People typically think of Black Friday as the be-all and end-all of big shopping dates. Though Black Friday is indeed a massive day for retailers, there are countless other events that are just as important.

Many days throughout the year can mean big revenue for retailers, so it is important to know when they take place.

These key E-Commerce shopping dates are a great way for retailers to implement sales and promotions and run advertising and marketing campaigns in order to boost sales.

 

Please note, the following dates are for 2019. If reading this piece at a later date, please adjust specific dates accordingly.

 

Blue Monday – 21st January

The third Monday of January, Blue Monday has been dubbed the saddest day of the year. The holidays are over, the brunt of the winter season is approaching, and things are just… gloomy. As a means to cope, many individuals take to shopping to alleviate some sadness and bring in some cheer.

As a retailer, this is a fantastic opportunity to put some extra bucks into marketing. Run a campaign or sale in order to take advantage of the influx of shoppers looking to buy a thing or two.

For clothing companies, this could be a great opportunity to get rid of winter inventory to make way for the warmer months ahead. Another idea is to run a quirky sale, putting all of your blue items on promotion!

 

Valentine’s Day – 14th February

Always a big day for shopping, Valentine’s day is a perfect marketing opportunity. Take advantage of this shopping event and market all things love and romance in the weeks leading up to this holiday.

Most Valentine’s shopping is completed toward the end of the first week of February, usually around the 5th and 6th. At the end of January, reach out to your customers reminding them of the quickly approaching holiday. Give them suggestions and great gift ideas. Break it down by budget, giving them perfect ideas at every price point.

 

President’s Day – 18th February

A holiday in the States, President’s Day celebrates and honors the country’s leaders. It takes place on the 3rd Monday of each year. Over the years, President’s Day has become a day associated with big sales and shopping promotions.

Since people expect sales and prepare to shop on their day off, be sure to market for this holiday. Run a sale or promotion or put together some sort of enticing offer that will drive traffic to your website. Many retailers run promotions for the entire weekend to maximize sales, so keep that idea in mind as well. 

 

Mother’s Day – 31st March or 12th May

In the UK, Mother’s Day is celebrated in March. In the States, Canada, Australia, or various other countries, it is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. No matter your location, however, Mother’s Day is a significant holiday when it comes to bringing in revenue.

During this time, it is a great idea to take advantage of the opportunity at hand and market to those that will be purchasing things for mothers. Look at your analytics and target market to see which Mother’s Day is best to adhere to. Deciding which day to celebrate can be a bit tricker for E-Commerce than it is for brick-and-mortar retailers, but the best date will likely depend on where the bulk of your traffic comes from. If your customers span globally, go with the majority.

 

Easter – 21st April

Easter tends to bring a spike in revenue, especially when it comes to purchasing things for children and young ones, as it has become an occasion for light gift-giving. The pastel colour palette associated with the holiday is quite fitting!

Easter is a great time to market to the parents of this young demographic. You can provide them with ideas about what their little ones may need as the warmer months approach. If your product lineup fits, consider a campaign focused on kids and the warm spring days ahead. Feature cute clothes for warm weather, or toy items that they can play with outside.

 

Wedding Season – May to July

When it comes to wedding gifts, more and more people are taking to online shopping to find the perfect item. Because of this, wedding season is a great time of the year for E-Commerce retailers to take advantage of.

Consider putting together some sort of marketing or advertising campaign geared toward weddings, or do something to make finding that perfect gift a bit easier. Consider adding a tab to your website specifically for wedding gifts, or send out a newsletter to supply your users with a bunch of great ideas!

If you are a clothing retailer, put together a wedding attire guide! Send out a newsletter with clothing ideas for all types of weddings. Depending on how you can apply your inventory, give customers ideas for all dress codes, including casual, tropical/destination, semi-formal, formal, black tie, and white tie. This is a great way to help customers find the perfect outfit. In addition, this could dispel some confusion guests may have surrounding wedding dress codes.

Festival Season – June to September

As festivals become more and more popular each year, so too does festival fashion. A place to showcase style and be seen, festivals are a hub for all things trendy clothing. Millions of people attend festivals each year, and that should be fantastic news for clothing retailers. It is a super simple way to market and bring in some extra revenue!

As a retailer, consider creating a section of your website for just festival fashion. Make it a go-to, one-stop hub for shoppers to find the perfect festival outfits!

Consider featuring some user content! This is a great way to get users involved and perhaps encourage additional shoppers to look to your store for their festival needs. Encourage customers to submit photos of their best festival looks, and feature them throughout the festival section of your website! In addition, you could share customer looks through your brand’s Instagram account!

 

Father’s Day – 16th June

Equally as important as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day is a big shopping occasion. As the day nears, shoppers take to stores to find the perfect gift for dad.

Outdoor, sports, clothing, and various other relevant retailers should all take advantage of this day. Spend some marketing resources investing in advertising and show shoppers what they should get for their fathers! At the beginning of June,  send out a newsletter with a “Father’s Day Roundup” showcasing amazing gift ideas. Feature a section of “dad items” on your website, or utilize homepage sliders to remind shoppers of this important date!

 

Back to School – Early September

As parents gear up to get their kiddos ready to head back to school, there is a huge retail boom. New outfits, school supplies, and a heap of other materials are purchased by parents to prepare their kids for the return to class.

As a retailer, this is a golden opportunity to market to parents. Give them plenty of ideas and show them how to prepare for the upcoming school year! Send out newsletters and invest in advertising campaigns that showcase new, “cool” items or clothing that their kids will want. Show the kids the awesome gear they should have for school!

 

Buy British Day – 1st October

For what will be its fifth year, Buy British Day takes place as a way to celebrate all things British. Whether you are a British-based retailer or you carry things made in Britain, this is a great opportunity to run a little promotion or invest in a bit of marketing.

Consider creating a section on your website dedicated to all of the products that you carry that were produced in Britain. If you are a Britain-based retailer, showcase your entire business! This is a great holiday to appreciate the culture and support British-based businesses, artists, and manufacturers.

 

Halloween – 31st October

Even if you aren’t the biggest candy store on the block, you can still benefit from Halloween! Halloween is a staple of the fall season, and it is a great opportunity to score some revenue from your audience.

Whether you are a clothing retailer or you also sell goods and knick knacks, find a way to truly take advantage of this holiday. For clothing retailers, run a sale on all of your black, witchy clothing! Make it a fun occasion. If you are a retailer of other goods, gather up all of the the items that could be considered festive for the season, and run some sort of promotion or marketing campaign!

 

Black Friday

No longer exclusive to the United States, over 20 countries worldwide participate in Black Friday traditions. Because of the jump in involvement, this is a great opportunity for retailers, as it is the biggest shopping day of the year!

If you are an E-Commerce retailer in a country that does not typically partake in Black Friday festivities, it is still worth running some sort of sale or promotion. You may still reach an audience that is involved and eager to spend some money!

 

Small Business Saturday

Taking place the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday is an annual shopping day that focuses on small (often local) “mom-and-pop” shops. It is a great way to remember and celebrate unique stores rather than just the big box and chain stores.

Falling in the biggest shopping weekend of the year, Small Business Saturday can be a great excuse to run a sale! Bring your customers in with fun promotions and campaigns, encouraging them to “shop small.”

Run a mini marketing campaign that tells your customers all of the benefits of shopping small. These reasons could include ethically made goods, items of a higher-quality caliber, supporting individuals and families versus corporations, etc. Send this information in a fun newsletter, or include it on the home page of your website. Make it a fun occasion! 

 

Cyber Monday

As trends have migrated toward a preference for online shopping, Cyber Monday has grown. Now an event arguably as popular as Black Friday, Cyber Monday is a way for shoppers to take advantage of massive sales all from the comfort of their couches.

If you are an E-Commerce retailer, Cyber Monday is a must. Many companies continue their Black Friday sale through to Monday, or they feature similar sales. One way or another, be sure to take advantage of this huge shopping day, as your sales will undoubtedly thank you.

 

Free Shipping Day – 13th December

Many retailers have begun taking advantage of Free Shipping Day, as it has rapidly gained recognition and become the perfect way for shoppers to get those last minute holiday gifts. This day typically takes place on a Friday in mid-December.

Many retailers take advantage of procrastinators by offering this promotion with no minimum spend amount, and a guaranteed delivery date of December 24th or earlier. As a result, this is definitely a great way to sneak in that last minute holiday revenue!

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No matter your industry, these days are key E-Commerce shopping dates each year that can boost sales and truly bring in mass amounts of revenue. Be sure to stay in the loop and plan your marketing tactics accordingly.

If you’re looking for additional marketing ideas to implement during these key E-Commerce shopping dates, check out my 40 E-Commerce Sales and Marketing Ideas!

I can’t wait to see how you launch different campaigns and events to align with these special days!

Sarah

 

 

 

P.S. When you are ready to grow your e-commerce business?  

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