Time for our regular look ahead…this time at the month of July 2016. Let’s take a look at the coming month for events, occasions, holidays and anniversaries that can form the basis for a marketing campaign or promotion and that you can use to create a marketing calendar July 2016.
Two big themes or ideas.
First, that we’re now in the second half of the year. July 1 is sometimes referred to as “Second Half Of The Year Day”.
As with any milestones like this, it’s an opportunity to give people a bit of a jolt and get them to review their goals and plans for the year.
Of course, if they are off-track a little you might well be able to help them get back on track!
Secondly, it’s Summer (in the northern hemisphere)…
…but the depths of Winter if you’re in the southern hemisphere.
In the USA July 4 is the great national occasion “Independence Day”. This theme of independence is very much a universal ideal and so can be used pretty much in any country. The idea of “personal independence” can be the basis for a promotion in many different markets. It’s worth keeping in mind that one of the primary reasons people go into business for themselves is the desire for freedom and independence.
Taking a look at some specific occasions…
July 1 – International Joke Day
July 2 – World UFO Day (note that June 24 is also regarded as World UFO Day by some)
July 2 – International Day Of Cooperatives (first Saturday in July)
July 4 – Independence Day (USA)
July 5 – Anniversary of the birth of P.T.Barnum (legendary showman and circus founder)
July 5 – Bikini Day (anniversary of the invention of the bikini in 1946 by Parisian fashion designer, Louis Reard)
July 6 – International Kissing Day
July 7 – Global Forgiveness Day
July 11 – World Population Day
July 12 – Simplicity Day
July 14 – Bastille Day (France)
July 16 – World Snake Day
July 17 – World Day For International Justice
July 18 – Nelson Mandela International Day
July 20 – Anniversary of first landing on the Moon in 1969 (also referred to as “Moon Day” and “Space Exploration Day”)
July 21 – Junk Food Day
July 22 – Pi Approximation Day (22/7!)
July 24 – Parents’ Day (fourth Sunday in July)
July 25 – Carousel Day (honouring William Schneider who invented the ride in 1871)
July 26 – “All or Nothing” Day
July 27 – Scotch Whisky Day
July 29 – International Tiger Day
July 30 – International Day Of Friendship
July 30 – Paperback Book Day
July 31 – World Ranger Day
Looking at country-specific events…
In the USA…
July 4 – Independence Day
July 24 – Pioneer Day (Utah)
Canada…
July 1 – Canada Day
July 1 – Memorial Day (Newfoundland and Labrador)
July 9 – Nunavut Day (Nunavut)
July 13 – Orangemen’s Day (Newfoundland and Labrador)
U.K…
No major holidays or national occasions in July…but it’s the height of summer and there are plenty of major sporting events taking place.
The British F1 Grand Prix is on July 10…
…and Wimbledon tennis reaches its climax on July 10.
Also on July 10…the Euro 2016 Football Championship Final (in Paris).
Australia…
No official holidays in July. Winter and the new financial year are ideas that can be used. Also, keep an eye out for local festivals and events.
Looking at some anniversaries…
July 1 (1841) – Colony of New Zealand established
July 1 (1916) – First day of the Battle of the Somme (WW1)
July 1 (1941) – Commercial TV broadcasting legalised in the USA. NBC and CBS both launched their television services. NBC also broadcast the first TV commercial (for Bulova watches)
July 1 (1976) – the first Apple computer (Apple I) went on sale (priced at $666.66!)
July 4 (1996) – the Hotmail email service was launched
July 8 (1916) – Coca Cola introduced its iconic contoured bottle
July 15 (1916) – the Boeing company was formed in the USA (as Pacific Aero Products)
July 15 (2006) – Twitter was publicly launched
July 17 (1936) – the Spanish Civil War began
July 28 (1866) – birth of Beatrix Potter
July 30 (1956) – “In God We Trust” officially adopted as the motto of the USA
July 30 (1966) – FIFA World Cup Final played at Wembley Stadium, London. England beat West Germany 4-2 to win the competition for the first (and only) time
Note as well, that there are anniversaries related to a number of major wars…World War 1 (100 years), World War 2 (70 and 75 years), the Korean War (65 years) and the Vietnam War (50 years).
That’s it for this month. Plenty of ideas for a great marketing calendar July 2016 and here’s to your success with event-driven marketing in July 2016!
UPDATE (7 July 2016):
Not sure how I missed this…but July 7 is World Chocolate Day (sometimes referred to as International Chocolate Day)! According to some accounts, chocolate was first introduced to Europe on 7 July 1550. Note that in the USA, International Chocolate Day is on 13 September.