Top 5 Marketing Themes For Fall
2 min reading time
Next to the December holiday rush, fall is the busiest time of year for most confectionery businesses. There are many events and holidays that take place during this season and the time to prepare for them is NOW. So before you get caught up in a massive fall frenzy, here are the top 5 marketing themes you need to plan for at this time of year.
1. Back To School
According to the National Retail Federation, Back-to-school and college spending ranks as the second biggest shopping season for retailers, after the winter holidays and total spending for K-12 and college students is expected to reach $75.8 billion in 2016. Clearly, this is a critical, and often missed, opportunity to increase your sales.
2. End of Summer Sale
Let's face it, no matter how hard you try, you're always left with summer products at the end of the season. Get them out the door and get great traffic coming into your store by having a HUGE summer blowout sale! You'll get rid of out of season merchandise and your customers will appreciate the extra savings. It's a win-win situation!
3. Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month promotions are a HUGE deal these days. They're also a fantastic opportunity for your business to make a charitable donation to a local or national breast cancer foundation. Some promotional ideas include a discount on all pink items in your store, a discount off a total purchase when the customer makes a donation to a breast cancer charity you're supporting or donating a portion of proceeds from breast cancer merchandise to a breast cancer charity. Even just announcing that your store has made a donation will do wonders for your business.
4. Halloween
Of course Halloween is a big deal in the confectionery industry. It's a holiday that revolves entirely around candy! So how do you distinguish yourself in an industry full of candy and confectionery giants? Be different of course! Try tapping into new markets like selling your products to community groups who are having parades or trick-or-treat nights. Also, present your Halloween products as being the perfect items for all ages and all types of Halloween events, not just for kids who go trick-or-treating.
5. Thanksgiving
Ah, Thanksgiving. That often over-looked holiday that pops up between Halloween and Christmas. Think there's no market here for a confectionery business? Think again! While many confectionery businesses do very well selling Thanksgiving items, those who don't can still leverage the holiday to improve their sales. If your business isn't big on Thanksgiving products, take the opportunity to promote your Christmas and Hanukkah items. Tell your customers to shop in advance and get their holiday shopping out of the way early. Offer incentives and sales to encourage them to shop early. If they're satisfied with your products and services, they're likely to return to shop with you again before the holiday season is over.