Key Dates for Retail in 2022 – 2nd Quarter

We’ve put together a list of the retail highlights of the year, this is when our staffing levels are at their highest.

1st May and Wedding season begins  

Get your fascinator out of its box and dust off your kilt or morning suit,  as it’s that time of year when every British married-couple-to-be crosses their fingers and prays for sunshine on their special day.

Weddings are a massive growth area for e-commerce, for example, wedding items such as wedding favours and gift lists are one of the most popular categories on Etsy. This is also a time for doing a bit of home decor, this is another growth area on the Etsy platform.

The long bank holiday weekend has traditionally been a time when many couples tie the knot, with May 1st being one of the most popular wedding dates.

As well as serving your usual retail products, consider offering special discounts on any wedding-related items that you stock to entice engaged couples to buy from your shop online.

2nd May – May bank holiday 

It’s starting to feel like summer, especially after all of the mild and sunny weather in April. Now is a good time to promote outdoor items like garden plants and furniture or BBQs and DIY materials like paint and wallpaper.  The shift in season can also make it a very good time to promote new summer fashion lines, accessories and footwear.

2nd May – Eid 

Ramadan ends with the holiday of Eid. Muslims get dressed up in their best clothes, exchange gifts, and enjoy a feast with family and friends. Eid Mubarak, everyone! 

3rd May – Dyngus Day

A Polish festival, Dyngus Day is celebrated on the Monday after Easter and marks the end of Lent. It’s a day for eating, drinking and general merrymaking, so if you sell any Polish food or drink products, this could be a good opportunity to promote them.

4th May – Star Wars Day 

(“May the Fourth Be With You!”) 

Easily one of the most popular film franchises in history, Star Wars Day is a chance for retailers to promote products associated with this sci-fi world. Whether it’s selling clothes, toys or other memorabilia, Star Wars Day will be a huge opportunity for fans and there’s a new Star Wars movie scheduled for release in December 2022.

22nd June – Father’s Day 

Golfing equipment, beer, whisky and jumpers are the typical order of the day for the dad that probably prefers that you just let him watch the Formula 1 or football in peace and quiet. As with Mother’s Day, the hope is that Father’s Day sales will rise post lockdown. With an average spend of £24 per dad in 2021, the sales could add up if you run Father’s Day retail events.  A day for celebrating all the dads out there, Father’s Day is an opportunity to promote any products that would make a great gift for dad, from power tools to luxury grooming products.

Amazon Prime Day 

Amazon’s biggest shopping event, exclusively for Prime users, is set to be a 48-hour parade of non-stop deals. If you sell on Amazon, it’s a great chance to run some special retail sales and shift some serious stock. During Prime Day 2021, some of the most popular items were hardware, skin care, electronic devices, spirits and cosmetics.

Talk to us today on how we can help you deliver sustainably, on time and within budget.

Photo by Brian McGowan on Unsplash