Labor Day 2013 is exactly 2 weeks away, and that gives you plenty of time to develop a promotional strategy for September. Mid-August tends to be a slow season for small businesses that are not in the retail sector, so if your company fits into this category, use the downtime to plan for a profitable fall. September signals the end of the year, and there are other important dates to work into your marketing mix besides the Labor Day holiday. You’re likely planning another annual Labor Day sale, so we’ll skip that idea altogether. Here are 6 other important dates to observe.
6 Lesser Known Dates to Remember in September
1) Rosh Hashanah (September 4th)- Otherwise known as the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah marks the first of the High Holy Days. If you are a part of the Jewish community, you probably already incorporate related festivities into your advertising. Jews generally celebrate the New Year with a 2 day cedar, and eat symbolic foods that feature rich Fall colors. Decorate your store with fruit platters filled with apples, jars of honey, pomegranates, and dates to wish everyone a sweet New Year!
2) Football Season (September 5th) – Although baseball remains the official American pastime, sports fans can’t get enough NFL action. Your customers will be attending kickoff parties with family and friends, so throwing your own event might not be worth the effort unless you own a bar or restaurant. You can still participate by showing your support for the local team. Put a vinyl banner outside your store announcing your allegiance to the team and use social media to your advantage. Tell all your Facebook fans they’ll get a special discount for wearing team gear on game days.
3) Grandparents’ Day (September 8th)- Show your customers your commitment to family values on this lesser known date. To honor Grandparents, focus on personal connections in your promotions. Use the date to launch a program for older people in the community, such as a senior citizen’s discount. Send out branded greeting cards or inexpensive postcards to people in the neighborhood with a family-friendly handwritten message. You can send ecards instead, but beware of coming across as inauthentic. Handwritten cards are more memorable because of the personal touch.
4) 911 Remembrance Day (September 11th)– Obviously, it’s not appropriate to engage in any kind of direct sales ventures on this tragic date. Simply show your support for the fallen with an American flag in front of your shop, and light candles in honor of the departed. You can also collect donations for reputable 911 charities and spread the word through an email campaign along with Facebook, Twitter, etc.
5) Friday the 13th (September 13th)- Aside from the famous horror movie franchise, Friday the 13th represents the unluckiest possible date. The number 13 and Friday both carry negative connotations in North America as well as other parts of the world. Most Americans don’t take this superstition seriously, so you can have a bit of fun with the spooky theme. Check out the cute DIY crafts and recipe ideas on Pinterest, especially if your business gets a lot of kids and their parents.
6) Constitution Day (September 17th)- Respect for the founding documents is deeply engrained in the American psyche. Unfortunately, not many citizens pay attention to the text outside of history class. Constitution Day marks the date attendees at the Constitutional Convention signed the original articles in 1787, not including the Bill of Rights. By law, all publicly funded schools must participate with some form of educational program related to the Constitution. Find out what’s going on at the local college or university, and help them promote their event. For your part, create an in-store display with interesting facts and trivia to educate customers about this important part of our nation’s early history.