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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