The New Year is here and whether you’re diving in or still drafting your own written marketing plans, be sure to take a big-picture look at the full year ahead. We put together this list of ideas and seasonal events to help you plan out your promotional marketing initiatives.

We recommend planning for your seasonal promotions and events at least 2-3 months in advance, if not sooner. We know it doesn’t always happen that way…but starting to discuss a yearly plan with your colleagues now can help you mitigate rush fees and reduce stress up against tight deadlines later in the year.

January

(Prepare for these themes and products in November / December or sooner)

View January Monthly Observations Here

Fitness + Nutrition
Productivity / New Year’s Resolutions (calendars, planners, organizational tools, office items)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (1/16)
National Chocolate Cake Day (1/27)
Tax preparation (Pocket folders, document pouches, financial / bookkeeping tools)
Travel / Vacation planning / Cruises / Resorts (calendars, photo frames, document pouches)
Weddings / Wedding Expos (calendars, planners
Employee recognition (awards, certificate folders, branded gifts, apparel)
National Blood Donor Month

February

(Prepare for these themes and products in December / January or sooner)

View February Monthly Observations Here

Groundhog Day (2/2)
National Women Physicians Day – (2/3)
Valentine’s Day (2/14)
National Random Acts of Kindness Day (2/17)
Presidents Day – Third Monday in February
Black History Month
National Heart Month

Browse more February holidays here.

March

(Prepare for these themes and products in January / February or sooner)

View March Monthly Observations Here

Mardi Gras (3/5)
St. Patrick’s Day (3/17)
National Women’s History Month
National Nutrition Month
National Umbrella Month
National Employee Appreciation Day – First Friday in March
Daylight Saving Time – Second Sunday in March

April

(Prepare for these themes and products in February / March or sooner)

View April Monthly Observations Here

April Fool’s Day (4/1)
Passover (4/19-4/27)
National Siblings Day – 4/10
Easter (4/21/19)
Earth Day (4/22)
Administrative Professionals’ Day (Last Wednesday in April)
Promotional Products Work! Week – (May 13 – 17, 2019) advocate for the promo industry
Weddings
Baseball
National Child Abuse Awareness Month
National Donate Life Awareness Month
National Cannabis Awareness Month
Lawn and Garden Month
National Autism Awareness Month

May

(Prepare for these themes and products in March / April or sooner)

View May Monthly Observations Here

May Day (5/1)
Graduation season – college, high school – (save the dates, programs, cards, invitations, mailers, photo folders)
College enrollment
Prom
Cinco De Mayo (5/5)
Mother’s Day (5/12)
4/20
Memorial Day (5/27)
Weddings
Youth sports
Baseball / summer sports
Stroke Awareness Month
National Military Appreciation Month
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
National Mental Health Awareness Month

June

(Prepare for these themes and products in April / May or sooner)

View June Monthly Observations Here

Farmers Markets (eco-friendly reusable shopping bags, recycled products, farm to table, “shop local”)
End of the school year
Father’s Day (6/16)
Weddings
LGBTQIA Pride Month
National Camping Month
National Great Outdoors Month
National Adopt a Cat Month

July

(Prepare for these themes and products in May / June or sooner)

View July Monthly Observations Here

Independence Day (July 4) – USA-made products, parade giveaways, patriotic, red white and blue
National Hawaii Day (July 5)
National Tattoo Day ( 7/17)
National Intern Day (Fourth Thursday in July)
Summer camps (YMCA, park district)
National Hot Dog Month
National Grilling Month
National Picnic Month

August

(Prepare for these themes and products in June / July or sooner)

View August Monthly Observations Here

National CBD Day (8/8)
National Leathercraft Day (8/15)
Family Fun Month
National Golf Month
Back to school
Football kickoff & + fall sports

September

(Prepare for these themes and products in July / August or sooner)

View September Monthly Observations Here

Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
National Dog Week: 22-28
National Preparedness Month
National Fruit and Veggies Month
Self Improvement Month
Women’s Friendship Month
National Suicide Prevention Month
Harvest Season
Football + fall sports

October

(Prepare for these themes and products in August / September or sooner)

View October Monthly Observations Here

National Hair Day (10/1)
Yom Kippur (10/8-10/9)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Emotional Wellness Month
Financial Planning Month
National Cyber Security Awareness Month
Fall Festivals
Fall events at the pumpkin patch, apple orchard, or haunted house
Election season / voting / political awareness
Halloween / Samhain / Costume Parties

November

( Prepare for these themes and products starting August, September, October or sooner)

View November Monthly Observations Here

December

( Prepare for these themes and products starting July, August, September, October or sooner)

View December Monthly Observations Here

National Lager Day (12/10)
National App Day (12/11)
Christmas
Hanukkah
New Year
AIDS Awareness Month
National Drunk & Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month
National Human Rights Month
National Write A Business Plan Month
Productivity / New Year’s Resolutions

Want to do something different? National Day Calendar is a great online resource to use when looking for creative new campaign ideas. Beyond the widely recognized holidays and mainstream seasonal events, there are also some more fun and obscure ones, like these…

National Science Fiction Day– Jan 2nd
National Thank a Mail Carrier Day – Feb 4th
National Read Across America Day (Dr. Seuss Day) – March 2nd (If on Weekend, Moves to Closest School Day)
National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day – April 2nd
National Space Day – First Friday in May
National Yo-Yo Day – June 6th
National Pina Colada Day – July 10th
National Roller Coaster Day – August 16th
National Wildlife Day – September 4th
National Live Creative Day – September 14th
National Techies Day – October 3rd
National Stress Awareness Day – First Wednesday in November
Special Education Day – December 2nd

Campaign ideas for all year round:

Do you host or sponsor any of the following types of events? Have you been satisfied with your results in past years? Would you like to get more brand exposure, capture more leads, drive more web traffic or social media engagement? Plan a smart promotion around your goal.

Corporate Anniversaries
Golf Tournaments
Employee Appreciation Celebrations
Fundraisers, banquets and Galas
Birthdays and retirement events
Bar/ bat mitzvahs
Quinceaneras
Award ceremonies + recognition
Trade shows & conventions
Sales meetings
Class reunions
Annual town festivals
Local chamber business events
Small business association meetings
Networking events

We hope these event ideas help you better plan your most important yearly promotions. Don’t try to tackle them all – prepare a list of 3-5 events that will resonate most based on your values, customer base, sales cycle and company culture. Don’t be afraid to part ways with stale, old, overdone promotions, and replace them with fresh, innovative marketing celebrations! The Logotology Team is ready to partner with you!