Given the current circumstances, most monthly marketing plans and campaigns are being t̶h̶r̶o̶w̶n̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶n̶d̶o̶w̶ adapted appropriately by our clients and those marketing their pet businesses smartly and responsibly!

Check out the rest of our COVID-19 resources to make sure you’re on the right track:

How to Market Your Pet Store During a Pandemic

6 Pet Store eCommerce Social Media Tips

Pet Store Coronavirus Survival Guide

If you’re working through these on your own and are looking to bring on a marketing department to help you navigate the landscape and continue to grow your business, set up a free consultation and marketing audit with the team at Pet Engine Marketing. It’s like putting a jet engine on your pet store.

Free Consultation

Make sure you join THE Group for Marketing Help for Pet Businesses on Facebook to hop in the discussion, share ideas, receive feedback on your campaigns, and get some inspiration and live assistance.

May 2020 Marketing Calendar
for Pet Stores

May 4

May the Fourth be with you! In homage to the culturally iconic Star Wars sagas, May 4th is designated as Star Wars Day. Brands and businesses beyond the Disney franchise can get in on the action, even if it’s just with a social media post.

Have any star wars themed products? Anything galactic, alien, or futuristic in nature? It’s a perfect time to promote those products and even put them on sale if you’d like!

And if you KNOW that you have some Star Wars fans, maybe you just want to buy this and raffle it off as a way to build some engagement online.

May 5

Cinco de Mayo may be thought of as just a day of parties, but it has very serious origins for Hispanics. The Mexican Army defeated the French in 1862, prompting celebrations for centuries afterward. In America, Cinco de Mayo is often thought of as a way to celebrate Mexican culture and it’s a great opportunity for pet stores to appeal to the Hispanic populations within their customer base.

At the minimum, a social media post celebrating Mexican culture is a good idea, even if today under the coronavirus circumstances we are unable to have true in-store celebrations and events. It might be a good idea to shout out and support local Mexican eateries, restaurants, and food trucks that desperately need the support right now.

May 10

Mother’s Day holds a lot of potential for pet stores and other pet businesses. In the past, our clients have done sales, Mother’s Day photoshoots, gift baskets for dog moms and cat ladies, and so on. From cute pet-related cards to jewelry, there are ways to cross your pet store with standard gifts to show appreciation for mothers everywhere.

Our suggestion? A heartfelt thank-you video from the store employees, managers, owners, and more thanking their moms and the moms that shop there and continue to do the most for their families.

May 25

Normally Memorial Day would be a cause for public celebration: picnics, barbecues, pools opening, vacations over a long weekend, and a chance to get outside. With social distancing standards still expected to be in place, things might be a little more muted than normal, but there’s a way to tie this holiday with additional revenue opportunities. Consumers spend an average of $500 over Memorial Day weekend, so it’s a good opportunity to capitalize on this, even if spending might be traditionally lower this year under the circumstances (Source: Adweek).

You can still capitalize on pet harness, leash, and outdoor accessories/equipment sales. Long-form content tied to exploring parks, going on walks, and the outdoors are a few good ideas to create popular content to improve your pet store SEO.

Pet-Specific National Days
and Celebrations

Be sure to check out this excellent resource from our friends at Dox Design - the ultimate list of 2020 Pet Holidays!

National Pet Month
National Foster Care Month
National Service Dog Eye Examination Month
National Photography Month
Chip Your Pet Month

Daily Holidays

May 1: National Purebred Dog Day
May 3: National Specially-Abled Pets Day
May 3: Mayday for Mutts
May 3-10: Be Kind To Animals Week
May 3-10: Puppy Mill Action Week
May 3-10: National Pet Week
May 9: National Dog Mom Day
May 14: International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
May 20: National Rescue Dog Day
May 23: World Turtle Day
May 30: International Hug Your Cat Day

These are always good for a quick flash sale, social media post, or pet store email marketing communication!

May 2020 Marketing Calendar
for Pet Stores
Conclusion

Maybe your big pet store events have been canceled, or maybe they’ve been postponed - it’s not all doom and gloom. The May 2020 Pet Store Marketing Calendar still has possibilities in it, you’ll just have to adapt and manage with what we’ve got right now! For help managing and adapting, we’re always available for your free consultation and with our free online community for pet business owners.