eCommerce Calendar 2023 | Important days for retailers, Part 2
The eCommerce Calendar 2023 is a comprehensive guide for retailers that lists essential days relevant to online sales throughout the year. This calendar includes holidays, promotional events, and other key dates that can impact consumer shopping behavior.
7️⃣ July
Independence Day (July 4)
Independence Day, also known as July 4, is a day of national pride and celebration marked by parades, fireworks, and patriotic events.
In the context of eCommerce, Independence Day is an important holiday for retailers. It is considered one of the busiest shopping days of the summer, as many people take advantage of the long holiday weekend to purchase items such as clothing, electronics, and home goods. Retailers often offer special promotions and discounts to attract shoppers, and the holiday is an important time for sales, particularly for items related to summer, such as barbecues, swimming pools, and outdoor gear.
Additionally, online retailers may offer free shipping or other promotions to encourage online purchases. The eCommerce businesses also can have a special section dedicated to Independence Day deals and discounts.
National Parent's Day (July 24)
National Parents' Day is a holiday in the United States celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July. It was established in 1994 by the U.S. Congress to recognize, honor, and appreciate the role of parents. The day is meant to encourage people to reflect on the importance of parenting and to honor and support the parents in their lives.
National Parents' Day is not considered a significant holiday for eCommerce, as other major holidays such as Christmas or Thanksgiving. However, some retailers may use this holiday to promote products and services related to parenting and family life, such as children's clothing, toys, and parenting books.
Online retailers can also have a special section dedicated to National Parents' Day deals and discounts. Some businesses may use this holiday to launch new products or services targeted at parents and families.
8️⃣ August
Qixi Festival (August 22)
Qixi Festival, also known as Chinese Valentine's Day, is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the seventh day of the lunar calendar. It is a day when young lovers express their affection for each other, and it is also considered an auspicious day for marriage. The festival originates in Chinese folklore, which tells the story of a forbidden love between a mortal and a fairy.
For eCommerce, Qixi Festival is becoming an increasingly important holiday, particularly for online retailers. Many Chinese consumers use this occasion to buy gifts for their loved ones.
Online retailers may also use this holiday to launch new products or services targeted at couples and lovers and may have a special section dedicated to Qixi Festival deals and discounts.
9️⃣ September
Jewish New Year (September 15-17)
The Jewish New Year, also known as Rosh Hashanah, is when many Jewish people celebrate the start of the new year and reflect on the past year. eCommerce retailers can take advantage of this holiday by offering special promotions or deals on items commonly used during the holiday, such as traditional foods, holiday decorations, and gifts.
For example, retailers could offer discounts on honey, apples, and challah bread, commonly consumed during the holiday, or shofars used in traditional Rosh Hashanah ceremonies. Retailers could also create unique gift guides or curated collections of products that align with the holiday's themes, such as new beginnings, reflection, and forgiveness.
Retailers should also be aware of the holiday's date, as it falls on a different date every year, and make sure that they have enough stock and shipping logistics to handle a potential increase in demand. It is also essential to be sensitive to cultural and religious customs and avoid promoting products or services that could be considered disrespectful or offensive.
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Back to School
Back to school is a busy period for eCommerce retailers, as many parents and students shop for school supplies, clothing, and electronics. Retailers can take advantage of this time by offering special promotions or deals on items commonly needed for returning to school, such as notebooks, pencils, backpacks, and laptops.
Retailers can create special sections on their website or social media channels specifically for back-to-school shopping, featuring items such as dorm room decor, school uniforms, and school-related electronics. They can also offer bundle deals for students and parents, such as a bundle of school supplies or back-to-school clothing.
By proactively offering relevant products and deals, eCommerce retailers can take advantage of the back-to-school period and potentially increase their sales. In addition, retailers should also be aware of the different school start dates, as they vary by region and school district, and plan shipping and delivery logistics accordingly to ensure that the products reach the customers on time. Also, retailers can target their marketing campaigns to specific age groups and geographic regions to get the right audience.
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🔟 October
Halloween (October 31)
Halloween is a popular holiday celebrated in many countries, especially in the United States and Canada, usually on October 31. It is a time when many people dress in costumes, attend parties, and go trick-or-treating. eCommerce retailers can take advantage of this holiday by offering special promotions or deals on items that are commonly associated with Halloween, such as costumes, decorations, and candy.
Halloween and eCommerce can be a great combination as they allow people to purchase costumes, decorations, and other Halloween-related items from their homes. eCommerce allows for the convenience of online ordering, home delivery, and easy returns and exchanges. eCommerce can also provide a more comprehensive selection of products than traditional brick-and-mortar stores, making it easier for customers to find unique or hard-to-find items.
Another advantage of eCommerce for Halloween is that retailers can reach a wider audience and target specific demographics with their marketing campaigns. For example, they can use data and analytics to identify which products are famous in specific geographic regions or age groups and adjust their inventory and promotions accordingly. Retailers can also use social media and email marketing to reach customers and promote their Halloween products.
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
National Security Awareness Month is an annual event in October dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and protecting sensitive information. eCommerce retailers can take advantage of this event by highlighting the security measures they have in place to protect customers' personal and financial information during the online shopping process, such as encryption, secure socket layer (SSL) certificates, and fraud detection systems.
Even more frightening than Halloween, are eCommerce companies' payment plans to their customers safe? This month can also be a good situation for eCommerce companies to check the security of their systems.
1️⃣1️⃣ November
Thanksgiving (November 24)
Thanksgiving is a significant holiday in the United States and Canada, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It is a time for families and friends to gather, give thanks, and enjoy a traditional meal.
Retailers can create special sections on their website or social media channels specifically for Thanksgiving shopping, featuring items such as cookware, tableware, and kitchen appliances for preparing the Thanksgiving meal and decorations and gifts for the holiday. Retailers can also offer bundle deals for customers, for example, a bundle of a turkey, stuffing mix, and cranberry sauce.
They can also offer services like Thanksgiving meal delivery or pre-order, which can be convenient for customers busy preparing for the holiday or those looking for a stress-free alternative to traditional meal preparation.
Black Friday (November 25)
Black Friday is a significant shopping event that takes place the day after Thanksgiving in the United States and is known for its deep discounts and special deals on a wide range of products.
Retailers can also use this opportunity to clear out their inventory and make room for new products. They can offer discounts on older models of products, bundle deals, and flash sales to encourage customers to purchase.
Black Friday also marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season, and eCommerce retailers can use it to attract new customers and increase brand awareness. Using targeted marketing and offering relevant products and deals, eCommerce retailers can take advantage of Black Friday and potentially increase their sales during the holiday season.
It is also essential to have a well-functioning website that handles the traffic load, has detailed and easy-to-find information on their website about the deals and discounts, and has logistics in place to handle the surge in orders.
You can check out our blog post to be completely ready for Black Friday.
Cyber Monday (November 28)
It is a shopping festival celebrated on one day only and always falls on the Monday after Thanksgiving. It is also the first Monday after Black Friday. During the day, many businesses, especially online stores (as the name suggests), offer special selections of heavily discounted items. This day has now spread to physical stores.
Some businesses implement quick sales, popularly called "Flash deals," that only last an hour; others prefer to offer special discounts on a wide range of products, mainly electronics, and technology.
1️⃣2️⃣ December
Christmas (December 25)
Christmas is a significant holiday celebrated in many countries around the world, and it is a time when many people exchange gifts and spend time with their families and friends. eCommerce retailers can take advantage of this holiday by offering special promotions or deals on items commonly associated with Christmas, such as gifts, decorations, and festive foods.
eCommerce brands can also create special sections on their website or social media channels specifically for Christmas shopping, featuring Christmas trees, ornaments, lights, and gifts for family and friends.
Moreover, sellers can target their marketing campaigns to specific age groups and geographic regions to reach the right audience. By being proactive and offering relevant products and deals, they can take advantage of Christmas and potentially increase their sales during the holiday season.
New Year's Eve (December 31)
New Year's Eve is a significant holiday celebrated at the end of the current year and the beginning of a new one. It is a time when many people participate in celebrations, make resolutions, and exchange gifts.
Reminder to plan and take advantage of these important days
It is important for eCommerce retailers to plan and take advantage of important days. This can involve creating special promotions or deals, offering limited-time discounts, or highlighting specific products that align with the event's theme.
Retailers should also ensure that their website, social media, and email marketing campaigns are updated to reflect the promotions or deals they are offering and that their inventory and shipping logistics can handle an increase in demand.
Also, retailers should anticipate an increase in returns and plan accordingly for the returns process, customer service, and replenishing of stock.
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As OPLOG, we are here for you during your busiest shopping periods!
