National Salsa Month – Celebrate more than 65 years of picante sauce.  Great promotions for restaurants and bars.  Consider happy hours and dinner events that include salsa.

Arthritis Awareness Month – Arthritis affects 50 million adults and 300,000 children.  During this month, the Arthritis Foundation hosts Arthritis Walks around the country to educate Americans.  Non profits might want to sponsor a fundraising walk.

Teen CEO Month – This month celebrates young entrepreneurs and business leaders.  Corporations might want to give incentives and recognition awards for the young superstars on staff.

Tennis Month – Sponsored by the United States Tennis Association, this month is about promoting the benefits of playing tennis.  Health care and tennis promotions are great for this month – promotional items include sports items and apparel.

7-13 Work at Home Moms Week – This week is the perfect time to set up a new moms program with hospitals and corporations.  Promotional items could include baby and spa products.

9 National School Nurse Day – This day focuses on fostering a better understanding of the role of school nurses in educational settings.   A great health care promotion for schools could be in order.

18 International Museum Day – This day prays tribute to museums around the world  Museums should consider awareness campaigns and special events.  Promotions that tap into the cultural market are in order here.

19-25 National Safe Boating Week – For outdoorsy and recreational companies, consider participating in events that help make the waterways safer for boaters, and you might want to start off with some first-aid kits.

26-28 Lobster Days – The New England lobster bake takes place on the banks of the Mystic River over Memorial Day Weekend.  10,000 people attend.  Rotaries and other clubs might want to plan a similar event in your area.

30 Hug Your Cat Day – Cats act as if they don’t want or need attention, but they do.  Aside from a hug, animal shelters, pet stores and groomers might want to reach out with cat treats, toys and appointment reminder magnets.

APRIL 2012

April is:
COUPLE APPRECIATION MONTH – Do something special to reinforce and celebrate relationships. Consider pitching romance – and relaxation – related products.

ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH – Raise awareness about underage drinking. Great for working with the health care industry, bars and liquor stores and restaurants. http://www.ncadd.org/

PHYSICAL WELLNESS MONTH – Time to shape up – this is a great time to focus on fitness and nutrition centers to encourage programs. Work with your corporate clients on employee wellness programs.

1ST-7TH – TESTICULAR CANCER AWARENESS WEEK Consider a campaign designed to promote the importance of early detection. www.tcaw.org

APRIL 6: DROWSEY DRIVER AWARENESS DAY – This annual memorial is for people who have died in collisions related to drowsy driving. This is an official state recognized “day” in the state of California – try an awareness campaign on this issue. www.drowsydriverawarenessday.com

8TH TO 14TH NATIONAL NETWORKING WEEK – Networking is hot in this economy so work with your local Chamber of Commerce, BNI, Toastmasters and LeTip.

18TH TO 24TH: CLEANING FOR A REASON WEEK – Established in 2009, this week raises awareness for an organization that provides free residential cleaning to women who are undergoing treatment for cancer. Activities are held nationwide to bring light to the cause. Non-profit and Health care businesses might want to participate in these caring events. www.cleaningforareason.org

19TH NATIONAL HANGING OUT DAY – Project Laundry List joins hundreds of organizations to educate communities about energy consumption. The day was created to demonstrate how it is possible to save money and energy by using a clothesline. A promotion with apparel items and eco-friendly items would bring attention to energy-saving laundry ideas. www.laundrylist.org (Editor’s Note: My mother would LOVE this holiday as she has done this for 80 years).

20-22 GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY – The annual campaign celebrates and mobilizes millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day through service and service-learning. Established in 1988, GYSD is the largest service event in the world. www.gysd.org Check to see what nonprofits are doing and craft appreciation gifts for the youth participants.

29TH NATIONAL DANCE DAY – participants across the country organize events in every community to celebrate the spirit and diversity of dance of all kinds. For more information, visit www.nationaldanceday.org. Reach out to your local fitness clubs, dance studios and bars to encourage events in your area.

These are great for corporate events, parties, business promotions, and more!

Flip Book for Creative Promotions

Points of Light Flip Book

http://www.cleversoundpromotions.com/products/pop-with-sound/

We also have a video on that page of how one of our customers created a unique point of purchase with sound piece.

Go to:

http://www.mitzvamarket.com and search for Clever Sound Promotions.

Family Fun Month – The Home Backing Association dedicates this month to good nutrition, economy and family fun.  For more info, go to www.homebaking.org.  Consider some great kitchen helpers for promotions.

International Boost Self Esteem Month.  Focus on the importance of nurturing and cultivating self-esteem to beat the winter blahs.  Consider an employee incentive program with employees. 

Spunky Old Broads Month – A month long celebration for all women over 50 who are interested in living a regret-free life (www.spunkyoldbroad.com).  Think spa baskets and funky sunglasses.

Feb 6-10: International Networking Week – Simultaneous events will be held globally, bringing together representatives of government, businesses and community to network with each other (www.internationalnetworkingweek.com).  Check out what your local city is doing so that you can provide notepads and business card holders or other business items.

Feb 14:   Valentine’s Day AND National Donor Day – This is a day of love, and donation is the gift of life.  Join thousands of Americans who are making a donation decisions (www.organdonor.gov).  Put together awesome gifts of gratitude to contribute at your local donating events.  

Feb 20-24 Read Me Week.  National and local celebrities and other volunteers read in classrooms wearing readable clothing with school appropriate messages.  In 2011, 39 schools and more than 500 volunteers participated.  Find out what libraries, schools and book stores are doing in your area.  And make sure you bring stickers, bookmarks and journals.

Feb 25 Open That Bottle Night – It’s time to finally drink the bottle of wine you’ve been saving for a special occasion that never seems to come.  This is your perfect opportunity to send out corkscrews, wine bags and cheese trays to your clients.

While QR codes are usually printed in black and white, other color combinations can work as well.

Roughly 62% of people have scanned a QR code two or more times.   Usage is highest for people between the ages of 25 and 54 and shows women scan more than men (2:1). 

DO NOT link a QR code to a flash site as smartphones can’t display flash animations (note, my website has a little flash cartoon on the home page which does not show up).

If you  want to track scans, check out bit.ly. 

And one more thing, make sure you give a directive like “Scan this QR code with your smartphone using a tag reader to be entered for a chance to win $500 in promotional merchandise”.

March 2012

American Red Cross Month – Contact your local branch of redcross (www.redcross.org) to provide giveaways like t-shirts and stickers for donors this month.

Optimisim Month:  Research shows optimists achieve better health, great properity and more happiness than pessimists.  Provide spa baskets and enriching products such as  self help books and tips.

Workplace Eye Wellness Month – Reach out to human resource departments, doctors and eyeglass stores with sunglasses, eyeglass kits and prevention tools

March 20:  Proposal Day – Single adulsts who are ready to marry are encouraged to propose marriage on the days of the vernal equinox and autumnal equinox.  For more info, go to www. proposalday.com.

March 26:  Legal Assistants Day:  Recognize the many contributions made to thelegal profession by legal assistants.   Give a recognition gift for legal clients and their assistants.

Go to the Cards with Sound page of our website for additional information.