Did you know that March is National Craft Month? Or that May is National Vision Healthy Month? When I was employed in the radio industry, we worked closely with every type of retail store to create marketing strategies for each of these businesses. The often used resource guide “Chase Annual Calendar of Events” to help jumpstart ideas for selling and promoting themes. This guide has a complete listing of all monthly national holidays. Also holidays and daily events, but it is best to tie in with a monthly theme when planning a longer term marketing campaign. I have researched several different types of stores and some monthly themes that naturally mesh with the products these stores sell.
Many manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, or distributors may also have access to co-op advertising dollars that can support your marketing campaign. Sometimes they have a 50/50 pair of selling dollars. You need to prepare a marketing plan (sometimes months in advance) so that you can go from that plan in April to that November campaign.
Hardware and gardening supplies like Home Depot, Lowes, True Value
January: Radon Action Month (testing kits to promote), Bird Feeding Month (seed, feeders)
February: Take care of your month Indoor Air (air purifiers, filters)
May: Barbeque Month (grilling supplies), Gifts from the Garden Month
June: Perennial garden Month (plants, manure, soil), rebuild your life month (build with the theme “build” ), the great outdoors in the month of Rose
JULIUS: National Grilling Table (they sell grills, vegetable living products)
September: Mold Awareness Month (products that kill mold, paint, dehumidifiers)
Computer/Office Retail Stores such as Office Depot, Staples
January: Clean Up Computer Month (promoting computer repair services), Get Organized Month (filing, folder, content)
February: Time Management Month (time management)
April: Card and Letter Month (correspondence supplies)
September: Update your monthly plan (any supplies, paper)
Auto dealerships, Auto supplies
April: National Car Care Month (promote service and parts)
May: Motorcycle Safety Month (tune-ups, safety inspections)
May: Well Car Keeping Month (service and tune-ups)
Food/Grocery Stores
February: Cherry Month (feature recipes, provide samplings), Return Shopping Cart Month (fun theme to get noticed/press coverage)
March: Frozen Food Month (promote different products every week, sampling), carrot month
May: National Hamburger Month (best burger recipe contest), National Hamburger Month
Julia: National Hot Dog Month (fire up the grill outside the store), National Ice Cream Month (demonstrate how to make a class fit for silence ice cream)
August: Chicken Month
September: the month of mushrooms
October: Popcorn Poppy Month
Fitness and sports goods stores
January: US Figure Month (kick the year’s resolutions and promote exercise equipment, Skating Month (move skating supplies to the front store, promote the cross with the local skating rink
April: African Women Fitness Month (connect with local Urbana radio station do remote, sponsor on air healthy tips for women)
May: National Bike Month (promote products, bike check up clinic, sponsor race), National Tennis Month (move equipment to the front of the store, cross promote with local tennis club)
City of Industry
January: Financial Hotel Month (promoted financial consulting services)
March: Credit Education month (do credit checks, review and average scores)
Pet Supply Stores/Veterinarians
February: National Pet dental Health Month (dental care products)
April: Pet First Aid Awareness month (hold no consumers)
June: Get a Shelter Cat (a new pet will spawn or have a health check)
August: Animal Memorial Day
October: adopt a shelter dog (start up offer a new pet kit or health check)
November: Pet Cancer Awareness Month (teach the signs)
March: National Music in Schools Month (discounts on instrument rental) National Play Recorder Month (in-store demonstrations) Sing to the child in the month (to promote the children’s CD)
August: National Piano Month (offer discounts, there are recitals in store)
Phoography Stores
May: National Photo Month (hold a month-long photo contest—the prize is a camera)
January: Creativity Month (partially complete custom
March: National Craft Month (there are demonstrations of different crafts), Youth Art Month (sponsor of a local school district art competition)
Health Industry
The health industry has really capitalized on monthly national awareness campaigns. Here are just some of the major health topics reported throughout the month. Local health clinics could recommend monthly sabur on radio and television stations, dentists to promote their business their second Vesalius months of health, Opticians and Eyewear stores can develop their campaigns linked to the months of taking care of healthy eyes.
February: American Heart Month, Children’s Dental Month
March: Colorectal Cancer Month, Eye Donor Month, Kidney Month, MS Month, Safe Vision Month
April: Breastfeeding Awareness Month
May: Allergy/Asthma Awareness Month, Arthritis Month, Better Hearing and Speech Month, Fibromyalgia Month, Osteoporosis Awareness Month, Healthy Vision Month
August: Cataract Awareness Month
September: Sickle Cell Month, Healthy Agus Mind
October: Celiac Disease Month, Dental Hygiene Month, Down Syndrome Month
November: AIDs Awareness Month, Alzheimer’s Disease Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month
By the way, one monthly goal can be tied to any business—April is Customer Loyalty Month. Use this month to send a special thank you to your customers for their business. It’s a great time to kick off a frequent shopper campaign, greet customers at the door with a carnation or rose, hand out coupons to people walking into the store, do a blast email with a discount to thank your shoppers, have an in-store customer appreciation party (through a cake, treats, freebies). The ideas are endless.
