Black Friday? Cyber Monday? Prime Day? Valentines? Discover the major events in 2024 that can boost your eCommerce sales and stay ahead of the competition.
On 14th February we see Valentines Day. Popular gifts include health & beauty products, flowers, chocolates, and alcohol.
There are now two Singles Days in the calendar; 15th February and 11th November (11.11), the latter being the more widely-known day as it is has been a mainstay in China over the past few years. Singles Day sees single people treat themselves and other single people to gifts as a way of cheering themselves up for not being in a relationship. There is after all always a reason to treat yourself!
Starting on 16th February London Fashion Week brings top designers to London to showcase their latest creations. Often at the premium end of fashion, the week influences and encourages people to update their wardrobes, however it’s not only the premium brands that see a spike in sales. Affordable fast fashion brands have proved to have ridden this wave too by releasing designs similar to those showcased at London Fashion Week, providing an accessible route to the latest style.
It’s not only humans sharing the love. On 20th February it’s the official day to show your best furry friend some love and appreciation. Normally this comes in the form of affection but with plenty of new pet toys, accessories and even healthy eating plans for pets hitting the market, people are turning to gifts to really spoil their pets on Love your Pet Day. There is also an International Pet Day on 11th April.
A UK tradition that falls on the day (13th February) before Lent begins, and its origins are related to the need to use flour, sugar and eggs that couldn’t be used the next 40 days. Today, there are easier ways to celebrate Pancake Day (eating delicious pancakes, of course). And there are many opportunities for online food sellers: pancake kits, pancake mix, pancake pans, sauces, jams and the classic Nutella.
Moving into March, 2nd March brings us World Book Day (UK) with a further World Book Day (US) on 23rd April. From New York Times bestsellers to children’s books, the literacy world shows it’s appreciation to authors on this day, which usually experiences an increase in book ordering and sharing on social media.
The world turns green on 17th March as we celebrate St. Patricks day. Plenty of Guinness and other alcoholic beverages are likely to be consumed so you don’t need the luck of the Irish to see increased sales if you’re an alcohol retailer.
A date that no son or daughter should forget! Mothers Day is celebrated on 10th March (UK). Popular gifts for Mothers Day can vary due to taste and hobbies, but the usual flowers, cosmetics, and fashion are consistent.
While its religious meaning remains central for many, Easter has also become a time for different traditions worldwide. From egg painting to egg hunting, there are hundreds of opportunities for eCommerce businesses to offer themed products.
On the 1st of April everyone becomes a prankster with brands announcing fake products and promotions to gain attention and customer engagement.
Similar to mothers day or fathers day, siblings day was created to remind us to reconnect with siblings. Celebrated on 10th April, gifts are often exchanged as part of the tradition.
For pet owners this one is not to be missed. On 11th April many businesses highlighting the benefits of pet ownership, awareness and prevention tips for pet health or running events and promotions for pet products.
This movement, celebrated on 22nd April, aims to drive positive change towards the environment with businesses of all kinds taking part in initiatives such as beach clean-ups, as well as educating customers about sustainable practices.
May is International Mental Health Awareness where we pay particular focus to mental wellbeing and the things that can help influence state of mind. Wellness products such as vitamins and supplements especially organic ones, along with exercise and sporting goods are naturally linked to improving mental health so an increase in sales for these product lines are expected.
An event that isn’t quite so linked to improving mental health is National Wine Day on 25th May. Whether you are a keen sommelier or just fancy a glass or two at the end of a day, National Wine Day celebrates one of the oldest drinks on Earth. From fruity reds to bubbly whites it’s surely an occasion to look forward to, just don’t overdo it!
Raising a toast to the old man on 16th June, traditional gifts for Fathers Day include DIY tools, beer, and BBQ equipment given the time of year. Marketplaces will be featuring these goods and more in the lead up to Fathers Day so make sure to optimise your relevant listings accordingly.
1st July marks the first day of Wimbledon and inspires more than just a game of tennis with other British classics and fashions becoming popular.
Amazon Prime Day is back 16th and 17th July.
World rum day takes place on 13th July and celebrates rum made around the world as well as the cocktails and other drinks it inspires.
The 30th July marks a day to celebrate more than just your close friends but to also inspire a culture of peace and community. International day of friendship inspires activities aimed at bringing people from different backgrounds together in the local community as well as gifting and other forms of gratitude.
Well if we’ve got a wine day and a rum day, then we need to have a beer day right? International Beer Day is on 2nd August and is a chance to celebrate all types of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers, lagers, stouts, and bitters.
National Cat Day provides a platform to engage with cat owners across the world and highlight cat-specific products, from toys and treats, to grooming supplies and accessories. Celebrated on 8th August it drives additional web traffic to cat related goods.
The 13th August presents an ideal opportunity to target wine and prosecco enthusiasts with specific promotions, discounts, and engaging content, as well as prosecco flavoured products and complimentary goods such as glasses, mixers and events.
The day brings a heightened focus on visual content. on the 19th August Online retailers can leverage this by showcasing their product photography or promotions on photography equipment. Some other ideas could be to run a competition for UGC of your products and a hunt of the best photographs of your products.
Just like International Cat Day, International Dog Day, celebrated on 26th August, is an opportunity for dog owners to share stories, pictures and products around their pet. Its a great opportunity to make the most of the additional traffic to engage with this audience and promote products for dogs such as treats, grooming and toys.
12th September its national video game day. A great opportunity to highlight the latest gaming tech, including chairs, headphones, monitors and more.
Originally started in Germany but increasingly being adopted by other countries, Oktoberfest is a traditional event that runs all the way through October but starts from 21st September. During this time expect to see an increase in alcohol and food sales!
22nd September marks the first day of autumn and is often marked with the release of autumnal coloured products and flavours such as pumpkin spice. This can be a great opportunity for home decor, fashion and FMCG goods.
Coffee is an essential part of a lot of peoples mornings and daily life. International Coffee Day celebrated on 1st October is an opportunity to highlight artisan coffee bean roasters, new coffee makers, equipment and recipes. Even if you don’t sell coffee related goods, it is also an opportunity to connect with your community over this popular beverage.
Although not a direct sales opportunity, World mental health day on 10th October is a great time to focus on your brand values and initiatives to support your staff and customers mental health. Having similar values makes your customers more loyal to your brand so being part of the conversation on World Mental Health Day is a great way to showcase all the good your doing.
Another diet staple across the world, Pasta has its own day, celebrated on 25th October. As well as buying and eating pasta dishes, It is an opportunity for sellers to embrace the comedy and puns around Pasta with special t-shirts, prints or designs.
Trick or treat? Consumers will be looking to get frighteningly good deals on spooky costumes, sweet treats, and decorations on 31st Oct. eCommerce sellers shouldn’t be scared however, this could be a great opportunity to optimise your product discovery to get your Halloween-inspired products to the very top of your listings.
A noble charitable cause that starts in November sees people grow moustaches to raise money. Whilst sales of razors, trimmers, and shavers might drop down during this period, grooming products for beards and moustaches might see an increase in search volume to keep those nose neighbours looking pristine!
The first of which is Black Friday which is the day after Thanksgiving. With giftcards and money exchanged on Thanksgiving, Black Friday spun out of this as people used this bonus money to spend on goods. That’s why Black Friday (29th November) is always the day after Thanksgiving, however retailers have recently been elongating Black Friday to cover the weeks leading up to it too, so there are plenty of opportunities for consumers to get relative bargains on marketplaces and online stores, plus in store as well.
A fast follower to Black Friday is Cyber Monday which falls on 2nd December. Those that missed out on Black Friday deals can still find online offers on products, and online retailers should be keen to ensure their inventory levels can meet the increased demand from consumers over this busy buying period.
So there you have it, a busy year is in store for retailers both online and offline. Being prepared for these peaks in demand is vital to maximise sales, ensure return business and grow revenue. Outsourcing your order fulfilment is one way to stay ahead of the game and get set for success this year.
To find out more about our fulfilment solution and how it can help your business grow, get in touch!
