May Events and Promotions

Advertising and events need to be planned ahead, but it’s never too late to work in a staff contest, or an in-store promotion. Create around an event that would relate to your business.

MONTHLY EVENTS-
Be Kind to Animals Month
Better Sleep Month
Bike Month
USA Tennis Month
Women’s Health Care Month
Family Support Month
Better Hearing and Speech Month
Clean Air Month
Get Caught Reading Month
International Dental Awareness Month
Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month
National Egg Month
National Hamburger Month
National Mental Health Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Salad Month
National Scholarship Month
National Sight-Saving Month
Strike Out Strokes Month
Older American Month
Go Mingle Month
Good Car Keeping Month
Great Rejoicing Month
Hepatitis Awareness Month
High Blood Pressure Month
Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month
International Classified Ads Month
National Allergy and Asthma Month
National Arthritis Month
National Barbeque Month
National Bike Month
National Book Month
National Correct Posture Month
National Digestive Diseases Month
National Hispanic History Month
National Home Decorating Month
National Hope Chest Month
National Moving Month
National Osteoporosis Prevention Month
National Photo Month
National Project Safe Baby Month
National Prom Graduation Safety Month
National Revise Your Work Schedule Month
National Stroke Awareness Month
National Trauma Awareness Month
National Water Month

WEEKLY EVENTS-
Week 1 -
Peace of Mind Week
Arson Awareness Week
Be Kind to Animals Week
National Pet Week
National Post Card Week
PTA Teacher Appreciation Week
Small Business Week
National Family Week
National Safe Kids Week
National Wildflower Week

Week 2 -
National Nurses Week
Hospital Week
National Travel & Tourism Week
Herb Week
National Girls Week
National Historic Preservation Week

Week 3 -
Emergency Medical Services Week
Hurricane Awareness Week
National Bike Week
National Police Week
Coach Recognition Week
Reading is Fun Week
World Trade Week
Medical Transcriptionist Week
National Salvation Army Week
Nursing Home Week

Week 4 -
National New Friends, Old Friends Week
National School Support Staff Week
National Backyard Games Week
National Public Relations Week
National Pickle Weeks (last two)


DAILY EVENTS-
1- May Day
Mother Goose Day
Lei Day
Law Day
National Loyalty Day
National Teen Day
2- Sibling Appreciation Day
3- UN World Freedom Day
4- National Day of Prayer (first Thursday)
National Weather Observer’s Day
National Relationship Renewal Day
5- Cartoonist’s Day
National Indian Day
6- No Diet Day
Nurses Day
Kentucky Derby Day
7- National Teacher Day
National Red Cross Day
8- World Red Cross Day
V-E Day, 1945
Senior Citizens Day
9- National Night (3rd)Shift Workers Day
10- National Babysitter’s Day
National Small Business Day
Golden Spike Day
11- Trust Your Intuition Day
12- Florence Nightingale, born 1820
13- National Kite Day
14- Mother’s Day
15- International Day of Families
Peace Officer Memorial Day
Butterfly Day
16- National Bike to Work Day
National "Be a Millionaire" Day
17- NY Stock Exchange Anniversary
18- International Museum Day
19- Plant Something Day
20- Armed Forces Day
21- American Red Cross Founding Day, 1881
Armed Forces Day
National Waiter/Waitress Day
22- National Maritime Day
23- World Turtle Day
24- International Jazz Day
25- National Missing Children’s Day
National Tap Dance Day - "Bojangles" (Bill Robinson) birthday, 1878
26- Cherry Dessert Day
27- National Ancestor Honor Day
28- Whale Day
29- Memorial Day
Mt. Everest first climb, 1953
30- First Indianapolis 500, 1911 (won by Marmon Wasp)
31- World No-Tobacco Day


This information was gathered and compiled from:
http://www.earthcalendar.net/index.php
http://www.suelebeau.com/april.htm
http://www.mydailyplan-it.com/holidays-apr.htm
http://www.adsources.com/IDEAS/Cal/04Apr.htm
http://www.123greetings.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/


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April Events, part 8

April Events, part 8 (26-30)

This installment will wrap up the April Events brainstorming. Observe how other businesses design their promotions. I really enjoy analyzing commercials and print ads. It’s surprising how many forget to tell you the name of their town. What “exactly” are they promoting in their ads?

Young Child MonthRed Cross Month - A good time to be an advertising sponsor of this charity. Everyone appreciates the benefits of the Red Cross. You could act as a sign up location for blood donors.

Young Child Month - There are traveling photographers that can be booked to take pictures at your location. Parents appreciate kindnesses you show to their children.



Week 4 -
Astronomy Week
Turn Off TV Week

“Shoot for the Stars”(like, ours is the best) or “Out of This World Savings” would be useable terms for Astronomy Week advertising.

Turn Off TV Week - With the longer days, this would be a great promotion for getting people out of the house, doing things as a family. We don’t realize how much TV is a focal point of our existence. We once moved into a house and were remodeling it. We hadn’t moved in the TV or any unnecessary items until we finished four months later. At first our kids didn’t know what to do. Soon we began playing games, going for walks, having more family fun. But as soon as we moved in the TV and turned it on everything returned to the old ways. I think “Turn Off TV Week” is a fabulous event!

25-Take Your Daughter to Work Day
26-Administrative Professional’s Day (formerly Secretary’s Day)
27-Child Care Professional’s Day
28-National Arbor Day
29-National Industry Day
30-Dare to Live Day

Take Your Daughter to Work - Since it is a national event, participate if you can. Let your daughter see what you do for work. You learn the most when you teach. Why is your work important? Encourage questions, and listen to input.

Honor and appreciate staff. It’s no longer called Secretary’s Day, not all office assistants are secretaries. There are many ways to show appreciation. Respect is free - and required! http://DynamicMarketingConsulting.com/Resources.html

Child Care Professional’s Day - Isn’t a large target market. From a personal level, you might make a special point of showing appreciation to your day care providers.

National Arbor Day - Trees - Fabulous for the environment! Wonderful event; great gifts.http://www.arborday.org/ “FACT:Over the course of 50 years, a single tree can generate $31,250 of oxygen, provide $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycle $37,500 worth of water, and control $31,500 worth of soil erosion.”
Wow - what’s not to like? For a $10. membership you can receive 10 FREE trees...to plant, to give as gifts, to benefit the world. For $5. you can send a Give-a-Tree Card to an honoree indicating that a tree will be planted and cared for in a national forest damaged by fire. You can purchase a living tree in a vial to hand out with specified purchase for just $3. You can donate trees in memory...for each $1. a tree will be planted and nurtured. Truly a living, giving, loving gift that will benefit many.
This last Christmas my family members received a gift, and their second gift was a donation to a charity that was important to them. Two of my family members received gifts of trees planted in our National Forests in their honor. This is truly a gift that keeps on giving, one that I am proud to give and everyone is proud to receive....whatever the occasion.

National Industry Day - Here’s a gift for you, whatever your industry. FREE 12 MONTH SUBSCRIPTIONS TO BUSINESS MAGAZINES... Over 250 business, trade and professional journals...you choose. Stay on the cutting edge of what's happening in your line of business.http://DynamicMarketingConsulting.com/Office.html

Dare to Live Day - Makes me think of sky-diving! Every year our little town has a fly-in breakfast and one year they even had sky-diving activities. Perhaps “Dare to Live Day” was geared around that somewhere sometime. Otherwise, how do I relate this event to other businesses? Okay, something like.... “We dare you...you’ve been thinking about it, you really want to, today is the day...dare to LIVE....schedule your consultation today and see how you will look with that face-lift...a totally FREE consultation...stop wondering, and dare to live today! Schedule at 555-5555 right now and you will receive a free preview photo.” You get the idea. Have you read the book "NOW - No Opportunity Wasted" by Phil Keoghan? It's that principal...live in the moment...LIVE! - RIGHT NOW!!

Well, try a few. Just pick an event, any event, or a title, or a slogan, and set your creative juices in motion. Have fun. If you have questions, email me.

Cynthia Henningsenhttp://DynamicMarketingConsulting.com
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April Events, part 7

April Events, part 7 (21-25)
Continuing the brain-storming of April Events/ Promotions. This will make more sense if you’re familiar with the earlier parts.

Straw Hat Month
Be Vigilante Against Child Abuse Month

"Ask me what’s under my hat" - It’s Straw Hat Month...you can encourage people to talk to you. Take the opportunity to tell them about your special sale in progress. Take off your hat and hand them a brochure. Kinda corny? Yes, but it opens the door.

Child Abuse is a very serious problem. No promotion can instantly eradicate the problem. I might ask the Chief of Police if there is a group that assists in the problem locally, then ask how we might help. Possibly insert their flyers into sales bags. Every child is so precious; it is very painful to think of any one of them being injured. Awareness is key in helping with this problem.

21_John Muir Day
San Jacinto Day
22_Earth Day
23_Shakespeare’s Birthday (1564)
24_Ambivalence Day

John Muir Day is a Conservationist Holiday. He is called the "Father of the American Natural Parks." If you choose to do a promotion via John Muir Day perhaps you could incorporate recycling, or park passes. The point is to attract customers. Could you give away park passes with proof of recycling?
Another thought might be an art show. Local artists are always eager to have a place to display their works. You can offer a corner to display paintings of nature. The artists come, they bring their friends, and there are PSA’s mentioning your business.
San Jacinto Day memorializes the "Fathers of Texas." The battle only lasted 20 minutes but had been several years developing. Texas emerged as the Lone Star State. A promotion around this holiday would most likely be for Texans with a Lone Star theme.
Earth Day originated to tap into environmental concerns, so we see that several April events correlate and can be combined in whatever manner you could capitalize on it from your business angle.

William Shakespeare’s Birthday is a big celebration in England, but what does that have to do with us? Nothing....necessarily....until you want it to. Want to help him with a play?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/coventry/content/rich_media/shakespeare_game.shtml (just for fun)
How could local plays benefit your business? Here’s a thought...invite the school students in the production to provide a mini-scene hourly and allow them to sell their tickets.
The only purpose I see for Ambivalence Day is an e-card.

Almost any topic can be worked into a business event or promotion. Everything hinges on your own creativity. If you have questions, or if you have done a successful promotion that you would like to submit for possible inclusion in our newsletter and win prizes, please submit it to: Request@DynamicMarketingConsulting.com
Cynthia Henningsen
http://dynamicmarketingconsulting.com/

April Events, part 6

April Events, part 6 (17-20)

Jazz Appreciation Month
National Poetry Month

Jazz Appreciation Month - Possible promotion if you have an area for a small jazz band to play and that would somehow compliment your business. You do have to be careful about "playing" music for the public. Stores can be fined by groups representing musicians for playing the radio, for example, in a public place and not paying royalties. You can listen in your back room, for your own private use. (Some of our stores were actually fined for this, and it was a hefty fine.) The public address system that plays music does pay royalties on all that music. If you have a live remote the radios can be played during that time because the radio station is paying royalty fees.

National Poetry Month - Perhaps a poetry contest. Participants would bring you their entries. If it is for school children, once again, the school can distribute flyers for you. There could be a theme for the requested poetry. Prizes can be inexpensive. The winning entry could be published in the local paper...recognition for entrants...free advertising for you.


Week 3 _ Consumer Awareness Week
Explore Career Options Week

Consumer Awareness Week - a very good time to analyze your stats. What is working and what isn’t working. Eliminate what isn’t, and expand on what is. Re-arrange. Ask questions.
Explore Career Options Week - Some schools place students in business so they can learn. Very good to participate. Good for students and your business. They can teach you too. Teenagers have a new slant on things and they are our future. Hint: If there are projects that students can do for you they may be able to get credit through their classes. On occasion I had the college marketing classes come monitor traffic at the mall, to count cars and tell me the heavier times, and the states on the tags. There are many ways to make win-win situations with students.


17_National Stress Awareness Day
18_Paul Revere Day
19_National Auctioneer’s Day
20_National Weed Day

National Stress Awareness Day is the only one of these that might intrigue me to "do something" around it. I am visualizing a special staff meeting, to appreciate and praise my staff and invite a local masseuse to bring a massage chair and give my staff mini-massage to help them un-stress and feel appreciated.


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April Events, part 5

April Events, part 5 (13-16)

The main event this month is Easter, of course. One of the largest events of the year. You’ve set aside a chunk of advertising funds for this.

Coloring books for kids with the business name on them are appreciated, or story books with the logo. Kids do keep them, and parents remember the fun time when they see them. It’s important to keep the business name in front of potential customers. A live remote on Easter weekend is good. A clown. Bargains in all stores. Balloons containing discounts. Drawings. This can all be as elaborate or inexpensive as you choose. Coloring sheets are simple and can be done on a computer. Prizes can be most anything.


National Pecan Month
National Humor Month

Oh, I do love pecans. Perhaps a drawing to win a Pecan Pie...an entry for each $100. purchase.
I’ve never seen a National Humor Month promotion. Think I’d just let that act as a reminder to put more fun in life and in business.


13_Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday (1836)
14_Good Friday
15_Income Tax Day
Rubber Eraser Day
16_Easter
Income Tax finale (April 15th) provides the opportunity to promote stretching a dollar. Businesses can certainly utilize the million dollar bills to hand to good customers or mail in a "Thanks a Million" note. (http://DynamicMarketingConsulting.com/Resources.html)

We respect Jefferson and our founding forefathers, and are grateful to get to help keep America beautiful. We are especially grateful for freedom OF religion....which our forefathers gave us. (NOT freedom FROM religion...as some would try to push on us.) We are blessed to be able to celebrate Easter, as Christians, in our wonderful America. Chocolate bunnies are yummy and hiding colored eggs is fun, but we DO remember the purpose of Easter, even though business normally accents the non-religious side. So we have fun, at home and at work, but we don’t forget the sacrifices of others on our behalf. We are abundantly blessed! Personally, we concentrate on sharing and blessing others while conducting our business. Happy Easter!

Remember to praise and reward your staff; praise and reward your customers. Appreciation will reward you very well!


Cynthia Henningsen
http://DynamicMarketingConsulting.com
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April Events, part 4

It is easier to stay within your budget planning a year ahead. However, there are special situations that will present themselves...community events, etc. Any topic can be worked into a productive promotion. In store promotions are great for keeping staff motivated. Work should be fun!

Keep America Beautiful Month
Listening Awareness Month
National Boost Your Home Town Month

Spring definitely reminds us that we want America to be beautiful. Liter seems to accumulate during winter. Spend an extra 10 minutes each morning cleaning up the area. Time to freshen up our business place, wash the windows, and possibly add an outside plant. Sponsor a youth group to do a particular clean up job then treat them to movie tickets. Good community PR, a helpful event, PSA’s. A fast food place and the movie theater might join with you in this venture.

Listening Awareness Month - Seems that we prefer to talk than listen. But take time to listen, and to ASK....ask your customers what they like and how you are doing. Ask your staff, "How am I doing?"

National Boost Your Home Town Month - Be active in your local Chamber of Commerce and with your Conventions and Visitor’s Bureau. How can YOU help keep shoppers in your town?

Week 2 _ Public Health Week
Garden Week

Your community is probably promoting Public Health Week. You may be able to volunteer to participate, or sponsor an ad.

Garden Week - If there is a Garden Club, they would feel honored to be asked to appear. You could give customers a package of garden seeds with purchase. Or, you could team with a greenhouse and exchange coupons with purchase for your customers....you give a coupon for a seeding to your customers, and the greenhouse gives a discount coupon to your store.

9 -National Former Prisoners of War Recognition Day
10-Salvation Army Founder’s Day
National Siblings Day
Golfer’s Day
11-National Youth Service Day
12-Big Wind Day

National Former Prisoners of War Recognition Day - They deserve to be honored! If the community were doing an honorary ad, I’d certainly want to participate.

Salvation Army Founder’s Day - We think of the Salvation Army at Christmas time, with the bell ringers. There are always people who need a helping hand. If charities compliments your business, a food box could hold donations in exchange for a discount.

National Siblings Day - This could be a fun one. I might advertising it’s Sibling’s Day and double your fun by shopping together...two for one sales. Just for fun, I’d probably take a Polaroids of them together and give them each a large pack of Doublemint Chewing Gum.

Golfer’s Day - Have golfers stop in on their way to or from golf, for their free golf ball. These can be purchased with your logo on them. One free ball per golfer. Three for a $100. purchase.

Youth Service Day - Have a youth group do their car wash at your location. They get a place to do their event, you provide the hose. Customers come in and browse while their vehicle is being serviced. Treat the kids to ice cream cones when they’re finished.

Big Wind Day - This one is just begging for creativity! "Savings are blowing your way....today only at XYZ company!" One year about this time we had a Wild West Gang come do shoot-outs around the mall parking lot. It was a big draw. The community had a lot of fun. People who had refunds coming have already filed and have gotten their refunds and are ready to shop.
This is all just brain-storming. Pick and choose events and promotions that work for your business, be creative and have fun!

Cynthia Henningsen
http://DynamicMarketingConsulting.com
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April Events, part 3

April Events, part 3

Just continuing the April events planning, nearly any topic can be turned into a promotion and stimulate sales. These are just examples of what I might consider for mall promotions.

Couple Appreciation Month
Customer Loyalty Month
Informed Women’s Month

For Couple Appreciation Month, we could offer a discount for a couple shopping together.
We could have a entry with each purchase for a drawing to win a lovely dinner for two, or a nice weekend get-away.

Customer Loyalty Month, punch cards for adding a punch with each purchase to win a selected item at completion. Many restaurants do this. It is very thoughtful and keeps us going back. We go there more often than we would otherwise. Your selected item will be something that complements your business, of course.

Informed Women’s Month could be utilized in various ways. What is it you most want women to know about your product? How can you present that information to them as a gift that also stimulates their interest in your product? Some retail stores have a spring fashion show, for example, that would explain the benefits of your product line.

4 -School Librarian Day
5 -Fun at Work Day
6 -National Tartan Day
7 -National World Health Day

School Librarian Day....well, that is such a restricted number that I would celebrate that in conjunction with the whole "Library Week" thing.

Fun at Work Day...yes, work is a four letter word, but it is necessary. It has always been my contention that work should be fun since we spend most of our lives there. This is a day that management should appreciate and praise employees. I’d probably start with rolls to compliment morning coffee (or healthier snacks if you insist), remember to smile at everyone all day, being lavish with compliments and rewards....hopefully thinking about it will carry though and become a warm and caring attitude every day. People who feel appreciated are less stressed, it shows in their work and they are much more productive.

National Tartan Day, if you are in an Irish area, could be a designed promotion.

National World Health Day will probably be advertised in your community and you can participate in the local advents and advertising.

If you have an online business there are other ways to promote with events, like through newsletters, repeat customer specials, free e-books that compliment.

These are only suggestions and ideas. Your events are limited only by your own creativity!

Cynthia Henningsen
http://DynamicMarketingConsulting.com
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About April Events, part 2

In expanding how April Events can be turned into a business promotion, I wanted to select just a few at a time. Nearly any topic can be turned into a promotion and stimulate sales. I’ve planned and executed many promotions through many years, so these are just a few thoughts...everyone has their own creativity, and business slant. So, just for sake of example I’ll discuss how I might utilize the topic if I were to capitalize on these events for a mall promotion.

Animal Cruelty Prevention Month
Cancer Control Month

Week 1 - Golden Rule Week
Library Week

1 -April Fool’s Day
2 -Daylight Savings Time
3 -World Day of Prayer

For Animal Cruelty Prevention Month, I might plan to have the Humane Shelter bring some of their pets needing homes. I might have a cute pet contest. All the activities would be in a central area. We would advertise the events, possibly with a live radio remote. This event would be news worthy, resulting in free media coverage. With added traffic, all the stores would benefit. Pet Show winners would receive Mall Bucks which are redeemable in any of the stores. The community is involved, traffic is created, and sales are added. We are all creatures of habit, and people return to shop where they are comfortable.

For Cancer Control Month, I might honor local cancer survivors with special discounts, print a newsletter to hand out for the month in all the stores listing their names and the suggestions they felt were helpful to them. Some areas have Cancer Support Groups and some of them could be available to answer questions for concerned citizens and dispense information.

Golden Rule Week would be a good in-store staff motivation. The Manager would observe for the month and the employee caught treating customers and fellow employees in the most "Golden" way, would receive a "Golden" treat....possible lunch for two at the Golden Dragon.

Library Week you could ask the Book-Mobile to park at your business in honor of the event. You could have a drawing for a book....or three, at varying age levels. Kids will get their parents to bring them. FYI-The Administrative Office of our local school was great about distributing flyers for me. Specific events qualify for PSA’s and we want to take advantage of everything available to us as free advertising.

April Fool’s Day - My advertisement could be "Fooling You With Specials" ...Un-advertised In-Store Specials and Drawings" One year we called it Zany Daze and had all the store staff dress crazy for prizes. People went around to the stores to see the specials and outfits.
Daylight Savings Time, gives everyone longer days to do more of the things you want. This can be linked to your business in many ways. How will "your" business benefit your customers with longer days?

World Day of Prayer - Perhaps special discounts for those in Ministry....10% of that day’s profit to a specific charity....possibly the local ministerial alliance to assist needy in your own area.
If you have an online business there are other ways to promote with events, like through newsletters, repeat customer specials, free e-books that compliment.
Beautiful FREE inspirationals:
http://DynamicMarketingConsulting.com/Inspiration.html

These are just a few suggestions and ideas. Your events are limited only by your own creativity!

Cynthia Henningsen
http://dynamicmarketingconsulting.com/
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