You may think that the holiday selling season is the only season to ramp up for, but take a look below and you’ll be surprised at all the selling opportunities you have for your online business coming up in the next few months.
No matter what you sell or where you sell it, capitalizing on these HOT spring and summer selling seasons can make a huge difference in your income during the 2nd quarter of the year!
From April to June there are 11 different selling seasons that you’ll want to ramp up for! Miss these and you’ll leave money on the table…
April
April may be the kickoff to spring, but in the world of online sales, there’s a whole lot of shopping goin’ on!
- Bathing suit season: It’s still too chilly to wear them but sales of bathing suits are skyrocketing now. In fact, shoppers who wait much past May will find that all the best selection is gone! If you sell beachwear, it’s time to get it on your store homepage
- Prom wear: Online searches for prom wear are on the rise this month. Even though most proms don’ t happen until late May or early June, prom wear sales are increasing quickly with online searches up 60-80% from last month according to Google Insights
- Wedding season: Wedding season is in full swing as we approach June, one of the biggest wedding months of the year!
- April 20th: Easter: Easter is April 4th. And there is still time to make last minute sales. According to BIGResearch the average amount Easter shoppers are expected to spend is $118.60, slightly up from the 2009 average of $116.59.
- April 22nd: Earth Day: Earth Day is April 22nd and sales of eco-friendly and green products abound during this time. Don’t just look to sell traditionally “green” products. Look for the green in everything you sell. A bicycle is not only for entertainment and exercise, it is an eco-friendly way for your customers to commute to work or around town.
May
But that’s not all people are buying…
Bathing suit, prom wear and wedding season continue, but Mom boosts the sales this month!
- Sales of summer products ramp sharply in May (and June): Products for outdoor activities, clothing and outdoor living products for the home. Don’t wait until June to feature these in your store or you’ll lose a lot of sales!
- May 7th: National Teachers Day. A week long celebration honoring teachers, if you sell gifts and decorative accessories your store should have a promotion around National Teacher’s Day.
- May 6th: Mother’s Day: Mother’s Day is one of the biggest spending holidays of the year. Because it’s not just about buying a gift for your mom… there are grandmas, aunts, nieces, friends, co-workers and friends who are like a mom, who will all be getting gifts on this holiday too. Recognize all the moms in your store promotions and you’re sure to increase sales!
- May 26th: Memorial Day: It vacation time, camping time, fun in the summer time and your last chance to make big inroads in summer product sales!
June
- June: Graduation. Grade school, middle-school, high-school, college and technical college – sales of graduation gifts increase in May and June! And don’t forget the little ones! Pre-school graduation parties are all the rage. What do you sell that would make a perfect gift for the graduate?
- June 15th: Father’s Day: Dad doesn’t fare quite as well as mom when it comes to Father’s Day spending but Father’s Day gift shoppers will be out in full force. Put together a Top 10 Father’s Day gift list and watch your sales of those products soar!
- June: 4th of July products: Remember the majority of product sales happen in advance of the holiday, so if you wait until July to pull out the red,white and blue – you’ve just lost sales to the savvy seller who merchandised their 4th of July products in June. So get those 4th of July products out early, so your inventory is sold out come July.
As you can see there’s a whole lot of selling you can do from April through June!
So it’s time to get out there and capitalize on these spring and summer holiday selling seasons!
Use this calendar as your guide.
-Lisa
Lisa,
Thank you so much for this information. It will help me a great deal. I have been missing the boat.
This is GREAT! I’ve searched the internet high and low for a “retail calendar” that gives the important dates, events, holidays, etc, for us retailers so we can prepare for these increased selling times. Thank you! I was going to make my own but didn’t want to miss anything “after the fact”. The only thing I could ask more of would be Jan-Mar and July-Dec! This is a huge help, thank you again and thanks for your great insights for our sales! Hollywood
Thanks Hollywood! You’ll find this to be very useful – because it helps you plan ahead really start thinking about merchandising far enough in advance that you have the time to put together good, solid promotions and get your inventory readied to be featured front and center.
I do actually have a full year calendar of selling seasons from Jan- Dec. I update it every year. Maybe I’ll publish the whole calendar here.
Another thing that I find very useful is to put together a marketing calendar using a Big Grid Calendar. I always buy mine at the end of the year, but you can still get them at Amazon. Just make sure you buy this bigger version.
I hang this on my wall in my office, so I can easily flip through and look at the different selling seasons and the marketing promotions I have scheduled.
– Lisa
would love to see your full selling season calendar. thanks!
Thanks! This’ll help alot, especially as my store is closing since the new eBay fees make it unfeasible.
deb
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for the great tips! That really opens my eyes & helps me plan the year out more efficiently. I would really be interested in your full year calendar of selling seasons ( Jan – Dec).
Thanks again.
Best regards,
George Nieves
Hi George,
My support team forwarded your email to me and I just now had time to reply. Watch for an email from them on Monday – I think you’ll like what’s in that email. 😉 Looking forward to working with you! -Lisa Suttora
Hi Lisa,
Thanks! You’re right, I did like what was in that email.
Thank you so much for that generous gesture. It is greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
George Nieves
I really think we would all love to have a calendar on how to track business. Since there is one available would this be something you might consider posting? I only sell auction Style and I am copletely on the hit or miss theory LOL. Thanks
Hi Lisa; I have tried to sell on ebay off and on for a couple of years but with out making any profit. I have tried to think of what my “niche” might be but, I’ve come up emptyhanded.
I am also pretty much monitarily broke, so I am looking at all the nice free blogs. e-mails, etc. you send for help.
Thank you for every thing. May God bless you in all your works.
George
Great content, as usual Lisa. Sounds like there is “need” for a marketing calendar. Even as one who sells information products, that would be helpful, as we can gear our promotions around different seasons and holidays. So I’ll cast my vote for one, too!
Thanks Jeanette! you may be happy with what I have in the works!
And you’re right, marketing calendars apply no matter what you sell or where you sell it!
-Lisa
Lisa,
Once again, you have such great information that is so helpful in all our businesses. I have just retired and will be getting my ebay store going so understanding the correct marketing time for things is really important. Keep up the great work! You are really appreciated!
Hi Kathy,
Thank you, I appreciate your feedback! It’s exciting to hear that you’ll be able to devote more time to your online business!
And you’re ramping up in plenty of time to have a strong holiday season on eBay!
-Lisa
Lisa can you add me to your list. I’m looking to sell more on amazon and be successful. I hope you can help me
Sincerely
Page Halpin
I need to join training pls give me info is your training is better than Jim coccun