Strategy August 04, 2015
Promotions Planner
Plan creative campaigns three months out.
November 2015
Movember
This month-long initiative involves men growing out their mustaches as part of a campaign to raise funds to support the fight against prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men (us.movember.com). For Movember events and businesses that support their employees facial hair-growing efforts, provide T-shirts that feature a clever slogan and a fun whisker-themed image, such as a handlebar mustache silhouette.
National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
Help nonprofits and health-care providers generate awareness and money to fund research for a cure. Purple is the official color of the Alzheimer’s movement, so pitch products in that hue. Possible items include buttons, feminine-cut tees, polos, ties, caps, umbrellas, bracelets, scarves and plush teddy bears.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
White ribbon pins, T-shirts with anti-smoking messages and awareness bracelets are a few of the items hospitals, private businesses and nonprofits can use to promote survivor solidarity, early detection and the need for research.
Vegan Month
This outreach event encourages people to stop eating and using animal products. Health food stores, vegetarian restaurants and yoga studios could use environmentally friendly products to promote the message. Items include tote bags made from recycled bottles.
Nov 1: National Cook For Your Pets Day
Pet owners are encouraged to treat their pets to a nutritious, home-cooked meal. Pet stores and veterinarians should provide customers and target clientele with items such as branded spatulas and magnets with pet nutrition tips.
Nov. 3: General Election Day
Across America, voters go to the polls to select candidates for local, state and federal offices. In the months leading up to the election, power the politicians’ push for office by providing them with promotional signs, shirts, buttons, caps, lapel pins and banner pens.
Nov. 9-13: National Young Readers Week
Co-founded by Pizza Hut and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, this week calls attention to the joys and importance of reading for children. From bookmarks and notepads with storybook characters to baby aprons that say “Read To Me,” a variety of products will help bookstores, schools, libraries and caring corporations celebrate and promote reading.
Nov. 16-20: American Education Week
The week provides schools and PTOs with an opportunity to run fundraisers to support educational and extracurricular programs. Have these clients sell sweatshirts, bumper stickers and toques to ramp-up the fundraising success.
Nov. 26: Thanksgiving Fun Runs
Sometimes called a “Turkey Trot,” 5K races abound on Thanksgiving. Use www.runningintheusa.com to locate a local race. Then, deliver race-branded T-shirts, water bottles and drawstring backpacks for organizers to gift or sell to participants.
Nov. 27: National Flossing Day
In the lead up to (and on) this day, dentists and orthodontists should give patients logoed containers of dental floss that feature a pithy message about the importance of flossing. Dentists who really want to up the impact of the campaign can provide branded coloring books about proper teeth maintenance.