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Promotional Planning Calendar
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December |
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1: Basketball Anniversary. Created by James
Naismith, a gym teacher, the first game occurred today, 1891. Any sports-themed promo can hook into this. Coincidentally, this was also the day, in 1954, Senator Joe McCarthy was finally silenced by Congress. 1-7: Tolerance Week. Promoting tolerance among people to help battle bigotry and concentrate on really important things. Again, almost any business can use this. 4: Extraordinary Work Team Recognition Day. Worth re-mentioning. Giving business teams who accomplish those tough objectives the spotlight they deserve. A contest format can be used, with logoed gifts and prizes (a check wouldn’t hurt, either). 5: Bill Pickett: Birthday. A true American original, Pickett was the rodeo cowboy who invented bulldogging. Great offbeat tie-in for anything with a “not as well-known as it should be” theme. 8: NAFTA Anniversary. President Clinton signed the agreement reducing tariffs and barriers between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico on this day, 1993. Excellent link to any firm that does business with those countries. 10: Human Rights Day. Anyone can participate. 12: Poinsettia Day. Honors Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, who first introduced the plant to the United States. 14: South Pole Discovery Anniversary. Should make for creative and attention-getting promotional fodder. It happened today, 1911, by Roald Amundsen. 14-20: Tell Someone They’re Doing A Good Job Week. Read the article in this issue about employee recognition and you’ll begin to understand why it’s crucial. 17: First Powered Flight Anniversary. The brothers Wright took off today, 1903. Neat hook-up to any promotion involving flying – airports/airlines, vacation spots, travel agencies, cruise lines, cities (business meetings/conventions), even contests with trips as a prize. 20: Mudd Day. Recognizing Dr. Samuel Mudd, who treated a disguised John Wilkes Booth and spent four years in jail because of it. Unusual tie-in for “know your customer” themed promo. 22: Winter Begins. The solstice hits at 2:04 a.m., EST. Tire stores, auto-body shops, car-supply retailers, coffee shops, snow-shovel makers/sellers, can all participate. Again. 23: Transistor Anniversary. The “little marvel” bowed on this day, 1947, and communications and electronics haven’t been the same since … at least until the Pentium III. Unusual promo for electronics manufacturers/retailers, repair services, etc. 29: Grigori Rasputin: Death Anniversary. The corrupt “monk” was assassinated on this date, 1916, but it took poison, shooting and, finally, drowning. A bit morbid, maybe, but a great opp for a “hard to kill” promo – say, a firm rumored to be going under. 31: Leap Second Adjustment Time. Add or subtract a second from clock time to coordinate astronomical and atomic time. Cool for any time-related program. |
