In getting ready to write my newsletter for this month, I went back and forth, as to what I would write about.  Finally, I settled on the best topic for you, Planning your retail promotional calendar and why it is important to focus on this in March (If you haven't already planned your calendar of events for this year).  It is the last month of the first quarter, and with two months, already well behind us there is no time like the present to re-energize your business.

Being proactive in 2010 means, making things happen; in this case, making the door to your store open.  Promotions drive business, getting existing and new customers coming through your door more often.  I would like to challenge you to set your promotional activity goals to effect customers coming into your store monthly, or weekly, if what they buy from you is within that shopping cycle.  You must have a full promotional calendar with 2 to 3 events happening every month.

The best way to start is to review what you did last year, looking to see what promotions worked and which ones did not.  Now a promotion can be many things, not always driven by a sale.  It can be an event, a new product launch, a referral program, a loyalty program, a customer appreciation day, demos, or a trunk-party, just to name a few ideas.  If a promotional event worked well last year, it gets to come back this year, so start there.  Yes, use an actual calendar to help you plan the flow of your promotions.

Here are a few event ideas from the Chase Calendar of Events:

March

1. St. Patrick's Day

2. Passover

3. Easter

4. First Day of Spring * (it's worth celebrating)

5. March Madness

6. Academy Awards

April

1. Baseball Opening Day

2. Good Friday

3. April Fool's Day

4. Tax Day

5. Earth Day (I love this idea)

6. The Masters (Golf)

7. Prom

May

1. Mother's Day

2. Victoria Day (Canada)

3. Memorial Day

4. Kentucky Derby

5. Season Finales for Television

6. Teacher Appreciation Week

If you are looking for other ideas to fill your promotional calendar, write, I would be glad to send a few of my best.

So just to wrap this up for you; take 3 hours this week, out of the 5 I have coached you to set aside each week to manage your business more effectively, and start that promotional calendar.  It will drive your business.  Being proactive means, taking control of what happens to your business.

Please make sure you enter my Retail Makeover Power Hour Contest ... info just below.

Helping you create your own economy.

Best

Barbara