Time for our regular look ahead…this time at the month of July 2024…at the events, occasions, holidays and anniversaries that can form the basis for a marketing promotion.
This year…July is a BIG month in sports.
Probably the BIGGEST event is the 33rd Olympic Games taking place in Paris. It starts on 26th July and runs to the 11th August.
The EURO 2024 Soccer Championships conclude on 14th July.
The annual Wimbledon Tennis Championships take place from 1st July to 14th July.
Away from sports…two big ideas stand out.
The first is…we are 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 – Canada Day
July 1 – International Joke Day
July 2 – World UFO Day (note that June 24 is also regarded as World UFO Day by some)
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 6 – International Day Of Cooperatives (first Saturday in July)
July 7 – Chocolate Day (sometimes referred to as International Chocolate Day). According to some accounts, chocolate was first introduced to Europe on 7 July 1550
July 8 – International Town Criers Day (second Monday in July)
July 9 – Fashion Day
July 11 – World Population Day
July 12 – Simplicity Day
July 13 – International Rock Day
July 14 – Bastille Day (France)
July 14 – Shark Awareness Day
July 15 – World Youth Skills Day
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 20 – World Chess Day
July 21 – Junk Food Day
July 22 – Pi Approximation Day (22/7!)
July 25 – Carousel Day (honouring William Schneider who invented the ride in 1871)
July 26 – “All or Nothing” Day
July 28 – Parents Day (fourth Sunday in July)
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 13 – Nathan Bedford Forrest Day (Tennessee)
July 24 – Pioneer Day (Utah)
July 27 – National Korean War Veterans Day
July 27 – Korean War Veterans Recognition Day (West Virginia)
Canada…
July 1 – Canada Day
July 1 – Memorial Day (Newfoundland and Labrador)
July 9 – Nunavut Day (Nunavut)
July 15 – Orangemen’s Day (Newfoundland and Labrador)
U.K…
July 4 – National Election Day
July 5 – Tynwald Day (Isle of Man)
July 12 – Battle of the Boyne (Northern Ireland)
July 27 – Norfolk Day
While there are no major holidays in July…this year elections to the national parliament take place on July 4.
It is the height of summer and there are plenty of major sporting events taking place. These include the Wimbledon Tennis Championships (July 1 – July 14).
Australia…
It’s NAIDOC Week beginning 7 July.
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.
That’s it for this month. Plenty of ideas for a great marketing calendar for July 2024 and here’s to your success with event-driven marketing in July 2024!