2016 is not yet over…we still have Christmas and the New Year to enjoy…
…but it’s not too soon to get started on putting together a marketing calendar January 2017. So let’s take a look ahead at some of the events, anniversaries and other occasions that we can put to use for an event-driven marketing event or promotion.
Of course, the New Year itself is a great reason for a promotion. At this time, most people are making plans for the year ahead and often looking to make a “fresh start”.
“New Year Sales” are a staple pretty much around the world and no reason why you can’t make use of this.
January is also “Brainteaser”, “Get Organized” and “Creativity” month.
Also…
…in 2017 Chinese New Year falls in January on the 28th, when the “Year Of The Rooster” starts.
And…this month sees a “Friday the 13th”!
Other events of note…
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 1 – Copyright Law Day
January 2 – Motivation and Inspiration Day
January 4 – World Braille Day
January 4 – Trivia Day
January 4 – Blender Day (invented 1910)
January 5 – Bird Day
January 6 – “Twelfth Night” (coming of the Epiphany and conclusion of the Twelve Days Of Christmas)
January 6 – Birthday of Sherlock Holmes
January 8 – Elvis Presley’s Birthday
January 10 – Peculiar People Day
January 11 – Milk Day
January 13 – Skeptics Day
January 14 – Organize Your Home Day
January 16 – Nothing Day
January 16 – Religious Freedom Day
January 17 – Cable Car Day
January 18 – Thesaurus Day
January 18 – Winnie The Pooh Day (anniversary of the birth of A.A. Milne)
January 19 – “Tin Can Day” (patent awarded in 1825 for canning process)
January 23 – Handwriting Day
January 25 – Opposite Day
January 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 28 – Data Privacy Day
January 29 – Freethinkers Day (anniversary of birth of Thomas Paine)
January 31 – Backward Day
Turning to events in individual countries…
In the USA…
January 20 is “Inauguration Day” that sees Donald Trump sworn in as the 45th President of the USA.
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 2 – New Year’s Day observed
January 7 – Orthodox Christmas Day
January 13 – Stephen Foster (known as the “Father of American Music”) Memorial Day
January 13 – Lee-Jackson Day (Virginia)
January 14 – Orthodox New Year
January 15 – World Religion Day
January 16 – Martin Luther King Day
January 16 – Idaho Human Rights Day (Idaho),
January 16 – Civil Rights Day (Arizona, New Hampshire)
January 16 – Robert E Lee’s Birthday (Alabama, Arkansas)
January 16 – State Holiday (Mississippi)
January 19 – Robert E Lee’s Birthday (Florida)
January 19 – State Holiday (Texas)
January 20 – Inauguration Day (DC, LA, MD, VA),
January 29 – Kansas Day
Canada…
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 2 – New Year’s Day Holiday
The UK…
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 2 – New Year’s Day Holiday
January 3 – Day After New Year Holiday (Scotland)
January 6 – Epiphany
January 9 – “Plough Monday” (traditionally the first day of the Agricultural Year)
January 25 – Burns’ Night (Scotland)
Australia…
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 2 – New Year’s Day Holiday
January 26 – Australia Day
In Australia, it’s the middle of summer and very much an extended holiday season.
For sports fans there’s the Hopman Cup, January 1-7 in Perth…
…and the Australian Open Tennis, January 16 – 29 in Melbourne.
There’s also the annual Sydney Festival for most of January.
Traditionally, Australia Day marks the end of the summer holiday period so “Back to work” can be used as a theme after that. It’s also “Back To School” at the end of the month…
…with the start of the academic year.
Every success with kicking off 2017 with successful event-driven promotions!