Retail Marketing Calendar 2026: Key Dates, Campaign Ideas, and Ready-To-Use Templates

The brands that capture all of it, not just Black Friday, will be the ones that planned ahead. This 2026 retail marketing calendar gives you the full picture: every key date, every campaign window, and a strategy for driving revenue all year long through seasonal discounts, engaging promotions, must-win giveaways, and well-timed product launches.
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In the next few minutes, you'll see real campaign examples from top DTC and ecom brands, as well as promotional playbooks for the World Cup and America 250, the two biggest retail moments most brands aren't planning for yet.

Your 2026 retail marketing calendar

Here’s a quick overview of many of the holidays (real and fun) that you can tap into for promotions, sales, and celebrations: 

January:

• January 1: New Year's Day
• January 2: World Introvert Day
• January 6: Epiphany (Three Kings' Day)
• January 7: National Bobblehead Day (US)
• January 10–12: NFL Wild Card Weekend (expected)
• January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• January 19: College Football National Championship
• January 20: National Cheese Lover's Day (US)
• January 22: Community Manager Appreciation Day (US)
• January 24: International Day of Education
• January 25: NFL Conference Championships
• January 26: Australia Day
• January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day

February: 

• February 2: Groundhog Day
• February 4: World Cancer Awareness Day
• February 7: National Girls and Women in Sports Day (US)
• February 8: Super Bowl LX
• February 14: Valentine's Day
• February 15: Singles Awareness Day
• February 16: Presidents' Day (US)
• February 16: Family Day (Canada)
• February 16: Do a Grouch a Favor Day
• February 17: Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse)
• February 17: World Random Acts of Kindness Day
• February 18/19: Ramadan begins

March: 

• March 1: Global Day of Unplugging
• March 3: World Wildlife Day
• March 8: International Women's Day
• March 14: Pi Day
• March 15: Mother's Day (UK)
• March 17: St. Patrick's Day
• March 18: Global Recycling Day
• March 19: NCAA Tournament begins (date subject to change)
• March 20: First Day of Spring
• March 20: International Day of Happiness
• March 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
• March 29: Mom & Pop Business Owners' Day

April: 

• April 1: April Fool's Day
• April 1: Passover begins (evening)
• April 3: Good Friday
• April 5: Easter Sunday
• April 6: Easter Monday
• April 6: Easter Monday
• April 7: World Health Day
• April 15: World Art Day
• April 20: 4/20
• April 22: Earth Day
• April 28: National Pet Parents Day (US)
• April 29: International Dance Day

May: 

• May 2: International Harry Potter Day
• May 4: Star Wars Day
• May 4: International Firefighters Day
• May 4: Kentucky Derby (US)
• May 5: Cinco de Mayo (US)
• May 6: Teacher Appreciation Week (US)
• May 7: World Laughter Day
• May 8: No Socks Day
• May 10: Mother's Day (US and most parts of the world)
• May 18: Victoria Day (Canada)
• May 19: World Baking Day
• May 25: Global Africa Day
• May 25: Memorial Day (US)
• May 25: Spring Bank Holiday (UK)

June: 

• June 1: Global Parents Day
• June 5: World Environment Day
• June 11: FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off
• June 11: Global Wellness Day
• June 14: Flag Day (US)
• June 19: Juneteenth (US)
• June 21: Father's Day
• June 21: First Day of Summer
• June 21: National Selfie Day (US)
• June 21: World Day of Music
• June 29: Wimbledon starts
• June 30: Social Media Day

July: 

• July 1: Canada Day
• July 2: Made in the USA Day
• July 3–9: Navy Fleet Review (NYC)
• July 4: 250th Independence Day (Semiquincentennial)
• July 5: America's Potluck (nationwide)
• July 7: World Chocolate Day
• July 14: MLB All-Star Game (Philadelphia)
• Mid-July: Amazon Prime Day* (exact date varies)
• July 17: World Emoji Day
• July 19: FIFA World Cup Final
• July 30: International Day of Friendship

August: 

• August 8: International Cat Day
• August 9: National Book Lovers' Day (US)
• August 9: International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
• August 19: World Humanitarian Day
• August 26: Women's Equality Day (US)
• August 26: National Dog Day (US)
• August 31: Summer Bank Holiday (UK)
• August 31: World Distance Learning Day / Blog Day

September: 

• September 7: Labor Day (US)
• September 11: Patriot Day (US)
• September 13: Grandparents Day (US)
• September 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month begins
• September 20: Rosh Hashanah begins (evening)
• September 21: International Day of Peace
• September 22: First Day of Fall
• September 29: National Coffee Day
• September 29: Yom Kippur begins (evening)
• September 30: International Podcast Day

October: 

• October 1–31: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• October 1–31: National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
• October 1: International Coffee Day
• October 4: World Animal Day
• October 5: World Teachers' Day
• October 10: World Mental Health Day
• October 12: Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day (US)
• October 12: Canadian Thanksgiving
• October 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month ends
• October 16: National Boss's Day
• October 16: World Food Day
• October 17: Sweetest Day (US)
• October 25: World Pasta Day
• Early October: Prime Big Deal Days (Amazon Fall Event, TBD)
• October 31: Halloween

November: 

• November 1: World Vegan Day
• November 4: Election Day / U.S. Midterm Elections
• November 8: Diwali
• November 11: Veterans Day (US) / Remembrance Day (UK/Australia/Canada)
• November 11: Singles' Day (11/11)
• November 13: World Kindness Day
• November 26: Thanksgiving Day (US)
• November 27: Black Friday (US)
• November 28: Small Business Saturday (US)
• November 30: Cyber Monday (US)

December: 

• December 1: World AIDS Day
• December 1: Giving Tuesday (US)
• December 4: Hanukkah begins (evening)
• December 6: St. Nicholas Day
• December 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (US)
• December 14: Green Monday
• December 15: International Tea Day
• December 18: Free Shipping Day
• December 21: First Day of Winter
• December 24: Christmas Eve
• December 25: Christmas Day
• December 26: Kwanzaa begins
• December 26: Boxing Day (UK, Canada, and other countries)
• December 31: New Year's Eve

📅 Get our free retail marketing calendar.

‍Why create a retail marketing calendar for your brand

Let’s face it, most brands operate in reactive mode, scrambling to pull together a Valentine's Day campaign in early February or realizing in October that they have no BFCM plan. Having a comprehensive retail marketing calendar flips that on its head. It gives you and your team the full-year view needed to plan ahead for promotions, show appreciation for customers, and build a more creative marketing strategy, instead of a patchwork of last-minute ideas.

Here's what changes when you have a calendar:

• Your messaging stays coordinated. When you can see your entire plan in one place, promotions don't clash or compete with each other. You can space out offers, mix up your approach, and make sure every campaign supports your business year-round, not just during peak season.
  
  
• You drive revenue outside the big moments. The brands that only sell during BFCM and one other peak leave money on the table for 10 months. A retail marketing calendar helps you drive revenue, list growth, and engagement during the valleys too, giving you the cash flow to stock up ahead of your biggest shopping windows.
  
  
• You stop chasing holidays. When your calendar is set months in advance, you're not scrambling 2 weeks before Mother's Day, wondering what to run. You've got ample prep time for each event, tailored to your brand messaging, with creative that actually reflects your standards.
  
  
• You make room for the moments that matter most. Product launches, annual warehouse sales, and brand anniversaries. These are the moments that build long-term customer loyalty. Without a calendar, they get squeezed out by the next holiday on the list. With one, they get the spotlight they deserve.

In a busy year like 2026, with the World Cup, America's 250th, midterm elections, and the usual holiday gauntlet all competing for attention, flying without a calendar isn't just inefficient. It's unwise and expensive.

Maximize demand and increase revenue using the “Four Peaks Theory”

Here's the pattern most retail brands fall into: they build their entire annual marketing strategy around two revenue spikes, typically Black Friday and one other brand-specific peak, and spend the rest of the year either prepping for those moments or watching sales flatline. Truthfully, that's not a strategy; it’s a rollercoaster.

For example: a men's skin care brand running on Cyber Monday and Father's Day? That's 10 months of valley between two peaks. A drinkware brand banking on Back to School and Black Friday? Same problem. The ROAS fluctuation is brutal, and all that dead time in between isn't just coasting; it's costing the brand much-needed revenue.

The Four Peaks Theory fixes this. Instead of riding two spikes and hoping for the best, brands proactively create four revenue peaks throughout the year by building demand during the natural valleys.

Don’t worry. It's easier than it sounds. A drinkware brand doesn't need to wait for back-to-school season to sell. It can release Valentine's Day-themed products in February and Halloween designs in the fall, turning 2 slow months into 2 new peaks. The revenue spreads out, ROAS stabilizes, and the business isn't white-knuckling it through Q2 waiting for Q4 to save the year.

In 2026, the Four Peaks Theory gets a gift that most years don't offer. The FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 through July 19. That’s six weeks of global attention, watch parties, and consumer spending landing right in the middle of what's usually the slowest stretch of the retail calendar. Most brands outside of sports apparel will ignore it entirely. The ones paying attention will turn it into one of their four peaks, even if they don't sell soccer team jerseys.

How to plan your 2026 retail calendar

The brands that get the most out of the Four Peaks Strategy don't just pick random holidays; they work from a set of core insights about their industry, their customers, and their own brand to decide where to create demand and where to let it come to them.

The playbook comes down to 4 principles: tap into your customers' natural buying patterns, tie cultural moments to your brand mission, release new products during off-season windows, and plan ahead so you're never scrambling around in a reactive mode. 

Here's how to put that into practice in 6 steps.

1. Align your campaigns with your annual revenue peaks

Before you build anything new, map what's already working. Zoom out and look at how your customers shop with your brand throughout the year. For many brands, the November and December gift-giving season will be one clear peak. But the others may surprise you.

Highly giftable brands typically can see spikes around Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or Father's Day. Wellness brands often peak in January. Travel brands to surge in summer. Some patterns are demographic. For example, parents buy graduation gifts every spring, hikers gear up in late winter, and pet owners spend year-round with the right prompt.

Once you've identified your natural peaks, layer in the holidays and events that fall near them. Tailor the list to your brand, your industry, and your customers by adding:

• Dates specific to your organization (e.g., your company's birthday)
• Sales events that happen annually (e.g., Toyotathon)
• Occasions with social or cultural significance (e.g., Breast Cancer Awareness Month)
• Events that matter to your customers (e.g., Pumpkin Spice Latte release at Starbucks)

Doing this gives you the foundation, and everything else builds from here.

2. Find gaps for big brand moments

Now look at the valleys, the stretches between your natural peaks where revenue dips and your team is mostly prepping for the next big push. Those are your opportunities.

The most effective way to fill a valley is to create a moment worth buying for. Apple does it every September with its product reveal event. That way, they're pulling in revenue weeks before Black Friday even starts. The product launch creates its own peak.

In 2026, the summer valley practically fills itself. The World Cup runs from June 11 through July 19. America celebrates its 250th birthday on July 4th. That's a 6-week stretch of cultural energy landing right in the middle of most brands' slowest quarter. If you're deliberate about it, you won't need to manufacture demand; you just need to show up where the attention already is.

One thing to watch: don't let your brand moments clash with each other. If you're planning a warehouse sale for next summer, think through the calendar carefully:

• Independence Day: America's 250th is a massive cultural moment in its own right. Combining it with your warehouse sale means one peak instead of two.
  
• Father's Day: A gift-giving holiday might not be the right frame for a blowout clearance.
  
• Juneteenth: This is a commemorative holiday, not a promotional one. It’s generally best not to schedule promos on June 19th.
  
• World Cup matches: Check the schedule before you lock in dates. A major U.S. match could boost your traffic or bury it, depending on how you position around it.

3. Determine holidays & cultural moments that are relevant to your brand

The full calendar of holidays and events in this post will get you started, but the real edge comes from identifying the moments that are uniquely yours.

Pet toy retailers should circle National Pet Parents Day. A brand built around clean water access has a natural tie to Earth Day and World Humanitarian Day. A company with a strong founder story might turn its own anniversary into an annual event.

Even during the holidays, you won't be running promotions; it's good to know what's happening in your customers' lives. The last thing you want is to launch a lighthearted campaign on a day that carries serious cultural weight. Add blackout dates to your calendar as a safeguard; they're just as important as the dates you're building campaigns for.

4. Write down anything you know about your offers

You don't need every detail nailed down yet. But sketching a rough plan for each event, even just "discount," "BOGO," "charity tie-in," or "loyalty reward," lets you spot problems before they become patterns.

The most common one: running the same type of offer year-round. If every email to your list includes a 10% off code, the code loses its meaning. That’s why you want to mix it up. Offer a larger discount here, a bonus gift with purchase there, a cash-back offer like CROSSNET runs instead of traditional coupon codes. Variety keeps your audience engaged and gives you better data on what actually drives action.

🤑 Drive more revenue per customer with ConvertFlow's Cross-Sell & Upsell App.

5. Plan your campaigns up to a year in advance

The further you plan ahead, the better your campaigns should perform. That said, you don't need every asset finalized 12 months out. Setting your dates and strategy early, then refining the specifics 3 to 6 months before the event, gives you the best balance of preparation and flexibility.

Here are a few factors that should influence your lead time:

• Production: Manufacturers need orders months in advance. Waiting too long means you won't have inventory when demand arrives.
  
  
• Shipping: Carriers have their own peak periods. Build in enough runway to receive stock and coordinate delivery without paying rush rates.
  
  
• Purpose: Who is your customer buying for? Gift purchases require earlier planning and different messaging than self-purchases.
  
  
• Timing: People shop early for gift-giving holidays like Mother's Day and graduation. But for occasions like Labor Day sales, purchases are impulsive and last-minute.

The biggest variable is competition. The more brands fighting for the same audience at the same time, the more lead time you need. BFCM promos benefit from 6 months of planning. And the same is true of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Brands that start building their campaigns in March should outperform those scrambling to react in June.

ConvertFlow makes it easy to create and launch campaigns with Broadcasts. You can even automate your BFCM emails.

6. Personalize your campaigns for even more of a boost

We know that it's tempting to send the same campaign to everyone; same copy, same images, same offer. Plus, it's fast. But even when the offer is identical (say, a 20% off sitewide sale), personalizing the messaging to different audience segments consistently outperforms a one-size-fits-all blast.

That means tailoring your copy, your product recommendations, and your imagery to match what each segment actually cares about. A first-time visitor and a repeat customer shouldn't see the same landing page. A shopper who bought skincare last month and one who bought supplements need different product recs, even during the same sale.

ConvertFlow helps you personalize your offers and messaging across all your owned channels, so the work scales without the headcount.

FIFA World Cup 2026: The biggest retail opportunity of the summer

The 2026 FIFA World Cup isn’t just a sporting event; it’s the single biggest mid-year retail opportunity in a generation. Running from June 11 to July 19 across 16 host cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, it’s the biggest World Cup ever. 48 teams, 104 matches, and an expected global audience of 5+ billion viewers. It’s the first World Cup in North America since 1994.

For retailers, the math is simple. An estimated 3 to 4 million international visitors will travel to host cities. Over 1 billion people are expected to watch the final match alone. And the ripple effects: watch parties, jersey sales, food and beverage spikes, and home entertainment upgrades, will touch nearly every product category for six straight weeks.

This isn’t just a moment for sports brands. It’s a moment for anyone who sells products people buy when they’re gathering, watching, celebrating, or hosting.

Expected sales impact by category

High impact (50 to 200% sales increase): Sports apparel and team merchandise, large-screen TVs and home entertainment systems, beer, snacks, and party foods, flags, banners, and face paint, outdoor furniture and grills.

Medium impact (20 to 50% increase): Home decor in team colors and themes; travel gear and luggage; tech accessories and streaming devices; group party supplies; casual entertaining essentials.

Emerging opportunities: Soccer-themed fashion beyond jerseys; streaming service subscriptions; smart home viewing setups; themed subscription boxes; and fan travel packages.

Campaign strategy: How to win the World Cup retail season

90 days out (March 2026): Launch a “Get Ready for The World Cup” awareness campaign. Start building email lists with World Cup content. Partner with complementary brands for co-marketing campaigns.

60 days out (April 2026): Begin pre-orders for limited-edition merchandise. Launch viewing party planning guides. Run “Pick Your Team” engagement campaigns using quizzes and polls.

30 days out (May 2026): Peak marketing push begins. Flash sales on viewing essentials. Create urgency with countdown timers. Influencer partnerships go live.

Opening day (June 11): Real-time marketing during matches. Same-day shipping promotions. Social media live engagement.

Throughout the tournament (June 11 to July 19): Daily match-day promotions. Team advancement sales (when teams win). Underdog story marketing. User-generated content contests.

Finals week (July 13 to 19): Biggest promotions of the season. “Final Match Party Package” bundles. Last-minute shipping cutoffs. Live social engagement.

World Cup campaign ideas by industry

Apparel & fashion brands

Campaign theme: “Rep your squad.”

• Create custom jerseys with customer names
• Offer team color collections (even non-sports brands can do this)
• Limited-edition World Cup capsule collection
• “Dress for the game” lookbooks
• “Score a Goal, Get a Discount” (price drops when teams score)
• Jersey bundles (buy 2, get team accessories free)
• Fan photo contest (#MyWorldCupStyle)

Food & beverage brands

Campaign theme: “Watch Party Headquarters.”

• World Cup snack bundles
• International food pairings (match country cuisines to game schedules)
• Bulk purchase discounts
• Recipe guides for match-day meals
• “Goal = Free Shipping” (when certain teams score)
• Build-your-own watch party box
• Subscription box: 48 snacks for 48 teams
• “Host of the Month” contest

Home & electronics brands

Campaign theme: “Ultimate Viewing Experience.”

• TV + sound system bundles
• Smart home streaming packages
• Outdoor viewing setups (projectors, furniture)
• Extended warranties for the tournament period
• Trade-in programs for old TVs
• Financing options (“0% interest for 48 teams”)
• Installation services timed to the tournament start
• Price match guarantees

Critical timing considerations

❌ Don’t start too late. Many brands will wait until June. Start planning in March, launch campaigns in April.

❌ Don’t ignore inventory. With 48 teams and 104 matches, demand is unpredictable. Stock popular teams and underdog stories.

❌ Don’t forget shipping cutoffs. International visitors need time to receive orders. Promote local pickup options.

❌ Don’t overlook non-soccer fans. Position products for “watching together,” not just soccer fandom.

❌ Don’t go dark if your team loses. Keep marketing through the full tournament. Your customers’ teams will vary.

✅ Do create team-agnostic campaigns. “Watch Party Ready” works for all fans regardless of allegiance.

✅ Do offer fast and flexible shipping. Same-day delivery or local pickup options will win during the tournament.

✅ Do build email lists now. Capture fans early with World Cup content, quizzes, and planning tools.

✅ Do partner with complementary brands. Co-market for wider reach across audiences.

✅ Do prepare real-time content. Have templates ready for viral moments, upsets, and celebration posts.

What success looks like

Revenue metrics: Sales during the tournament vs. the same period in 2025; average order value (expect increases from bundles); conversion rate on World Cup landing pages; revenue per email sent (World Cup campaigns vs. regular).

Engagement metrics: Time on site during match days, social media engagement rate, email open rates (expect 30 to 50% higher than average), and user-generated content submissions.

Benchmarks from previous World Cups: 40 to 100% revenue increase for sports and apparel, 25 to 60% for food and beverage, 20 to 40% for electronics and home goods, and 15 to 30% for most other categories.

January 2026 key retail and ecommerce dates

January is a time people typically focus on health, wellness, and new beginnings. That makes it a great time for just about any brand to create customer-focused moments. In 2026, football fans stay engaged throughout the month with the NFL playoffs and the College Football National Championship.

January 2026 holidays and events:

• January 1: New Year's Day
• January 2: World Introvert Day
• January 6: Epiphany (Three Kings' Day)
• January 7: National Bobblehead Day (US)
• January 10–12: NFL Wild Card Weekend (expected)
• January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• January 19: College Football National Championship
• January 20: National Cheese Lover's Day (US)
• January 22: Community Manager Appreciation Day (US)
• January 24: International Day of Education
• January 25: NFL Conference Championships
• January 26: Australia Day
• January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Possible January 2026 themes:

• Dry January: A focus on reducing alcohol consumption. Participants abstain from beer, wine, or spirits for the entire month.
• Veganuary: An opportunity to promote veganism and increase visibility.
• Wellness Reset: Instead of focusing on weight loss, think of wellness holistically: financial, physical, and mental wellness are great alternatives.
• Football playoffs: NFL Wild Card Weekend, Conference Championships, and the College Football Championship all fall in January.

January campaign examples and best practices:

Traditionally, New Year's campaigns centered on diets and weight loss, but in recent years, content has moved toward self-improvement of all kinds. Successful campaigns often use the entire month of January to create a sales peak.

❌ Don't focus on weight loss or resolutions. Instead, talk about wellness and overall well-being. Customers aren't into post-holiday shame. They want to be inspired.

✅ Do find something unique about your products or customers that helps you make a memorable connection. Everyone has clearance sales. What can you do to stand out?

Campaign example: Warby Parker runs a year-long New Year's promotion

Eyewear brand Warby Parker found a fun way to connect with its customers, starting in January and continuing throughout 2023. Their New Year's campaign spans the entire calendar year. 

In January, their New Year's email featured all 12 zodiac signs as styles of glasses. It's a modern, sophisticated take on the old-school "What hamburger are you?" style quizzes. 

Throughout the year, they sent emails for each zodiac sign, highlighting one or more of their products. In their email for Cancer season, Warby Parker compared the hard, protective shell of the crab to the protection sunglasses offer.

Campaign example: Moment offers virtual self-improvement through creativity and learning

Moment is a marketplace for photographers and filmmakers that carries everything from cameras and accessories to digital goods like online courses and software presets. Their New Year's sale focused on self-improvement, of the intellectual and creative variety, with deep discounts on their online courses, LUTs, and presets.

It's a great way to tap into both the spirit of the New Year and offer the deep sales customers expect post-holiday season.

Campaign example: Camp does National Cheese Lover's Day during Veganuary

Camp, a brand that sells vegan mac n' cheese, offered an alternative to animal products on a day that celebrates one of the best-known products: cheese. Their email campaign offered subscribers 15% off in honor of National Cheese Lover's Day.

What works best about this campaign is its tie to Camp's core audience. January is Veganuary, a month-long celebration promoting veganism and increasing visibility of plant-based food.

February 2026 key retail and ecommerce dates

February 2026 holidays and events:

• February 2: Groundhog Day
• February 4: World Cancer Awareness Day
• February 7: National Girls and Women in Sports Day (US)
• February 8: Super Bowl LX
• February 14: Valentine's Day
• February 15: Singles Awareness Day
• February 16: Presidents' Day (US)
• February 16: Family Day (Canada)
• February 16: Do a Grouch a Favor Day
• February 17: Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse)
• February 17: World Random Acts of Kindness Day
• February 18/19: Ramadan begins

Possible February 2026 themes:

• Black History Month: February is officially designated as Black History Month, so many brands will be planning offers and products around the event. Be sure to amplify Black voices rather than simply offering themed merchandise.
  
• Valentine's Day: Romance always takes center stage in February, but this can also be a great time to honor other relationships, like friends, family, and mentors.
  
• Super Bowl: Super Bowl LX falls on February 8, making the first week of February prime time for watch party promotions, game day bundles, and sports-adjacent campaigns.
  
• LGBTQ History: In the UK, February is also a month for honoring members of the queer community.

February campaign examples and best practices:

It's easy to fall back on tradition and cover your marketing messaging in pink and red hearts, but February is about more than St. Valentine. With commemorative events like Black History Month, Lunar New Year, and World Random Acts of Kindness Day, you've got plenty of room to diversify your retail marketing calendar.

❌ Don't just focus on romantic love. You'll be just one more message in an inbox full of generic Valentine’s Day emails. What can you do to prove how much you love your customers?

❌ Don't commodify Black History Month. If you want to honor the history of Black people in the U.S. and around the world, it should be both a celebration and a commemoration. If you only focus on the merchandise, your customers will notice.

✅ Do expand your definition of love to include family, friends, culture, and even pets. You'll include more customers and excite your biggest fans with a new take on a highly commercialized holiday.

✅ Do amplify Black-owned businesses and historic Black figures from your industry. Your February campaigns will be more authentic, and you'll build a more diverse culture and brand.

Campaign example: Frank Body sends love letters to your loved ones

Frank Body, a skin care brand with a knack for personification, kicked off Valentine's Day 2023 with a fun email campaign that combined modern marketing methods with old school romance vibes. The email proclaims, "This Valentine's Day I'm bringing back the love letter." And in their signature frank style, they offered to send their customers' favorite babes a love letter.

By matching the brand's irreverent style with the messaging and adding a twist of snail mail, Frank Body captured the essence of why Valentine's Day is about more than just candy and flowers.

March 2026 key retail and ecommerce dates

Promotions in March often center on Spring and renewal. In the US, many tie sales to the NCAA Basketball Finals, known as March Madness, which, by the way, is trademarked. In 2026, Ramadan continues from late February into March, and Easter falls in early April, giving brands a longer runway for spring promotions.

March 2026 holidays and events:

• March 1: Global Day of Unplugging
• March 3: World Wildlife Day
• March 8: International Women's Day
• March 14: Pi Day
• March 15: Mother's Day (UK)
• March 17: St. Patrick's Day
• March 18: Global Recycling Day
• March 19: NCAA Tournament begins (date subject to change)
• March 20: First Day of Spring
• March 20: International Day of Happiness
• March 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
• March 29: Mom & Pop Business Owners' Day

March 2026 themes:

• Women's History Month: An opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of women throughout history.
• Competition: It's time for a major basketball tournament and entertainment awards.
• Go Green: An opportunity to use the variety of meanings behind the word "green."
• World Cup planning: With the tournament kicking off June 11, March is 90 days out, the ideal time to start building World Cup awareness campaigns, email lists, and co-marketing partnerships.

March campaign examples and best practices:

With International Women's Day at the beginning of the month, many brands use the opportunity to highlight female business owners. Most businesses will also honor St. Patrick's Day; it's a fun holiday that can withstand some silly or irreverent marketing. But March is full of opportunities to drive sales or build demand for your products.

❌ Don't use trademarked names in your advertising. March Madness is trademarked by the NCAA. The Oscars are trademarked by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

✅ Do get creative with your terminology. You can tap into the competitive spirit of these events without using another brand's trademark. Or use a unique play on words to weave their themes into your promotions.

Campaign example: Blush redesigns International Women's Day

Blush is known for its customizable illustrations, thanks to how easy they are to modify to fit any color palette or brand identity. For International Women's Day, they released a pack of illustrations called "We Are Women." The email also asked readers to design a social media post for International Women's Day and share it.

Campaign example: Clare goes green all month long

Designer paint brand Clare is known for its gorgeous home decor ideas and founder Nicole Gibbons' mission to make buying paint easier. The brand promoted its most popular green shades on Instagram around St. Patrick's Day 2023, and they followed up their paint colors post with ways to use the colors.

A week's worth of decorating inspo? Now, that's what we call curated!

April 2026 key retail and ecommerce dates

In 2026, Easter falls in early April, giving brands a natural anchor for spring promotions. This also means Passover and Easter overlap during the first week; plan your messaging accordingly. April is also a strong month for sustainability tie-ins around Earth Day.

April 2026 holidays and events:

• April 1: April Fool's Day
• April 1: Passover begins (evening)
• April 3: Good Friday
• April 5: Easter Sunday
• April 6: Easter Monday
• April 7: World Health Day
• April 15: World Art Day
• April 20: 4/20
• April 22: Earth Day
• April 28: National Pet Parents Day (US)
• April 29: International Dance Day

April 2026 themes:

• Easter and Spring: With Easter back in April, brands have a reliable anchor for spring campaigns, gift bundles, and seasonal product launches.
  
• Earth Month: Promote sustainability efforts, Earth Day promotions, or other conservation initiatives.
  
• Diversity Month: A month-long celebration of everything that makes our world diverse: art, race, nationality, culture, music, and more.
  
• World Cup countdown: 60 days out. Begin pre-orders for limited-edition merchandise, launch viewing party planning guides, and run "Pick Your Team" engagement campaigns.

April campaign examples and best practices:

With Easter anchoring early April in 2026, brands have a strong reason to launch spring campaigns. But if you're leaning into the Four Peaks Theory, don't burn all your energy on one holiday; look at the full month.

❌ Don't just choose a random date or unrelated theme. It will come across as inauthentic to your customers, and you'll lose their trust.

✅ Do tie your promotions to your brand's mission or company values. About 90% of consumers say they are loyal to brands that share their values.

Campaign example: Pact celebrates sustainability for Earth Month

As Earth's Favorite clothing company, it's no surprise that Pact hosted a big sale for Earth Month. Even their best-selling Fit & Flare dress was part of the sale, with a whopping 50% discount.

Since sustainability is central to Pact's brand, Earth Month was a great time to launch a sitewide sale. Tie-ins like this can turn an otherwise ho-hum month into a sales peak for your brand.

Campaign example: Unsplash celebrates Earth Day's 50th birthday

At first glance, you might not make the connection between Unsplash, a stock photo company, and Earth Day. But for a brand that started a supportive community dedicated to making beautiful images accessible, Earth Day is a picture-perfect fit.

In 2020, Unsplash honored the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with a call to submit nature photos and celebrate the environment through photography.

May 2026 key retail and ecommerce dates

By May, most people are beginning to get anxious about summer. That lends a celebratory feel to the month leading up to events like Mother's Day and other holidays in the US and UK. In 2026, May is also when your World Cup marketing push should hit peak intensity, the tournament opens June 11.

May 2026 holidays and events:

• May 2: International Harry Potter Day
• May 4: Star Wars Day
• May 4: International Firefighters Day
• May 4: Kentucky Derby (US)
• May 5: Cinco de Mayo (US)
• May 6: Teacher Appreciation Week (US)
• May 7: World Laughter Day
• May 8: No Socks Day
• May 10: Mother's Day (US and most parts of the world)
• May 18: Victoria Day (Canada)
• May 19: World Baking Day
• May 25: Global Africa Day
• May 25: Memorial Day (US)
• May 25: Spring Bank Holiday (UK)

May 2026 themes:

• Mother's Day: It's time to celebrate mom and all the maternal figures in our lives.
• Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month: An official designation in the U.S. that honors Asian and Pacific Islanders who have contributed to America's history.
• Prom: The annual social event for high schoolers everywhere.
• World Cup final push: 30 days out. Flash sales on viewing essentials, countdown timers, and influencer partnerships go live.

May campaign examples and best practices:

May will almost always make a retail marketer think of Mother's Day, but there's plenty more to build your campaigns around in late Spring than just Mom. From Teacher Appreciation Week to World Baking Day, May is full of opportunities for themed promotions.

❌ Don't shy away from the tried-and-true Mother's Day promotions like gift guides, discount codes, or gift bundles. But gift-givers usually plan ahead, so you may want to kick off your promotions before May begins.

✅ Do think about the events and milestones that are important to your target customer. Every spring, high schoolers in the U.S. plan for prom and then graduation. May is a great time to tap into that youthful exuberance.

Campaign example: Windsor taps TikTok star Pressley for #WindsorProm2023

Windsor knows its audience. As a women's wear brand specializing in formal dresses for weddings, prom, and other special occasions, their 2023 Prom campaign perfectly captured the youthful party vibe of high school's biggest event. Their site was awash in cotton candy shades of pink, purple, and blue. And they tapped popular TikTok personality Pressley (she's got over 7 million followers!) to help them promote the brand.

Pressley was featured in branded emails and a prom photoshoot, and even did a few TikTok behind-the-scenes videos to round out the campaign. The combination of Pressley's star power and Windsor's whimsical branding made the perfect date for Prom 2023.

Campaign example: FitVine wines gets real for Mother's Day 2022

FitVine touted itself as the "mother of all wine" with a 15% off discount in honor of mom. The campaign fit the brand's quirky personality by inviting customers to forget flowers and skip the BS.

By keeping this campaign simple with a moderate discount, FitVine offered an alternative to typical Mother's Day gifts, introducing its low-sugar wines to more women.

June 2026 key retail and ecommerce dates

June 2026 is unlike any June in recent memory. The FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, turning the typically slower summer selling season into a six-week sprint of cultural energy, watch parties, and consumer spending. Layer in Father's Day, Juneteenth, and the first day of summer, and you've got one of the most action-packed months on the 2026 calendar.

June 2026 holidays and events:

• June 1: Global Parents Day
• June 5: World Environment Day
• June 11: FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off
• June 11: Global Wellness Day
• June 14: Flag Day (US)
• June 19: Juneteenth (US)
• June 21: Father's Day
• June 21: First Day of Summer
• June 21: National Selfie Day (US)
• June 21: World Day of Music
• June 29: Wimbledon starts
• June 30: Social Media Day

June 2026 themes:

• FIFA World Cup: The tournament's opening weeks dominate the cultural conversation. Match-day promotions, watch party campaigns, and team-themed content should be running.
• Father's Day: Time to celebrate dads and other male role models.
• Summer: A time to showcase new styles or promote products perfect for warm summer months.
• Pride Month: A chance for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate their full identities.

June campaign examples and best practices:

In most years, summer is a slower time in e-commerce. In 2026, the World Cup changes that equation entirely. Use June to activate the campaigns you've been building since March.

❌ Don't resign yourself to slow sales in June. The World Cup gives you a built-in audience that's engaged, social, and spending.

✅ Do remember to match the tone of the event. Pride campaigns are a great opportunity for celebratory messaging and bold, bright colors. But keep Juneteenth messaging focused on the holiday's commemorative aspects.

Campaign example: The Pro's Closet wins the Tour de France marketing race

If you sell professional bicycles, there's only one sporting event worth mentioning: the Tour de France. But high-quality bikes are pretty pricey. The Pro's Closet sells both new and used bikes, including the bikes used by each day's stage winners.

Their email campaign was fun for self-proclaimed bike geeks and curious shoppers, who got a glimpse of the bikes that retail for $5,000 to $10,000 and up.

Campaign example: Heatonist brings the heat for Father's Day

Heatonist is the brand behind Hot Ones, a popular YouTube series in which the host interviews celebrities as they taste-test the spiciest hot sauces. As the celebs try to keep their cool, the sauces get progressively hotter. So it only makes sense that the brand's Father's Day campaign referenced its tie to Hot Ones.

With copy that helped Heatonist distance itself from more traditional (read: boring) gifts for Dad, their campaign proved simple marketing can still be effective.

July 2026 key retail and ecommerce dates

July 2026 is historic. America turns 250 on July 4th, the Semiquincentennial, and the FIFA World Cup Final takes place on July 19. Between Independence Day celebrations, Navy Fleet Week in NYC, the MLB All-Star Game, and Amazon Prime Day, July is stacked with reasons for consumers to spend.

July 2026 holidays and events:

• July 1: Canada Day
• July 2: Made in the USA Day
• July 3–9: Navy Fleet Review (NYC)
• July 4: 250th Independence Day (Semiquincentennial)
• July 5: America's Potluck (nationwide)
• July 7: World Chocolate Day
• July 14: MLB All-Star Game (Philadelphia)
• Mid-July: Amazon Prime Day* (exact date varies)
• July 17: World Emoji Day
• July 19: FIFA World Cup Final
• July 30: International Day of Friendship

July 2026 themes:

• America 250: The Semiquincentennial is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Patriotic campaigns, heritage brands, and "Made in America" stories will resonate more than usual.
  
• World Cup Finals: The biggest promotions of the tournament season. "Final Match Party Package" bundles, last-minute shipping cutoffs, live social engagement.
  
• Grilling Season: Fall has pumpkin spice; summer is for barbecue.
  
• *Prime Day: Amazon usually schedules Prime Day for July. Emphasis on usually. Adjust your calendar accordingly.

July campaign examples and best practices:

July 2026 offers a density of cultural moments that most retailers won't see again in their careers. Don't treat it like a normal July.

❌ Don't skip the Independence Day sales, but recognize this isn't a normal 4th of July. America's 250th is a genuine cultural moment. Go bigger than sparklers and hot dogs.

✅ Do consider the World Cup Final on July 19 as a second peak within the same month. Brands that plan distinct campaigns for both July 4th and the Final will outperform those that run one generic "summer sale."

✅ Do consider a special coupon code or additional discount for loyal customers. With this much cultural energy, it's a great time to reward your biggest fans.

Campaign example: Bombas offers 4 times the patriotism

Bombas sells some freaking amazing socks, but all that luxury comes at a premium price. So for the 4th of July, they highlighted their 4-packs.

Socks in the summer? We see what you did there, Bombas.

Campaign example: Plochman's proclaims the start of Grilling Season

❌ Don't have a holiday to celebrate? Make one up. That's what Plochman's did for its summer campaign.

It's a fun way to drum up a little excitement for a basic food product like mustard. Because you can't have a cookout without condiments.

August 2026 key retail and ecommerce dates

August often gets saddled with the moniker "Dog Days of Summer." Perhaps that's because National Dog Day happens on August 26. Or maybe it's just because people are wrapping up their summers in preparation for the fall. In 2026, August is also a natural cooldown period after the intensity of the World Cup and July 4th, but that doesn't mean you should take your foot off the gas.

August 2026 holidays and events:

• August 8: International Cat Day
• August 9: National Book Lovers' Day (US)
• August 9: International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
• August 19: World Humanitarian Day
• August 26: Women's Equality Day (US)
• August 26: National Dog Day (US)
• August 31: Summer Bank Holiday (UK)
• August 31: World Distance Learning Day / Blog Day

August 2026 themes:

• Black Business Month: An opportunity to highlight black-owned businesses or your own company's owners.
• Back-to-School Season: A big revenue builder for brands with products for school-aged children.
• Black Friday Prep: Now's the time to really kick off BFCM prep if you haven't already.

August campaign examples and best practices:

August is almost always associated with back-to-school prep, but it's also a good time to start thinking about your BFCM campaigns (if you're not already deep into them).

❌ Don't let Q4 get away from you. Many brands choose to preview their BFCM deals in late summer. If you're not already tied to holidays or events in August, this might be a great fit for your brand.

✅ Do consider that school districts start at different times throughout August and through Labor Day. For that reason, you might want to kick off your BTS campaign in late July. That frees up your August for some fun promo.

Campaign example: Cat Person proves every day is International Cat Day

Cat Person proves they're all-in on feline friends with its email for International Cat Day. Instead of offering a simple discount or promotional sale, they stick to what their customers love best: cats.

Their email includes lesser-known cat facts, proving that promotional emails don't need a huge discount to resonate with customers. Sometimes, just showing that a brand shares your interests can help build brand loyalty.

Campaign example: Simple Modern goes back to school in style

Simple Modern is known for its highly durable drinkware that keeps beverages hot or cold for hours, and back-to-school is one of its peak seasons. In fact, their marketing focuses heavily on moms with school-aged children.

Peep that TikTok-famous design, now kid-sized! What a great way to tap into the cultural zeitgeist while hitting your target demographic.

September 2026 key retail and ecommerce dates

September rolls in alongside the scent of pumpkin spice everything. If you're not ready for it, you could be left in the cinnamon-and-clove-scented dust. In 2026, September also marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month and includes Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

September 2026 holidays and events:

• September 7: Labor Day (US)
• September 11: Patriot Day (US)
• September 13: Grandparents Day (US)
• September 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month begins
• September 20: Rosh Hashanah begins (evening)
• September 21: International Day of Peace
• September 22: First Day of Fall
• September 29: National Coffee Day
• September 29: Yom Kippur begins (evening)
• September 30: International Podcast Day

September 2026 themes:

• Pumpkin Spice Season: Starbucks usually brings back the PSL in September; it's a great time to tag along.
• Hispanic Heritage Month, running from September 15 to October 15, is an opportunity to celebrate Hispanic and Latino culture, highlight Hispanic-owned businesses, and create authentic cultural tie-ins.
• Fall Gifts: A point in the year where you can start teasing your holiday sales.
• Black Friday Prep: You've got everything ready to go for BFCM, right? Right?

September campaign examples and best practices:

As we head into the pre-holiday season, customers are already looking for deals. It's a great time to start teasing what you have planned and reduce inventory to prepare for holiday stock.

❌ Don't skip over fall holidays in favor of Christmas or New Year's. Customers are weary of the jingle bells starting earlier each year. Stand out by holding off on the holiday cheer a little longer.

✅ Do start building some excitement by announcing major product releases or holiday deals. Take a cue from Apple's iPhone playbook and release that must-have holiday gift now, ahead of the season.

Campaign example: Brewbike spices up fall Pumpkin Spice Brew

Brewbike started as a coffee cart on college campuses; in some ways, it still is. But they understand the power of pumpkin spice and announced their PSB (pumpkin spice brew) ahead of its seasonal launch.

The email works because it taps into Starbucks' iconic product and pokes a little fun at it. "Sorry Starbs."

Campaign example: LiveTrends rethinks host gifts with fall promo

LiveTrends will have you rethinking the host gift game, just like they turned plants into an essential for modern chic decor.

In a fall email, they make a case for their trendy, verdant plants as host gifts for your fall gatherings. Well-played, LiveTrends. Well-played.

October 2026 key retail and ecommerce dates

Are you feeling spooky yet? Former goths have been planning for October 2026 since … well, forever, but you can get started now on Halloween campaigns. October also includes International Coffee Day, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and Amazon's fall Prime Big Deal Days event.

October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October: National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October 2026 holidays and events:

• October 1: International Coffee Day
• October 4: World Animal Day
• October 5: World Teachers' Day
• October 10: World Mental Health Day
• October 12: Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day (US)
• October 12: Canadian Thanksgiving
• October 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month ends
• October 16: National Boss's Day
• October 16: World Food Day
• October 17: Sweetest Day (US)
• October 25: World Pasta Day
• Early October: Prime Big Deal Days (Amazon Fall Event, TBD)
• October 31: Halloween

October 2026 themes:

• Spooky Season: A chance to celebrate all things Halloween, this term has become synonymous with the holiday.
• Breast Cancer Awareness: The official designation for October, usually marked by pink ribbons and donations to cancer research.
• Prime Big Deal Days: Amazon's fall shopping event typically lands in early October. Plan competing or complementary promotions accordingly.
• Black Friday Prep: Seriously, you'd better be ready for BFCM. It's next month!

October campaign examples and best practices:

October clearly centers on spooky season, but that doesn't mean you're stuck drowning in bats, ghosts, and pumpkins. Look for ways to highlight other holidays, too. October is also Breast Cancer Awareness month, which can be a good time to show commitment to your company's causes.

❌ Don't just slap pink ribbons on everything and call it a day. Historically, brands have received criticism for their lip service to breast cancer research. If you're going to do something to honor this occasion, make a concerted effort to do something that will really make an impact.

✅ Do highlight causes your brand really cares about. If you donate to cancer research, great! But don't force it. There are plenty of other things you can celebrate in October. Like Halloween.

Campaign example: Zenni gives Halloween a glow-up

Zenni Optical re-envisioned how we shop for eyewear, and their 2023 Halloween campaign turned the tables again with glow-in-the-dark frames.

The bold contrast and neon colors really stand out on Facebook and Instagram, and the idea of wearing glow-in-the-dark glasses to a Halloween party just feels right.

Campaign example: Cupshe launches a pre-Black Friday sale

There's no limit on how often you can tease your Black Friday sales and no rule that says you have to run your biggest sale on BFCM. Cupshe decided October 2023 was a great time to offer 65% off swimwear.

This ad proves there's no wrong way to find your Four Peaks. And it's refreshing in the sea of pumpkin spice on your Facebook feed.

November 2026 key retail and ecommerce dates

November marks the clear start to the holiday season, and thanks to BFCM and its surrounding events, the main peak season for retailers everywhere. In 2026, November also includes U.S. Midterm Elections on November 4th, Diwali on November 8th, and Singles' Day on November 11th, all of which affect timing and messaging.

November 2026 holidays and events:

• November 1: World Vegan Day
• November 4: Election Day / U.S. Midterm Elections
• November 8: Diwali
• November 11: Veterans Day (US) / Remembrance Day (UK/Australia/Canada)
• November 11: Singles' Day (11/11)
• November 13: World Kindness Day
• November 26: Thanksgiving Day (US)
• November 27: Black Friday (US)
• November 28: Small Business Saturday (US)
• November 30: Cyber Monday (US)

November 2026 themes:

• Thanksgiving Gratitude: Show appreciation to your customers and express gratitude for their support.
  
• Early Holiday Shopping: Encourage customers to start their holiday shopping early and offer special promotions.
  
• Black Friday Countdown: Build excitement and anticipation for the upcoming Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales.
  
• Singles' Day (11/11): Originating in China, this has become one of the biggest global shopping days. Consider running a parallel promotion for your international audience — or use it as a pre-BFCM warm-up domestically.
  
• Giving Back: Promote charitable initiatives and encourage customers to give back during the holiday season.
  
• Small Business Saturday: Get ready for Small Business Saturday and support local businesses.
  
  

Remember that these themes can be tailored to your specific industry and target audience for effective marketing campaigns in November 2026.

U.S. Midterm Elections: November 4, 2026

The midterm elections will dominate the news cycle in early November.

Here's how to navigate it as a retailer:

✅ Be neutral. Avoid political stances in retail messaging.

✅ Be mindful. Don't launch major sales on election day itself. The news cycle will drown out your promotions anyway.

✅ Be ready. Have "welcome distraction" messaging ready for November 5th and beyond. After weeks of political intensity, consumers are ready to shift their attention to holiday shopping.

✅ Be inclusive. "I Voted" day-after promotions can work if they stay apolitical.

✅ Best practice: Schedule your Black Friday prep content to begin November 5th or later. Avoid major campaign launches from November 2nd through 4th. The first week of November is a hold period; the second week is when BFCM momentum should start building.

November campaign examples and best practices:

By November, most marketing campaigns are focused solely on the holiday season, but it doesn't have to be that way. Recently, brands have been using pre-Black Friday sales to get a jump on the promotions during the week after Thanksgiving.

❌ Don't limit yourself to one day of sales. Look for ways to spread the savings throughout the month or launch your must-have holiday finds.

✅ Do make sure your inventory is in hand for BFCM deals. It's one thing to create excitement by limiting quantities, but you don't want to leave revenue on the table because you didn't plan well. If you've successfully executed your Four Peaks Strategy, you should have no trouble funding your end-of-year promotions.

Campaign example: B2G1 pre-Black Friday sale is the Mane event

Mane understands the power of an early Black Friday deal, but hair care isn't a top category for BFCM deals.

 With electronics dominating Black Friday, Mane is able to carve out a space for their brand with a sale earlier in the year.

Campaign example: Teepublic extends Cyber Monday into Tuesday

Teepublic knows quirky tees make great gifts. They also know how to get the most out of their Cyber Monday sale: run it for more than one day.

  By extending a sale by just 12 hours, Teepublic has even more opportunity to crush its sales goals and stand out from the competition.

December 2026 key retail and ecommerce dates

Is there anything we can say about December sales that you, a professional retailer, don't already know? Probably not, but there are a few key dates in December 2026 that you may have missed. Hanukkah begins earlier than usual this year (December 4th), and Free Shipping Day falls on December 18th, both worth noting in your campaign timeline.

December 2026 holidays and events:

• December 1: World AIDS Day
• December 1: Giving Tuesday (US)
• December 4: Hanukkah begins (evening)
• December 6: St. Nicholas Day
• December 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (US)
• December 14: Green Monday
• December 15: International Tea Day
• December 18: Free Shipping Day
• December 21: First Day of Winter
• December 24: Christmas Eve
• December 25: Christmas Day
• December 26: Kwanzaa begins
• December 26: Boxing Day (UK, Canada, and other countries)
• December 31: New Year's Eve

December 2026 themes:

• Snow: Even though many areas of the world don't experience snow, it's still synonymous with Christmas.
• Gifts: A chance to go all out and highlight any products that make great gifts.
• End of Year: A time to thank customers for their loyalty and give company updates.

December campaign examples and best practices:

As the year draws to a close, most retailers are focused on the holidays, but that's not your only option in December. Many brands focus on their customers by thanking them for a year of support. Others look to what's coming in the New Year. There are a million ways to make December special for your audience.

❌ Don't stop at holiday gift guides. Think outside the gift box and consider the self-care shoppers may be seeking while also giving to others. Bonus gift cards and free gifts with purchase can drive point-of-sale buys.

✅ Do be sure to thank your marketing team. You've spent the year knocking this retail marketing strategy out of the park, from the World Cup to America's 250th to BFCM and beyond, and it's time to celebrate a job well done.

Campaign example: Better Brand reminisces on the end of a magical year

As a fledgling company, Better Brand wrapped up 2022 by thanking customers for their loyalty.

A message from the company's founder helped move the focus from the products to the people who make the brand possible. For a growing company, this kind of personable approach can help build lifelong fans.

Campaign example: Gussi kicks off their 2023 resolutions early‍

Hair care brand Gussi launched its New Year campaign early with an email advising customers on how to get healthier hair in the coming year.

This email campaign really stands out because it thanks customers and gives them something in return. Plus, it frees up the marketing team to take a few days off around the holidays without having to schedule a New Year's campaign.

💌 Want help growing your email and SMS lists? Check out our list-building tool.

Start planning your 2026 retail calendar campaigns today

2026 isn't a normal year. The FIFA World Cup, America's 250th birthday, U.S. Midterm Elections, and the usual holiday gauntlet make this one of the most opportunity-dense calendars in recent memory. The brands that plan now, not in June, not in October, will be the ones hitting four peaks instead of two.

Before you start planning for 2026, get a headstart with a free ConvertFlow account. You'll create customized landing pages, popups, sticky bars, site messages, and all the other campaigns you'll need to market your holiday ideas.

📅 Get the retail marketing calendar, and get more mileage out of your sales throughout the year with ConvertFlow’s suite of features for e-commerce:

• Popups
• Sticky bars
• Forms
• Surveys
• Quizzes

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