7 Questions to Ask Yourself to Make Sales This Summer
You may think that unless you sell SPF, sunglasses, or bikinis, summer is out for you for making sales. But you would be wrong to write off the whole season when, in fact, many people actually have more time for leisure activities through the summer and are no less likely to spend money now than at any other time. In fact, if your product helps them have a better time this summer, even indirectly like by saving them time, then there’s no reason you can’t make sales!
There are a multitude of Summer Marketing ideas for Small Businesses, and I hope that this blog post will inspire you.
Here are 7 questions to ask yourself to generate a marketing angle and make sales this summer:
1. Does your product save people time or offer greater convenience?
Summer sun can be short-lived in the UK, so anything that helps people spend more time with loved ones or out having adventures is a win. From gadgets that make cleaning easier to beauty products that cut down on getting ready time, remind people how your product can save them precious time that they could be out enjoying themselves.
2. Does your product support self-care?
From hair that needs TLC after sea swims to face masks to rehydrate skin after time in the sun, summer comes with its own host of self-care needs. Effective summer marketing for small business will focus on these self-care benefits to win sales over the warmer months.
3. Does your product help people stay cool in the heat?
Whether you sell smoothies or chub rub shorts, fans or cooler bags, breathable fashion or cotton bed sheets, use your marketing to reinforce the cooling benefits of your product this summer to attract sales.
Grow your Own kits, image: Gardeningforkids.co.uk
4. Does your product entertain children?
Products that will keep children entertained over the holidays - such as puzzles, colouring books, or outdoor games – will be very attractive to parents at this time! Use your summer email campaigns to highlight how your products can make summer more enjoyable for families, and don’t forget to link them for instant sales.
5. Can your product be used at get-togethers?
Summer is a time when people will enjoy dining (often al fresco) with friends and family – from BBQs to picnics, birthday bashes and weddings to drinks in the garden ‘just because’. If you sell picnic blankets, this is a fairly obvious connection for you, but businesses who sell any of the following can also market using this theme: drinks brands, deli foods, flower arrangements, crockery & tableware, bunting, serving trays, cutting boards, tablecloths, cushions, candles, fairy-lights and so on! This is where innovative marketing can make your offerings stand out.
6. Do you offer your product in a trending colour, pattern, or theme?
Whether it’s scalloped edges, stripes, fruit-inspired designs, or a particular trending colour (think cobalt blue, coral/orange, pistachio green among others) – I can almost guarantee you that there’ll be some items in your shop that match a theme. Create a little mood board on Canva, including your items in that colour as the star of the show, and you have an email campaign and a social media post ready to go!
The great thing about using a colour as a trend is that it can apply to almost any industry: kids' clothing and toys, homeware, fashion, accessories, stationery, illustrations and prints, luggage, lighting… the list goes on!
Using a theme can help give your products a fresh angle. Here I’ve used the trend of stripes & chequerboard prints to showcase products ranging from homeware to nappies!
Images (clockwise): Print - Oliver Bonas, Vest - Mango, Candles - Hay, Picnic blanket - Next, Lamp - M&S, PJs - Tartan Blanket Co, Plates - Hadeda, Overalls - Arket, Nappy - Nipper Nappies, Notebook - Oh Deer, Lamp - Heals
7. And finally, Spring and Summer are full of events
From festivals to weddings, Christenings to days at the races, so ask yourself if your products could work for any of these. From accessories that would be great for bridesmaids to personalisable gifts, congratulations cards, sustainable decor or clever hair and make-up tools, your email could land in someone’s inbox just in time and help them this events season!
By considering these seven questions and tailoring your marketing efforts, you can make the most of the summer season and continue to generate sales. Remember, the trick is to seek a creative angle if your product doesn’t immediately shout ‘Summer’, and you may well be able to maintain sales in these traditionally quieter months.
I hope this gave you some ideas for your own campaign!