A warm welcome to the “Looking Ahead” feature where we consider the coming month…
…and the events, occasions, anniversaries and holidays that smart direct response marketers can use as the foundation for event-driven marketing promotions in a marketing calendar September 2015.
After the lull of the last month or so…
…it’s a time of a change of seasons.
It’s Autumn in the north and Spring in the south…
…and these can be used as broad themes for a promotion.
Tied in with these, in the northern hemisphere it’s “Back to School” or “Back to Work” and the start of the run-in to the end of the year.
In the southern hemisphere, “Spring Time” or “Spring Cleaning” can be used as a theme.
Looking at some specific occasions…
September 2 – “V-J Day”, the official end of World War 2 in the Pacific (the Japanese government actually surrendered on August 15 but the official ceremony took place 2 weeks later)
September 3 – Skyscraper Day
September 5 – International Day Of Charity
September 6 – Fight Procrastination Day
September 7 – Labor Day (USA)
September 7 – Buy A Book Day
September 8 – International Day Of Literacy
September 9 – Teddy Bear Day
September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
September 10 – Swap Ideas Day
September 11 – Patriot Day (USA)
September 13 – Positive Thinking Day
September 15 – International Day Of Democracy
September 16 – World Ozone Day (International Day For The Preservation Of The Ozone Layer)
September 17 – Constitution Day (anniversary of the signing of the US Constitution in 1787)
September 18 – World Water Monitoring Day
September 19 – START of German Oktoberfest (ends October 4)
September 21 – International Day Of Peace (also World Gratitude Day)
September 22 – Business Women’s Day (anniversary of the founding of the American Business Women’s Association in 1949)
September 23 – September Equinox (08.22 UTC, 09.22 BST)
September 24 – Punctuation Day
September 24 – World Maritime Day (last Thursday in September)
September 25 – Psychotherapy Day
September 26 – European Day Of Languages
September 27 – World Tourism Day
September 28 – International Right To Know Day
September 29 – World Heart Day
September 29 – International Coffee Day
One somewhat “controversial” event is “Blasphemy Day” on September 30. This could be used as a hook in a promotion challenging conventional wisdom in your market.
And in some places, September 19 is “Talk Like A Pirate Day”. Could be the opportunity for a little fun!
Looking at specific events in particular countries…
In the USA…
September 7 – Labor Day
September 9 – California Admission Day (California)
September 11 – Patriot Day
September 12 – Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day
September 13 – National Grandparents Day
September 17 – Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
September 18 – National POW/MIA Recognition Day
September 22 – Emancipation Day (Ohio)
September 25 – Native Americans’ Day (California)
September 27 – Gold Star Mother’s Day
Canada…
September 7 – Labour Day
U.K.
No major national events this month. Keep an eye out for local events or occasions specific to your industry.
Australia…
September 1 marks the first day of spring, so scope for a “Spring Cleaning” theme.
September 1 – National Wattle Day / First Day Of Spring
September 3 – Australian National Flag Day
September 6 – Father’s Day
September 17 – Citizenship Day
September 28 – Queen’s Birthday (Western Australia)
September 28 – Family and Community Day (Australian Capital Territory)
…plus there’s the Spring Equinox (in the southern hemisphere) that falls on September 23 (at 18.22 AEST or 08.22 UTC ).
Finally for this month, some anniversaries…
September 1 (1865) – British surgeon Joseph Lister carries out the first operation using antiseptics
September 15 (1890) – Birth of Agatha Christie, the crime/mystery author and best-selling novelist of all-time
September 15 (1940) – Regarded as the decisive day in the “Battle of Britain” in World War 2. Now commemorated as “Battle of Britain Day”
September 25 (1940) – A team of US Army mathematicians crack the Japanese “Purple Code”
September 30 (1955) – Death of James Dean in a car crash
September 2 (1995) – The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame opens in Cleveland
Remember to keep an eye out for local events and sporting occasions that are relevant to your market and can be part of your marketing calendar September 2015.
Every success with your event-driven marketing in September 2015!