard when acknowledging the diversity of your clientele's faith and cultures. Again, keep what you do and how you do it in perspective with your customer demographics and the degree of interest they may display. Taking it from a hyperbolic point of view, that means making your store awash in the traditional Kwanzaa colors of black, red and green or overly festooned with menorahs may be a bit more than a disinterested customer might appreciate. In Walsh's view, that sort of overkill may even be alienating: "Acknowledge someone else's holiday. To do more than that can seem condescending. It's a form of over-correction."

6. Balance it with Christmas. Stay aware of the relative significance of other holidays when compared with Christmas. As most of us know, Christmas is one of the most valued holidays in the Christian calendar — by contrast, Hanukkah is a good deal less significant to the Jewish community. Moreover, Kwanzaa — while of great importance to many African-Americans — is primarily a cultural celebration rather than religious. As such, keep all three holidays in their proper perspective. "It can be a serious mistake to elevate Kwanzaa or Hanukkah to the level of Christmas," says Steven Rothberg, president of CollegeRecruiter.com. "To do so might be really insulting to Christian customers."

7. Don't stop there. If the notion of celebrating Kwanzaa or Hanukkah appeals to you, there's no need to limit those sorts of activities to the depth of December. For instance, if your customer base includes Greek Orthodox, give some thought to sending out Christmas cards timed to their observation in early January. Think about doing the same for Chinese New Year's if you do business with a significant Asian population — not merely thoughtful, but a reasoned strategy to further solidify good relations with your customers. As Rothberg notes: "All these can be seen as extra steps toward inclusion."