Adding That Bit Of Spice To Your Retail Business' Life


The last days of 2007 are fast approaching. Have you started on your next year's marketing campaign for your retail business? This early, you should've mapped out even a small one your retail promotional calendar for next year.

If you haven't started your marketing calendar yet, why not do a total makeover this coming year? Even with an entire shop full of interesting and useful merchandise, have you ever wondered why people don't seem to flock to your shop?

It wouldn't surprise me if one of your clients says it's a tad boring to come in your store. You wouldn't want that to happen again this year, right. With strategic planning and a great calendar of promotional events, the year 2008 would definitely have something extra to add to your retail business.

And mind you, we don't mean just the usual markdown price cut you regularly have in the middle and last quarter of the year. We would like to see a specially planned marketing campaign this year. This means planning for several exciting events that would give your clients and customers the motivation to shop in your store on a regular basis.

Planning for your promotional campaign for your retail business starts with choosing the most suitable marketing collateral - from the more popular ones (i.e. brochures and catalogs) to the most cost effective (i.e. postcards and flyers). Whatever you choose be sure to have them fit your retail business, your target clients, as well as your goals.

Next, you start your marketing calendar which contains all your planned and actual events for the whole year. Try to coordinate your special events with the major holidays, retail trends, seasons, and other occasions that would help you create a more interesting retail plan. And don't just stick with the national affairs; also include those events that are celebrated in your local community.

In addition, make sure that you schedule your marketing events 3-6 months in advance. So you won't be pressured and stressed when it's time to implement your plan.

Here are some of the major holidays and events celebrated in the U.S. , Canada and the United Kingdom to help you map out your marketing calendar for 2008:

January to March - New Year's Eve, Super Bowl, Bank Holiday in the UK, and back-to-school; Valentine's Day, Mardi Gras, President's Day, Black History Month, Ground Hog Day; Easter, Passover, Academy Awards, Spring Fever, St. Patrick's Day.

April to June - Baseball opening, April Fool's Day, Tax Day, Earth Day, Prom Season; Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, Victoria Day in Canada, Memorial Day; Flag Day, Father's Day, Graduation Time, start of summer vacation, Wimbledon Opening.

July to September - Canada Day, Independence Day, Summer Break; Start of school, Tax-Free Sales; Labor Day, opening of NFL, Autumn.

October to December - Columbus Day, Red Ribbon Week, World Series, Book Month (October), Halloween; Election Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, start of Winter Sports; first of Winter, Christmas, end-of-year celebrations.

For more information, visit www.printplace.com to learn more about flyers, postcards and catalogs.


More Resources

The Man With The Grasshopper Mind
The title of this article also happens to be one of the "20 Greatest Headlines Ever Written."Did you know, just changing the headline has been known to dramatically improve the effectiveness of an ad or sales letter by up to 1700 percent? Yes, headlines are that powerful--and that important!However, over the last few years, I've noticed a proliferation of badly written--or just plain weak headlines--both online and off!Particularly disturbing is the copycat syndrome.
50 Surefire Business Card Tips
Business cards are one of the most powerful and inexpensive marketing tools you can use. Here are 50 surefire tips to make the most out of your business cards:Your business card must communicate more than just your contact information.
Does Your Brochure Pass the Test - Or is It Headed for the Trash? Part One
The decision on whether or not someone will read your brochure is usually decided in the first 5 seconds they look at it. What kind of message are you communicating in that five seconds? Will you make a favorable impression with your prospect? Will you move your prospect closer to the sale?There are really only two key elements that will determine how well your brochure is received by prospects.
Why Would Anyone Want Your Business Card?
Do you remember how proud you were the first time you saw your name in print?Most entrepreneurs feel that same flush of pride when they gaze on their new business cards. That small piece of paper represents years of planning and effort and hard work and dreams.
The ONLY Type Of Advertising People LOVE!!
Can it be???Is there advertising that people actually love?You bet there is! And you are already very aware of it. The type of advertising I'm referring to is promotional items, also known as advertising specialties.
Boost Headline Believability With Specifics
Don't use vague generalities in your headlines. Be as specific as possible.
Indoor LED Displays
To promote the audience, staff, customers and other people the Indoor LED displays are most widely used. By incorporating the latest technology Indoor LED displays provide exceptional service for a great value.
16 Methods for Getting Free Advertising
1. Place copies of your circular on bulletin boards throughout your community, such as in coin-operated laundries, grocery stores, barber shops, etc.
Hit Them With Benefits
More about advertising from BIG Mike McDanielIt makes no difference what media you use toadvertise, the rules are the same. Benefits,benefits, benefits.
The Benefits of Specific Advertising
The great Claude Hopkins (Author of Scientific Advertising) once said, "Platitudes and generalities roll off the human understanding like water from a duck. They leave no impression whatever.
Print Your Marketing Postcards For A Penny, Address Them For Free, and Automate the Whole Process
This article will show you how to cut your printing costs to a penny and have your postcards addressed for free without doing it all yourself, reducing the time you invest in your mailing to almost nothing.So, you have a list of hot prospects in hand; you need a way to get your marketing message in front of them with the hope that a reasonable percentage will call you.
Placemat Ad Advertising
Starting a placemat ad business can create more business for you; free advertising and income all while helping other local small businesses advertise their business all at a reasonable price.This is an idea not new by any means, but it can prove to be very profitable to you if done right.
Mobile Detailers; Customer Window Displays
Mobile detailers have all types of customers, many of whom are self-employed. We know that these customers love their automobiles as most Americans and therefore love the services we provide.
3 Things Every Yellow Pages Advertiser Needs to Know
Too many business owners and marketers know that Yellow Pages advertising has an incredible amount of potential? but they don't quite know how to take advantage of it.Fortunately, it's a mystery that's solved pretty easily once an advertiser knows where to turn for advice.
Books, Bibles and Fast-Talkers
Every community has 'em. Fast talkers who rollinto town with a clever idea to sell to people inbusiness.
How To Write Kick-Ass, Profit Pulling Adverts For Your Business?
Doesn't that just grab you by the eyeballs and make you stop dead in your tracks? I mean it's a little harsh - grammatically speaking - but holy smokes, it does it have 'stopping power'..
Does Your Brochure Pass the Test - Or is It Headed for the Trash? Part Two
In part one of this article we discussed the importance of the look or appearance of your brochure.The look or image that your brochure conveys is vastly important.
Trade Writing - For Cash!
Often considered as "plain Jane's" of the print world, trade magazines prove that there is more to a market than just a pretty face.Trade magazines are written for a specialized audience and typically focus on one specific area or industry.
What Colors Make Your Services Most Attractive?
This information is based on the principles of Laws of Attraction, Law of Allowing and Law of Deliberate Creation. And the Universal Laws of Energy (like attract likes) proven by Quantum Physics.
Diamonds Are For Evil
The task of executing successful advertising campaigns for products made exclusively for women is understatedly tempestuous. Any Average Joe consumer would relay the message that feminine product commercials put him under a great deal of stress and discomfort.

More Advertising Information:

Related Articles

Books, Bibles and Fast-Talkers
Every community has 'em. Fast talkers who rollinto town with a clever idea to sell to people inbusiness.
10 Tips For Writing A Profit Producing Ad
1. You can get ad copy ideas by studying similar product's advertising material.
Dont Be a Secret Agent
This tactic of the game was hard for me to master and at first I failed many times. I carried my business cards only in my briefcase, because I thought they were only used in business.
Does Post Card Advertising Really Work?
You've decided to try advertising your business with post cards. The idea came to you from the post cards you receive from other businesses.
Moving Message Board
Moving message boards are used in the areas where continuous announcements, or other information are need to be displayed in to either indoor or outdoor. Used most widely in churches, schools, airports, other transport stations, banks, production and administration department of organization as marquee information billboards.
7 Questions to Ask Before You Advertise
Most business owners and managers keep a fairly close eye on their marketing budgets.And nothing throws a budget out of whack faster than advertising.
Present Your Product On A TV Show for FREE
Would you like to get your new or existing Internet business moving nearly at the speed of light? Do you know what is required to get your business noticed and how to build your personal credibility fast, making clients secure enough to purchase from you over the Internet?The Simple AnswerThe primary answer is putting potential clients in a comfort zone relative to your product quality and your reputation as an authority in your marketing niche.One SolutionMarket it on television.
Direct Mail Rules of Thumb
First and foremost - You should identify your target market. Target your direct marketing lists.
4 Ways to Double the Power of Your Business Cards
Sure, everyone needs business cards. But why not make your business card do double or triple the work of an average business card.
Graphical LED Display
Graphical LED Displays utilize high-resolution graphics and video to transmit the information. You will find them sited in world's great cosmopolitan cities.
The First UK Man To Become a Human Billboard an Interview
Advertising on humans using tattoos is rapidly kind of freak niche that is definitely growing. It all started about two years ago (to the best of my knowledge) when a guy ran an ad on eBay offer his forehead as a billboard.
Advertise Where Its Forbidden To
The most common way to drive people to your business site is advertising. You cannot succeed without advertising, this is a fact.
Creativity and Getting Outside of the Box
Sitting in front of a blank piece of paper? Wondering where in the world to start? I have a suggestion. Turn the page upside down.
Commercial: Consumer - Discounts - Misleading Advertising
Marketing is an important tool for attracting customers. It is commonplace to see banners announcing bargains of "70% off the retail price.
Do I Need Raised Letter or Full Color Business Cards?
If you've been searching around for business cards that will best represent the image you want to portray for your business, then you've no doubt encountered many options. The Big Two, as I like to think of them, are "Raised Letter" and "Full Color.
8 Low Cost Ways To Advertise, Promote and Market Your Business
We all are looking for ways to market our businesses cost effectively. I have come up with 8 ways to do just that all low cost to free.
Turn Your Ad Copy into a Goldmine!
Today, more than ever, it is crucial that your ad copy explodes the reader's curiosity. Are you interested in simple yet powerful ways to improve your ad copy so your readers will rush to action? Invoking a reader's call to action can be communicated in various effective ways.
Direct Response Advertising; Radio vs TV
Radio advertising vs. television advertisingMany new advertisers assume that they should start on radio and "move up" sometime later to TV.
Do You Really Need a Brochure?
Traditional brochures typically tell the story of your company, i.e.
Why Your Ads Aren't Working
The president of a manufacturing company recently asked me, "Why isn't my advertising working?" Have you ever been asked this question? Have you ever asked it yourself?Like most marketing communications questions there are no simple answers. After all, communication is a high level activity.