February 04, 2022
Promotions Planner: Late Spring Fun
Start presenting ideas to clients for promotions centered on May observances.
From celebrating Harry Potter nostalgia, to recognizing hardworking essential employees, to raising awareness of sun safety, May is chock-full of holidays that present many opportunities to advertise brands with fun and creative promotional products. Pitch the suggestions here to help your clients up their marketing game.
May 2/International Harry Potter Day
Few books and films have had worldwide impact like the Harry Potter series. This day is set aside for fans, endearingly called “Potterheads,” to celebrate all things wizard. Private parties with series-inspired décor and food, readings from the books, and showings of the blockbuster movies all present a plethora of magical possibilities for celebrating this day.
PITCH: If a bookstore, library or movie theater is hosting a reading or showing, consider giveaways like striped scarves inspired by the different Hogwarts houses, candy like Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, and broom-shaped pens.
May 3/National Teacher Day
Established by the National Education Association, this day is set aside to recognize the efforts of teachers. It has taken on special significance during the pandemic, when teachers have had to manage hybrid classrooms and keep kids healthy and safe, all while maintaining high pedagogical standards.
PITCH: Help schools recognize teachers and administrators with gifts that combine hard goods and consumables. These can be distributed at school or drop-shipped to homes.
May 11/Receptionists Day
This observance, held the second Wednesday of May, recognizes the many efforts of receptionists each day as they greet visitors, field calls, answer questions and, these past couple years, check for masks and take temperatures. During COVID, many continued to come in as essential workers and were overworked due to staff shortages.
PITCH: Suggest to companies that they give out awards as a thank you for their hardworking receptionists. Encourage clients to present the gifts to recipients in front of their peers, either virtually or in-person.
May 23-29/National Safe Sun Week
Launched last year by MedStar Health, a healthcare network in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., this awareness week just before Memorial Day (the cultural, if not seasonal, start to summer in the United States) serves to educate people on the dangers of too much sun exposure. While sunshine provides critical Vitamin D, inadequate protection can lead to sunburn in the short-term, as well as cataracts, premature aging and even skin cancer in the long-term.
PITCH: Consider presenting sunglasses and sunscreen kits to healthcare facilities, including primary care doctors and dermatologists, as well as boardwalk kiosks as people begin flocking to the surf and sand.
May 25/National Wine Day
This holiday is one that’s sure to have an enthusiastic audience. COVID was friendly to the wine industry as people hunkered down at home. According to the 21st annual State of the U.S. Wine Industry by the Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division, a third of winery owners said 2021 was their best year ever.
PITCH: Recommend that wineries, bars, restaurants and liquor stores promote the day by offering discounts, specials and featured blends, and pairing them with branded glasses and coasters.
Product Hub
Find the latest in quality products, must-know trends and fresh ideas for upcoming end-buyer campaigns.