1. February 14: Valentine’s Day
According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent more than $18 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts in 2016, with more than a quarter of that spending going online. Jewelry, flowers, clothes, candy and cards are the main purchases for these consumers.
2. The first Sunday after the full moon on the spring equinox: Easter
Easter is usually in April. The 2018 Easter is two weeks earlier than in 2017, when most people have just received their paychecks, meaning consumers may spend more on this holiday. Candy and chocolate eggs are favorites for Easter shoppers, but consumers also spend on toys and spring and summer clothing.
3. The second Sunday in May: Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is celebrated in March in Ireland, the United Kingdom and other places, and in May in other countries or regions. It is one of the largest retail festivals. In 2016, American consumers spent more than $20 billion on Mother’s Day, of which 28.5% was purchased online.
4. The third Sunday in June: Father’s Day
Although consumer spending on Father’s Day has been rising in the past few years ($15.5 billion in 2017), it still lags behind Mother’s Day. It is worth noting that more than 1/3 of consumers buy Father’s Day gifts online.
5. July 4: Independence Day
American consumers will buy some food and beverages on this holiday. Some retailers will slash prices at this time to clear out the inventory accumulated in the spring and summer, and some early back-to-school shoppers will also start buying back-to-school supplies from this time.
6. September 3: Labor Day
This is the last chance for retailers to clear out summer inventory. At this time, retailers usually discount some summer clothing, accessories, and outdoor furniture, and the discounts are usually very large. Consumers usually hope that retailers can sell these out-of-season products at least 50% off.
7. October 31: Halloween
In 2017, the average American plans to spend $169.81 on Halloween, mainly on costumes, candies and decorations. Consumers who celebrate this holiday tend to search for holiday costumes online, and more than 1/3 of them will start doing costume homework in September or earlier.
8. November 11: “11.11” (Single Day)
The sales of “11.11” have been rising year by year, and it is becoming a global holiday. Prepare and implement the most effective marketing plan and ensure sufficient inventory.
9. The fourth Thursday of November every year: Thanksgiving Day
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, and Cyber Monday is the first Monday after Black Friday. More than 174 million Americans shopped in stores and online during Thanksgiving in 2017. One-third of consumers shopped only online. Without a doubt, Cyber Monday and Black Friday are the two most frenetic days for online shopping.
10. December 25: Christmas Day
Despite the huge discounts on Thanksgiving promotions, data shows that only 12% of consumers have completed their holiday shopping by December 12, and 53% plan to shop on December 23, the last Saturday before Christmas. It cannot be ignored that more than half of last-minute shoppers plan to buy holiday gifts online.