E-Commerce Holiday Calend...
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E-Commerce Holiday Calendar 2022

Jan 11, 2022
E-Commerce Holiday Calendar 2022

Another year has passed in a blink of an eye and it’s time to start preparing a masterplan to make 2022 your most profitable year yet.

Gone are the days when e-commerce shopping events were centered around a handful of major holidays. While you may see your highest sales of the year during the holiday season, there are many other equally important dates throughout the year that you have to target in order to propel your business forward.

Here is an overview of the key e-commerce events for retailers that you can expect in the upcoming year. Use this to plan your e-commerce strategies for 2022, or get inspiration for your social media if you’re feeling stumped. Add these e-commerce dates to your 2022 calendar and never worry about missing a single marketing opportunity.

Alternatively, download the full online calendar to share with your team (exclusive to Parcel Monitor members). 

Quarter 1 (Q1 2022)

January:

1 January –  New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day signifies a new beginning and it is usually the day where people sit down and make New Year’s resolutions or bucket lists. 

And who says e-commerce promotions must be restricted to the end of the year? As a matter of fact, it is a norm for most UK retailers to hold a January Sale, also known as the Winter Sale. Marks & Spencer is one leading retailer that always offers some of its best clearance deals on this day.

While holidays may have just ended, there are bound to be customers out there waiting for better bargains. Take advantage of this by promoting products that they might find useful and life changing in 2022! Consider sending your marketing emails earlier to avoid being drowned out by the New Year’s Day shuffle.

4 January – National Spaghetti Day 

11 January – International Thank You Day

16 January – World Religion Day 

17 January – Martin Luther King Jr. Day 

23 January – National Pie Day

26 January – Australia Day 

26 January – National Spouses Day

February: Black History Month

1 February – Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, is one of the most significant events for ethnic Chinese around the world. As New Year Shopping symbolises getting ready for a fresh start, it is common for the Chinese to buy new items during this period, ranging from a new pair of shoes to a new piece of furniture. 

This is the perfect chance for retailers, especially those selling food & beverages, to mark down prices and encourage bulk purchases. 2022 is the year of the tiger according to the Chinese Zodiac so don’t miss out the opportunity to incorporate it into your e-commerce marketing campaigns too!

1 February – Tết (Spring Festival)

4 February – Winter Olympics

Can you believe that the long awaited Winter Olympics in Beijing is just three months away? Even with the ever-changing pandemic situation, sports enthusiasts and supporters around the world are looking forward to this international multi-sport event. Try appealing to this niche group of audience by launching some themed products!

7 February – Super Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl Sunday needs no introduction, regardless of whether you are a football fan. For millions of Americans, the game means more than just the culmination of the National Football League’s (NFL) annual season; it is a special occasion for them to catch up with their loved ones and indulge in large amounts of food and alcohol. Believe it or not, Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest food consumption event in the United States, right behind Thanksgiving Dinner.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to be in the F&B scene to target this particular event. Feel free to get creative and play around with the theme — offer a discount code, hold giveaways, engage with customers on social media platforms.

9 February – National Pizza Day

14 February – Valentine’s Day

Yes, not everyone is a fan of Valentine’s Day and what it stands for but failing to capitalize on the sales opportunities it presents could be a real heartbreaker for your brand. For many of us, this annual day of romance involves spoiling or being spoiled by our loved ones through sweet gestures and gifts. It is hence no surprise that Americans alone spent more than $27 billion on Valentine’s Day in 2020, with an average expenditure of $196.31 per person.

If you are a retailer, try to go beyond the traditional voucher codes. Be it a V-day advent calendar like the one by Lancôme, or setting up a pop-up store similar to that of Pip & Nut, differentiate yourself from your competition by thinking outside the box. You can even use this chance to improve customer retention by teaming up with a local charity, all in the name of spreading love.

18 February – National Drink Wine Day 

20 February – Love Your Pet Day 

March:

5 March – National Employee Day 

5 March – National Salesperson Day

8 March – International Women’s Day 

International Women’s Day is a celebration of women’s contributions to the society at large and is meant to serve as a platform to push for greater gender equality in all areas. While it has nothing to do with e-commerce on the surface, retailers can still play an indispensable role in shaping the conversation. One way to do this is by shining a spotlight on some of the women behind the brand as a way of showing appreciation for their hard work. Sam Edelman is one of few retailers that are leading the way in this aspect; back in 2020, on top of the newsletter introducing the incredible women responsible for its success, the company also offered gifts sourced from two female-founded businesses, with any purchase made in-store.

14 March – White Day

17 March – St. Patrick’s Day 

Officially observed every 17th of March, St. Patrick’s Day originated in Ireland dating all the way back to the 17th century. This holiday marks the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who was also known as the “Apostle” of the country. On this particular day, people are often seen donning shamrock-shaped accessories or anything green, the color that symbolizes Irish nationalism. Beware of overdoing your e-commerce marketing campaigns associated with this important occasion though, as it may come off as being too commercial or worse, misrepresenting the Irish.

18 March – Holi Festival

Holi, which marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil, is one of the most revered and popular festivals in India. It is also one of the few times that devout Hindus can let loose without guilt due to their belief that gods turn a blind eye to their sins during this festival. During such periods, social media is potentially the best medium since people tend to spend more time scrolling through their feeds with the extra hours they have on their hands. If it is in line with your brand identity, you can even create a Holi-themed checklist of essentials that your customers might find useful as they prepare for Holi this year.

20 March – International Day of Happiness

21 March – Fragrance Day 

Quarter 2 (Q2 2022)

April:

1 April – April’s Fools

3 April – Start of Ramadan

10 April – Siblings Day 

11 April – National Pet Day

15 April – Good Friday

16 April – Husband Appreciation Day

17 April – Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is one of the most festive events among Christians worldwide, following close behind Christmas and Thanksgiving. While Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, it has long become a commercial holiday that everyone indulges in, regardless of their religion. Looking at statistics, the “Easter effect” is very real, with consumer spending increasing year over year approaching this day.

As Easter traditions vary widely around the world, retailers are sure to find a unique angle that aligns with their own brands. Create a themed newsletter, run punny e-commerce discount codes, launch limited-edition items, or simply focus on enhancing customer relations by holding giveaways on various socials.

22 April – Earth Day

April 22, 2022 marks the 52nd anniversary of the world’s largest environmental movement that started in 1970. On Earth Day, we are reminded of our responsibility to protect the planet we call home and the need to preserve biodiversity that comes with it. Seeing how sustainability is an ongoing focus for many consumers, it is never too late for any retailers to enter the scene. 

If you have not already done so, take this as a sign to start embracing sustainability as your core business value. Learn from brands like Kroger and Gap Inc. to introduce eco-friendly alternatives to popular products in your catalog, or follow the footsteps of Ben & Jerry’s in educating your customer base about the increasingly worrying issues of climate change.

May: Mental Health Awareness Month

1 May – International Workers’ Day (Labor Day)

As its name suggests, International Workers’ Day or Labor Day is dedicated to acknowledging the hard work and contributions of laborers to society. Despite its origin in the United States, it is now an occasion that people around the world partake in. Since it also represents an unofficial transition from summer to fall, Labor Day is the perfect time to get rid of any leftover summer inventory.

Kick off this special day by using fun summer-related headlines and graphics to capture the attention of your customers. Tap into emotional marketing to have individuals connect with your products on a deeper level. Give a face behind your brand by sharing stories of employees who are working tirelessly behind the scenes.

3 May – Hari Raya Puasa/Eid

4 May – Star Wars Day

6 May – Vesak Day

6 May – National Space Day

8 May – Mother’s Day

While many Arab countries along with the UK celebrate Mother’s Day in March, the rest of the world does it on 8 May instead. With the gradual easing of COVID restrictions over the past year, consumers’ optimism surrounding this day has increased drastically. The return of air travel means that more people will be able to see their family members in person for Mother’s Day festivities this year. Make full use of this by running some sentimental campaigns that honor the most important women in our lives. Click here for some inspiration of e-commerce marketing ideas that will surely warm your (and your mothers’) hearts.

12 May – International Nurses Day

30 May – Memorial Day (US)

June: Pride Month

3 June – National Doughnut Day

5 June – World Environment Day

8 June – Best Friends Day

11 June – Global Wellness Day

13 June – International Children’s Day

19 June – Father’s Day 

Even though Father’s Day is not as widespread as its counterpart, let’s not forget the men in our lives too! Like mothers, fathers (and father figures) hold multiple roles in a family unit, ranging from the protector and the disciplinarian to the pillar that forms the foundation of a child’s emotional well-being. Go an extra mile to celebrate their sacrifices by running emotional ad campaigns similar to the one by Nike. Pay close attention to customer segmentation as different countries celebrate Father’s Day on varied days.

21 June – International Day of Yoga

21 June – National Selfie Day

Quarter 3 (Q3 2022)

July:

1 July – Canada Day 

4 July – USA Independence Day

On top of the winter powerhouses like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, 4th of July is another commercial holiday that Americans look forward to the most. From backyard barbecues to fireworks and parades in red and white gear, what’s there not to love about this momentous day? According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), consumer spending on food alone was predicted to reach $7.52 billion last year. 

One pro-tip for brands is to refine your Buy-One-Get-One (BOGO) e-commerce strategy to clear out your inventory, just as retail giant Target has done. In the weeks leading up to this date, build a high-converting funnel to entice consumers into purchasing your products. Not sure how to do so? Check out Single Grain’s comprehensive guide containing detailed steps!

6 July – Start of UEFA Women’s Euro

7 July – World Chocolate Day

9 July – Hari Raya Haji

Hari Raya Haji, or Festival of Sacrifice, is an important religious celebration observed by Musilms around the world. The day usually begins with morning prayers, followed by house gatherings and huge feasts with loved ones. Given that Muslims comprise about 25% of the world’s population, Hari Raya Haji presents a huge e-commerce opportunity that retailers should not pass up. It is interesting to see many fashion brands including Uniqlo launching modest wear collections, in an attempt to embrace inclusivity and expand the target audience of their clothes.

13 July – National French Fries Day

17 July – World Emoji Day 

30 July – International Friendship Day

August:

1 August – National Girlfriend’s Day 

Believe it or not, National Girlfriend’s Day does exist. While there is no clear origin or objective behind this date, there can never be too many opportunities for retailers to push for more sales. While there might never be a need for National Sea Monkey Day or Polar Bear Plunge Day, some of these obscure holidays may actually help to generate buzz for smaller businesses. 1st August is hence the perfect chance for brands to motivate customers to do something special for their significant others. You can begin by identifying influencers who are aligned with your brand and collaborate with them for more effective marketing.

8 August – International Cat Day

9 August –  Book Lovers Day

9 August – National Day of Singapore

With a large selection of international brands and great deals throughout the year, it is no wonder that Singapore is one of the world’s most famous shopping destinations. In addition to the joyous festivities and the usual displays of patriotism, Singapore’s National Day is also synonymous with sales. Singapore-based retailers might want to take note of this day and send out promotional emails to their customer base in the weeks leading up to it.

10 August – National Lazy Day 

21 August – World Senior Citizen Day 

26 August – Women’s Equality Day

29 August – Summer Bank Holiday 

September:

2 September – Teachers’ Day

Being the back-to-school season where most shoppers are returning from their holidays, September is an ideal time to offer promotions. Looking at previous years’ figures, brands targeting students and/or teachers typically see a rise in sales around this period. The fact that Teachers’ Day is held during the first week of September in many Asian countries may also help. On this day, students will present teachers with gifts such as handwritten cards, chocolates and flowers as tokens of appreciation. Avoid promoting expensive gifts in your campaigns since most cultures consider them inappropriate to be given to teachers.

5 September –  Labor Day (US)

8 September – International Literacy Day

12 September – National Video Games Day

17 September – Oktoberfest

Prost! 17 September, 2022 marks the start of the world’s largest beer and folk festival held annually in Munich, Germany. Each year, the Oktoberfest attracts around 6 millions visitors from around the globe, with this year being no exception. As of late, we are seeing more and more countries celebrating their own versions of Oktoberfest, the more famous ones being in Tokyo and Colorado’s Mile High City

If you can imagine your target audience unwinding with a nice brew, this is your chance to get creative with your e-commerce marketing strategy. Keep things interesting this season with fun content related to costumes, beer, and more!

25 September – Rosh Hashanah

27 September – World Tourism Day

30 September – Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final

Quarter 4 (Q4 2022)

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