Independent Retailer Month

This is a great time for “shop local” campaigns, similar to those around Black Friday. If you have a book of small shops in a central location, they could work together to create bundles of goods for the month. Hit channels throughout July with consistent messaging on radio, display ads, social media and email marketing. For email marketing, suggest that companies share lists to expand reach.

Another option is geofencing within small shop locations in your city. These location-based ads target shoppers in the area. With exciting promos, it could drive foot traffic.

National Picnic Month

Picnics made a comeback during the pandemic when inside dining was unavailable. They are still popular and align with the growth of consumers visiting national parks and getting outside. Your local grocer could run a picnic pack promotion by using radio spots, streaming audio, targeted display and OTT/CTV.

Restaurants can also get in on this with a picnic to-go takeout offer on social media or via SMS or email marketing. Geofencing would be effective as well for those near grocery stores, restaurants and parks.

National Ice Cream Month

Ice cream has a whole month dedicated to it. It should, as the U.S. is number two in consumption of these frozen treats. Proposing a campaign to celebrate could work for ice cream shops and grocery stores. They could include promotions like buy one get one deal and highlight new flavor offerings.

Tactics that work best for this include geofencing, social media, video and OTT/CTV. Whatever content you create can also play on their social media profiles. They can use it for engagement, asking followers, “How do you scoop?” Companies could choose a winner from the submissions to receive a delicious treat!

National U.S. Postage Stamp Day and Postal Worker Day (July 1): Many advertisers have products or services that tie in with mail. If so, this could be a good day to promote those. They may also want to take the opportunity to show their appreciation to postal workers. Consider radio, digital display, email marketing and social media for branded ads or promotions. 

National Bikini Day (July 5): There’s nothing like spending time at a beach or pool on a hot summer day. Women will be soaking up rays and seeking relief from the July heat and doing so in style. National Bikini Day is an excellent way for local retailers to run special promotions on swimwear. The data supports steady growth of the swimwear industry, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38% through 2029. U.S. revenue for the products will reach $13.62 billion in 2025. Help your advertisers ride this wave with better ad tactics. Suggest social media campaigns, email marketing and OTT/CTV to capture the attention of ladies looking to stay stylish all summer long.

National Fried Chicken Day (July 6): Fried chicken is a very popular entrée in the U.S. It’s a favorite on menus of quick-serve, fast-casual and sit-down restaurants. It’s hard to go wrong with promoting such an American staple, and it’s not just for restaurants. Local chefs or cooking schools could also get in on the action. Recommend video display ads and OTT/CTV.

National Piña Colada Day (July 10): Piña coladas are a symbol of summer days. They are festive in nature, so bars and restaurants can leverage this celebration to offer a promo. Additionally, ABC stores or other liquor and beverage retailers could hold similar promos. Channels to leverage include radio, social media and video ads. In each ad category, use a special code for tracking.

National French Fry Day (July 11): Another July national day campaign idea that revolves around food is July 14, where the king of side dishes, french fries, gets its due. Almost every restaurant serves french fries, so offering a free order of them with any other purchase could drive traffic to the advertiser’s location. Display ads that use geofencing will focus on the right target. OTT/CTV and video ads are also good options for this promotion.

National Lottery Day (July 17): For those in states where the lottery is legal, this is a great day to remind residents to play to win. State lottery boards are one target for this advertising, but so are retailers that sell tickets — especially convenience stores.

The lottery also benefits states in the areas of education and other public works, so that can be part of the message, too. “It could be your lucky day” is a theme to consider when chatting with advertisers. As this is legalized gambling, it’s a restricted category with specific rules around digital advertising, so make sure your station can sell these ads. Radio ads are also a must since AM/FM radio is the dominant audio in cars.

National Tattoo Day (July 17): Tattoos are no longer taboo. In fact, 32% of Americans have one, and 22% have more than one. That’s a large part of the consumer market. Celebrating this day makes sense for tattoo shops. They can have special deals on the day or week. They could even turn it into an “ugly tattoo” contest, gifting the winner with new ink. It could also be a fun promotion for other businesses that are tattoo enthusiasts, asking customers to show off their art to win a prize. This is perfect for social media campaigns and email marketing.

National Tequila Day (July 24): Tequila is a popular potent potable. In 2024, over 32 million 9-liter cases of tequila were sold in the U.S. With such a diverse selection, it’s a great campaign option for bars, restaurants and retailers. Recommend social media, display and geofencing ads. Be sure to follow any guidelines, as alcohol is a restricted ad category.

National Hire a Veteran Day (July 25): Many of your advertisers may be seeking employees, as labor markets are currently tight. They may not realize that you can offer them a way to recruit. Creating a specific ad on this day could include the company’s commitment to hiring veterans and could talk about their company culture.

Another angle is for any retailer to use this day to donate a portion of the proceeds to veterans’ causes. It’s a great way to share goodwill and for advertisers to connect with consumers with these shared values.

In either case, these are branded ads versus promotional ones and could work well on radio, TV or via targeted digital channels. 

National Lipstick Day (July 29): The global lipstick market will cross $16 billion by 2025. With multiple product types, it continues to expand. Even for those who don’t wear a full face of makeup, almost all use a lipstick or balm. There are two types of advertisers to pitch to for this day.

First are makeup retailers that could offer a free lipstick with purchase to get customers in the door. They could focus on older inventory that they need to move or lose. Second, some makeup artists work in spas, salons or other spaces. A free lipstick with a makeup tutorial appointment could be a worthy nudge. To expand the campaign for this advertiser, you could create parameters that the customer only needs to book by July 29 to get the complimentary lipstick. 

You can target specific demographics with social media ads. Email marketing to current customers is another option, and you could use geofencing to focus on specific ZIP codes near the business.

National Chicken Wing Day (July 29): Chicken wings are a favorite of many. It’s a perennial for parties and has become something chefs experiment with, adding new fusion flavors. Talk to restaurants about promotions for 25-cent wings for eat-in or carryout on that day. Look back through previous campaigns to find restaurants that previously did wing specials for major sporting events. They should capitalize on wing day! Grocery stores are another target. Recommend OTT/CTV, social display ads and email marketing.