The leaves are turning, in some places fires may be burning, and these are all signs that fall is finally here. And with fall comes a sharp upward turn in holiday gift purchases. Whether your business caters to B2C or B2B, you should be taking advantage of the holiday buying spree. Many large businesses claim that holiday purchases generate about a third of their yearly business. So, it is a good idea for smaller businesses to also take advantage of the holiday buying season.
Remember that three major spending days for holiday shoppers all fall in November: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday®, and Cyber Monday. Here are some great resources to help you plan ahead and cash in on these strategic sales days:
- How to Prepare for Black Friday and Cyber Monday
- How Can Service-Based Businesses Prepare for Fourth-Quarter Marketing?
- Shop Small® on Small Business Saturday®
In addition to these major shopping-centered days, other November holidays can be leveraged into opportunities for sales and promotion for your small business. How can you promote each one to contribute to your community and strengthen your brand?
November 11: Veterans Day
On November 11, at 11:11, 1921, the U.S., France, and England each buried an unknown soldier in honor of those who died in World War I. This began the annual Armistice Day holiday. The time and day were picked because fighting ceased in WWI in 1918 on November 11 at 11:11. In 1954, President Eisenhower changed it to Veterans Day, in honor of those who served and died from all the nation’s wars.
World Kindness Day: November 13
November 13 is World Kindness Day. No matter your political, religious, or socioeconomic stance, everyone seems to agree that the world could use more kindness between people. Why not challenge your readers to make their corner of the world a bit more friendly by demonstrating generosity and consideration for others? Offer some suggestions to spark their imagination.
America Recycles Day: November 15
Recycling and reuse generally, and metals recycling in particular, has a positive impact on the American economy. The EPA claims that recycling reclaims about $9 billion worth of materials each year. The recycling industry also creates $36 billion in annual wages.
Thanksgiving Day: November 28
Thanksgiving seems to be the forgotten holiday that gets sandwiched between Halloween fun and Christmas shopping. Give this special, family-oriented holiday its own respected place in your content marketing. Share with your followers your sense of thankfulness and promote an attitude of gratitude. Thanksgiving is also a perfect time to run fun contests centered around food!
November Birthdays
November 1, 1972- Jenny McCarthy, actress
November 2, 1734- Daniel Boone, Kentucky frontiersman
November 2, 1795- James K. Polk, 11th U.S. President (1845-1849)
November 2, 1865- Warren G. Harding, 29th U.S. President, died of a heart attack while in office (1921-1923)
November 3, 1793- Stephen Austin, defeated Mexican army and founded Texas
November 3, 1922- Charles Bronson, actor
November 4, 1879- Will Rogers, actor, cowboy
November 4, 1916- Walter Cronkite, TV journalist
November 5, 1911- Roy Rogers, the “King of the Cowboys”, born Leonard Franklin Slye
November 6, 1946- Sally Field, actress
November 7, 1918- Billy Graham, evangelist
November 8, 1847 Bram Stoker, novelist, wrote horror novel Dracula
November 9, 1918- Spiro T. Agnew, The only U.S. Vice President to resign while in office.
November 11, 1885- George S. Patton, WWII general
November 11, 1896- Charles “Lucky” Luciano, gangster
November 11, 1974- Leonardo DiCaprio, actor, starred in “Titanic”
November 12, 1968- Sammy Sosa, MLB baseball slugger
November 13, 1850- Robert Louis Stevenson, writer
November 14, 1840- Claude Monet, painter
November 14, 1896 -Mamie Eisenhower, former First Lady of the United States
November 15, 1940- Sam Waterston, actor, lawyer “Jack McCoy” on TV series “Law & Order”
November 17, 1925- Rock Hudson, actor
November 18, 1923- Alan Shepard, astronaut, first American in space
November 18, 1928 – Mickey Mouse’s Birthday
November 19, 1831- James A. Garfield, 20th U.S. President, assassinated during first year in office (1881)
November 20, 1900- Chester Gould, cartoonist, created “Dick Tracy”
November 20, 1925- Robert F. Kennedy, Brother of President John F. Kennedy
November 21, 1893- Harpo Marx, actor, comedian, one of the “Marx Brothers”
November 22, 1890- Charles de Gaulle, President of France
November 23, 1804- Franklin Pierce, 14th U.S. President (1853-1857)
November 24, 1784 Zachary Taylor, 12th U.S. President, died in office. (1849-1850)
November 24, 1888- Dale Carnegie, author, “How to Win Friends and Influence People”
November 24, 1925- William F. Buckley Jr., author, columnist
November 25, 1960- John F. Kennedy Jr., son of President Kennedy
November 25, 1981- Barbara and Jenna Bush, twin daughters of President George W. Bush
November 26, 1922- Charles Schulz, cartoonist, created “Peanuts”
November 27, 1917- “Buffalo Bob” Smith, TV personality, hosted “Howdy Doody Time”
November 27, 1957- Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, daughter of President Kennedy, author
November 28, 1949- Paul Shaffer, bandleader for David Letterman Show
November 30, 1835- Samuel Clemens “Mark Twain”, author “Tom Sawyer”
November 30, 1874- Sir Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Britain during WWII
What special days or observances in November can be leveraged for your business? As you think of how to use November holidays for sales and business emphases, make sure you are respectful and tasteful in your choices. Share your great ideas in the comments and of course, share them with your readers! Until next month, get out and play in the colorful leaves, enjoy some turkey, and as always, keep writing!