A Complete List Of 2024 Retail Sales & Holidays To Plan Your Marketing Campaigns

Welcome to 2024! Retail holidays are crucial for businesses, with numerous opportunities to boost sales and connect with customers. To help you navigate this season effectively, we’ve prepared a comprehensive guide with essential tips for preparation and a post-holiday strategy.

First, let’s start with a complete list of retail holidays you may want to incorporate into your marketing calendar.

2024 Retail Holiday List

January 2024 Retail Holidays

January is National Blood Donor Month, which focuses on encouraging blood donation and raising awareness about the constant need for blood donors. It’s also National Soup Month, celebrating the warmth and comfort of soup during the chilly winter season.

February 2024 Retail Holidays

February is Black History Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the significant contributions of African Americans to American history and culture. Additionally, it’s American Heart Month, promoting heart health awareness and education to prevent heart diseases.

March 2024 Retail Holidays

March marks Women’s History Month, dedicated to honoring and highlighting the achievements and contributions of women throughout history. It’s also National Nutrition Month, emphasizing healthy eating habits and nutrition education.

April 2024 Retail Holidays

April is notable for National Autism Awareness Month, a campaign that aims to raise awareness and understanding of autism spectrum disorders. It’s also Earth Month, focusing on environmental conservation and sustainability efforts.

May 2024 Retail Holidays

May hosts Mental Health Awareness Month, which seeks to increase awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Additionally, it’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, celebrating the rich culture and contributions of Asian Pacific Americans.

June 2024 Retail Holidays

June is synonymous with Pride Month, a time to celebrate and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, visibility, and equality. It’s also National Safety Month, where attention is directed towards safety awareness and injury prevention.

July 2024 Retail Holidays

July features National Ice Cream Month, a delightful celebration of the joy of ice cream during the warm summer months. Similarly, National Picnic Month encourages outdoor picnics and leisure activities.

August 2024 Retail Holidays

August brings National Water Quality Month, raising awareness about the importance of clean water and water conservation. It’s also National Immunization Awareness Month, emphasizing the significance of vaccinations for public health.

September 2024 Retail Holidays

September is dedicated to National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a campaign that raises awareness and supports research to combat childhood cancer. It’s also National Preparedness Month, promoting disaster preparedness and emergency planning.

October 2024 Retail Holidays

October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a period that focuses on promoting breast cancer awareness, education, and early detection. Simultaneously, it’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, with an emphasis on cybersecurity education and online safety.

November 2024 Retail Holidays

In November, we have National Diabetes Month, which aims to raise awareness about diabetes prevention and management. It’s also Native American Heritage Month, celebrating and honoring the culture and contributions of Native Americans.

December 2024 Retail Holidays

December features Safe Toys and Gifts Month, reminding us to make safe toy choices and gift-giving decisions during the holiday season. Additionally, it’s Universal Human Rights Month, where the focus is on promoting and protecting human rights globally.

Marketing Preparation Before the Holiday Season

1. Start Planning Early – Successful holiday marketing requires careful planning and execution. Begin your preparations well in advance, ideally starting in the summer. This will give you enough time to develop strategies, create content, and set up campaigns.
2. Analyze Past Performance – Examine your past holiday campaigns closely. What worked, and what didn’t? Understanding your previous performance will help you make data-driven decisions and avoid repeating mistakes.
3. Identify Key Dates – List all the key dates for the 2024 holiday season, including Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. Consider including lesser-known holidays that may be relevant to your audience.
4. Craft a Content Calendar – Create a detailed content calendar outlining what type of content you’ll produce, when it will be released, and which platforms it will be distributed on. Ensure your content aligns with the holiday spirit and resonates with your target audience.
5. Optimize Your Website – With the surge in online shopping during the holidays, your website must be ready to handle increased traffic. Optimize your site for speed, security, and mobile-friendliness. Check for broken links and ensure that product pages are up to date.
6. Set a Budget – Determine your holiday marketing budget, including expenses for advertising, promotions, and additional staff if necessary. Allocate funds strategically to maximize ROI.

Marketing During the Holiday Season

7. Launch Early Campaigns – Start your holiday marketing campaigns before Thanksgiving. Early birds often catch more customers, and shoppers appreciate the opportunity to plan ahead.
8. Leverage Social Media – Utilize social media platforms to reach a wider audience. Share holiday-themed content, promotions, and user-generated content. Encourage engagement by running holiday-themed contests and giveaways.
9. Monitor and Adjust – Your campaigns should be monitored regularly. If something isn’t working, be prepared to adjust your strategy. A/B testing can help you fine-tune your campaigns for better results.
10. Create Special Offers – Incentivize purchases by offering special holiday discounts, bundles, and limited-time deals. Encourage shoppers to take advantage of these offers by creating a sense of urgency.
11. Personalize Customer Experiences – Use customer data to personalize the shopping experience. Send personalized recommendations and shopping reminders based on past purchases and browsing behavior.

Marketing After the Holiday Season

12. Analyze the Results – Once the holiday season is over, it’s time to evaluate the results of your marketing efforts. Review the sales data, engagement metrics, and customer feedback to gain insights into what worked and what didn’t.
13. Plan for the Future – Use the insights from your analysis to inform your marketing strategy for the following year. Consider what can be improved and apply those lessons to future campaigns.
14. Continue Engagement – Don’t let the momentum slip after the holidays. Keep engaging with your customers through post-holiday promotions, new product launches, and exclusive offers for loyal customers.
15. Show Gratitude – Send thank-you messages to your customers, acknowledging their support during the holiday season. A little gratitude can go a long way in building lasting customer relationships.

The holiday season presents many opportunities for marketers to connect with their audience and drive sales. By planning, optimizing your strategies, and staying adaptable, you can make the most of this festive period and set the stage for a successful year ahead. Remember, holiday marketing is not just about sales; it’s about creating memorable and valuable customer experiences.

2024 Holiday Shopper Trends and Forecast

In a recent eMarketer podcast, experts shared their insights into the 2023 holiday shopping season and offered predictions for what lies ahead in the 2024 holiday season. The conversation delved into key points that shed light on consumer behavior and economic trends.

One significant aspect of the discussion was the high volume of returns in 2023, totaling an astounding $743 billion, representing a return rate of 14.5% of sales. Despite concerns about inflation and economic uncertainty, consumers continued to make purchases during the holiday season, driven by attractive discounts and deals retailers offer.

The experts also discussed the concept of a vibesession, a prevailing sentiment among consumers that the economy was in a recession, despite no official recession being declared. This sentiment was attributed to factors such as political and economic uncertainties. Nevertheless, consumer spending remained strong throughout the holiday season.

Looking forward to the 2024 holiday season, predictions were made regarding the potential impact of the presidential election on holiday sales. Historical data suggested that past elections had witnessed increased holiday spending, potentially driven by a sense of urgency among consumers. The experts anticipated that, regardless of the election outcome, a portion of the population might feel compelled to spend, contributing to holiday sales.

Another prediction centered on the growth of partnerships within the retail sector. The experts foresaw increased collaborations between retailers to enhance online and offline consumer interest. These partnerships were seen as a cost-effective means of reaching consumers and creating engaging shopping experiences.

Regarding aspirations for the 2024 holiday season, the discussion emphasized the importance of offering better-personalized offers to consumers. While personalization has been a key trend in retail, there is room for improvement to ensure tailored offers align more closely with individual consumer preferences. Additionally, the experts expressed a desire to see brick-and-mortar retailers leverage experiential aspects in their stores. They stressed the need for retailers to create engaging in-store experiences, offer loss leaders, and implement compelling strategies to make physical retail locations stand out.

Listen to the eMarketer Podcast