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 2016.
After the lull of the last month or so…
…it’s a time of a change of seasons. The September Equinox falls on September 22 at 14.21 UTC.
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 1 – Letter Writing Day
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 5 – Labor Day (USA)
September 6 – Fight Procrastination Day (also “Read A Book Day”)
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 12 – Programmers’ Day
September 13 – Roald Dahl Day (anniversary of the birth of acclaimed storyteller)
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 17 – START of German Oktoberfest (ends October 3)
September 18 – World Water Monitoring Day
September 18 – Respect Day
September 20 – Get Ready Day
September 21 – International Day Of Peace (also World Gratitude Day)
September 22 – September Equinox (14.21 UTC, 15.21 BST)
September 22 – Business Women’s Day (anniversary of the founding of the American Business Women’s Association in 1949)
September 24 – Punctuation Day
September 25 – Psychotherapy Day
September 26 – European Day Of Languages
September 26 – Batman Day
September 27 – World Tourism Day
September 28 – International Right To Know Day
September 29 – World Heart Day
September 29 – World Maritime Day (last Thursday in September)
September 29 – International Coffee Day
September 30 – International Translation 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 5 – Labor Day
September 9 – California Admission Day (California)
September 10 – Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day
September 11 – Patriot Day
September 11 – National Grandparents Day
September 16 – ‘Constitution Day and Citizenship Day’ observed
September 16 – National POW/MIA Recognition Day
September 17 – Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
September 18 – Air Force Birthday
September 22 – Emancipation Day (Ohio)
September 23 – Native Americans’ Day (California)
September 25 – Gold Star Mother’s Day
Canada…
September 5 – Labour Day
UK…
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 4 – Father’s Day
September 17 – Citizenship Day
September 26 – Queen’s Birthday (Western Australia)
September 26 – Family and Community Day (Australian Capital Territory)
September 30 – AFL Grand Final Friday (Victoria)
…plus there’s the Spring Equinox (in the southern hemisphere) that falls on September 23 (at 00.21 AEST).
Finally for this month, some anniversaries…
September 3 (1976) – NASA’s Viking 2 landed on Mars
September 5 (1976) – the first episode of The Muppet Show is broadcast in the UK (after the show failed to be picked up by US networks)
September 8 (1966) – the first episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek is broadcast on NBC in the USA
September 8 (1986) – the Oprah Winfrey Show was first broadcast in the USA
September 13 (1916) – birth of Roald Dahl, British novelist, short-story writer and screenwriter (works included Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Matilda)
September 15 (1916) – first use of a tank in battle during the Battle of the Somme in WW1
September 20 (1946) – opening of the first Cannes Film Festival (it ran until October 5)
September 25 (1956) – the first undersea transatlantic telephone cable, TAT-1, went into service. Initially, it could carry 36 calls simultaneously (!!)
September 29 (1916) – American business magnate John D. Rockefeller became the world’s first billionaire
You will have noticed in this list a number anniversaries of TV series. Not really surprising as September is the start of a new TV season. In fact, this month marks the anniversary of a number of other well-known series including Family Affair (12 September 1966), The Monkees (12 September 1966), L.A. Law (15 September 1986), Mission:Impossible (17 September 1966) and Charlie’s Angels (22 September 1976).
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 2016.
Every success with your event-driven marketing in September 2016!