Here we are again bolting to the end of yet another lightning-fast year, quicker than our legs can carry us. For busy hospitality and retail businesses, the silly season is a blurry, yet hopefully very profitable time of year; but keep in mind you should already be considering what 2020 calendar events you can participate in.
Does 2019 hold happy memories for you and your business, or were there plans and goals that didn’t quite make it to the box-ticked list? Are you satisfied with your business promotions throughout the year, and did you jump at every opportunity?
Time is of the essence, and we know you’re flat out, so we’ve compiled a list of 2020 calendar dates and events to help you plan out your year’s business promotions. With a little ‘out of the box thinking’ and forward planning, one, or more of these events could be the next big “silly season” to bring floods of customers through your doors.
Australia Day January 26th 2020
Aussie Aussie Aussie! In true Australian fashion we celebrate our beautiful sunburnt country with a long weekend. Venues across the country will be adorned in Aussie flags and promising icy cold beverages to cool your summer. Retail can get into the Aussie Day spirit by holding an instore or social media competition or giveaway for their loyal customers. Why not fire up the BBQ for a good old sausage sizzle.
Valentines Day
Love is in the air on the 14th Feb. If you stock something that every lady would LOVE, you have yourself an excellent promotional opportunity. Help the guys out by making their purchase easy peasy, and having them look like a star. Offer a free gift wrapping service, free delivery and a little something extra with every purchase (chocolate is always a winner).
Venues also have the opportunity to go OTT for Valentine’s day. Promote your romantic dinner for two throughout February, perhaps offering menu samples and tastings. One way to a man’s heart is through his stomach after all, right ladies?
Labour Day Events 2020
- WA – 2nd March
- VIC / TAS / ACT – 9th March
- NT – 4th May
- Other Regions – 5th Oct
All work and no play? That’s why we have Labour Day! Break out the high vis and thongs to promote a work/life balance event or long weekend sale. Hospitality venues might hold an industry specific gala dinner or entertainment event. Retail might also target a particular industry or demographic pertinent to your target customer, “labour day fashion sale for all working mums!” Why not welcome your customers with a sip of champagne to celebrate.
St Patrick’s Day
Tuesday 17th March Australian’s come together to celebrate Irish culture. We know our Irish love to eat, drink, dance and be Merry, so this is another “top of the morning to ya” opportunity to pack out your venue with a St Pat’s day promotion. Many restaurants offer an Irish themed breakfast or lunch with lucky door prizes and traditional Irish fare and music. Bars and pubs might ramp up their celebrations in the evening serving green drinks and encouraging fancy dress. While St Patrick’s Day is not yet a public holiday in Australia…someone, somewhere is probably working on it.
Easter Weekend 2020 – Good Friday – 10th April
Time to hop to it and plan out your Easter offerings. The time of year everyone’s looking forward to a break and gallivanting around Australia with friends and family. Business promotions involving fun and games for the kids also attract their parents! Why not host a daily egg hunt and promote some chocolatey Easter Specials. You might host a fun Autumn-themed wine and food tasting, retailers could hold a colouring competition or a ‘guess how many easter eggs are in the jar’ giveaway. Capture those emails people and build your loyal brand community.
Anzac Day 25th April 2020
A sombre National day of remembrance, this is a sensitive date for business promotions. If you’re open for business a nice idea around Anzac Day is to donate a percentage of your proceeds from the long weekend to worthwhile charities that support service men and women, and their families – such as “Soldier On” or “Young Diggers.”
Try to be subtle with your marketing, as it can be deemed inappropriate to be seen trying to ‘cash in’ on Anzac Day.
Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend 2020
- WA – 1st June
- QLD – 5th October
- Other Regions – 8th June
On curiously different dates across the states, our nation celebrates the longevity of one rather impressive royal. The Queen’s Birthday is much more than another excuse for a public holiday, our monarch will be turning 94 years young in 2020! To cash in on this epic milestone you could create a $94 or $9.40 Queen’s Birthday special! If you’re in the giftware space, a Queen’s Birthday Present sale could be in order. Venues don’t need 94 reasons to hold a 1920’s themed Royal Birthday bash.
End of Financial Year 2020
30th June comes around quickly. Before you bury yourself in the stocktake, carefully plan out your end of year sales and business purchases. Businesses with B2B wares will do well promoting their products along with a reminder of the $30K instant asset write-off scheme. This is a great time of year to move old stock, and reach out to existing and repeat customers with your offerings. Hospitality venues are no exception, why not run EOFY menu and beverage specials to move whatever bits and pieces are costing you valuable cash flow.
Oktoberfest 2020
From the 19th Sept – 4th October we have a big Bavarian excuse to drink beer in ridiculously large glasses and hoe down on sausages and sauerkraut. When there’s cause for celebration, every venue should raise their glasses. Why not we say?
Black Friday 27th November 2020
Typically a US event, Black Friday has taken off around the country with retailers and online stores offering irresistible sales. This is now one of Australia’s most popular business promo events. A great lead-up to the silly season this is the perfect opportunity to capture your customer’s attention and move last season’s stock. Use the month of November to promote your Black Friday event in-store, online and to passer’s by. Brand ambassadors and promotional models can help you create a buzz about your Black Friday Sale.
Plan Your 2020 Business Promotions Early
Remember, if a topic is trending, get right out there and shout about it. By planning your year’s promotions early you can budget for, and organise with plenty of time to spare, all the promotional staffing assistance you need to make your events a roaring success.
Brand Ambassadors and promotional models can distribute pre-event advertising material and help you create a buzz about your store or venue. Many promo hands make light work when it comes time to open your doors on event day, don’t leave yourself short-staffed and risk your event becoming a fizzer. With our professional hospitality and promotional staff spruiking on your side, you have more time to mingle with, and get to know your customers.
Don’t forget to take plenty of photos and video for live and post-event social posts and marketing collateral for future promotions. Take advantage of all those smiling celebrating faces that are enjoying all your hard work and clever planning!
The team at AMS Promotions wish you all a busy and prosperous Season, we look forward to kicking promotional goals with you again in 2020
AMS Promotions is a team of Account Managers, Marketers and Promotions specialists. Operating nationally with a pool of over 10,000 beautiful and talented promotional staff and models, we’re driven by exceeding your promotional goals and celebrating your success. Get in touch.
1300 368 969