With warm weather here to stay, Canadians are flocking to enjoy the great outdoors. But rest assured, that doesn’t mean they won’t be in the mood to shop. As seasons change, new marketing opportunities emerge (make sure to wow your boss with these marketing metrics, too). Summer is no exception, so here are a few great ways to tweak your marketing strategies to take full advantage of the warm weather.
Cashing In On The Summer Holidays
The summer isn’t only a time to kick back and relax. It is a great to time keep customers engaged as many take vacation time and are looking to spend some of their hard earned cash. Get your business in a position to take advantage of common holidays, such as Canada Day, the August long weekend and Labour Day. Whip up an email marketing plan for each holiday, and have them ready a few weeks beforehand in order to get customers excited for whatever sales you’ve got in store, whether on flags for Canada Day, gourmet meat for your August barbecue, or fireworks for Labour day.
Think Local, Act Local
Another great way to position your business for summer success is to see what’s going on around you. Whether you are a brick-and-mortar business or solely online, your business can always have an angle to boost summer revenue. If, for example, you run a coffee shop on a busy pedestrian street, set up signs outside hawking your delicious ice coffees. If your business is online-only, get the jump on your city’s festival calendar by using your social media channels to advertise your wares, be they hip sunglasses or organic sunscreen. The bottom line is this – whatever you are selling can always be tailored to what is going on in your neighbourhood or city. Making sure you have enough lead time to get the word out on what you are selling is the key.
Be Cool, Man
Depending on where you live, it can get brutally hot during the summer. If you’ve got a brick-and-mortar store, stick a sign outside announcing your air conditioner is cranked up and you’ve got cold lemonade on offer – for free. Yes, this will cost you a bit of money, but passersby will appreciate the respite from the heat. Even if they don’t buy anything, people coming in for a cold lemonade will remember your generosity. They may not have any interest in buying your handmade candles, but they may have a family member or a friend who’d love them. Do good, and word of mouth will spread like the summer heat.
Back To School
You may draw children’s ire, but back-to-school sales are always a great way to boost your bottom line during the summer months. After all, its the parents who control the purse strings, so a school-themed promotion at your bar, restaurant or hemp clothing online store could be a fun way (for parents) to enjoy the end of the summer.
