1. Spring Break –most US schools have their breaks from early March through early April. The key to Spring Break Coffee Marketing is “Fun in the Sun”. You can make reference to finally ending the chill of winter and anticipating the sweetness of spring. This is not only a key traveling period for teens, but also many family vacations take place during this time … so target the travelers with your savings and specials. Take advantage of the 3 R’s of spring: recovery, relaxation and restoration. If your coffee business has a lot of student customers, make sure that you’re promoting spring specials heavily since you’ll have a large part of your customer base disappearing on their breaks.
2. Spring Cleaning –research shows that 3 out of 4 US adults plan some type of spring cleaning. Suggest to customers that they provide your coffee to people who visit their yard sales (often a result of spring cleaning). Have your own coffee shop “Yard Sale” to move items left over from winter holiday stocking … out with the old and in with the new.
3. Spring Fever –capture the energy and excitement that are part of spring fever. Suggest ice blended coffee drinks, fruit smoothies and other iced drinks to “Cool Your Spring Fever”. Target kids desire to skip school … and adults desire to skip work. Use the fact that parents will begin dealing with the reality of kids running amuck and bouncing back and forth, inside and outside suggest they “Melt away with a Latte” or slam some espresso shots to keep up with them. Remember to play to the tune of the birds and the bees … romances blooming all around you … have a “Couple’s Cappuccino” that’s shared from a latte bowl. Promote “Couple’s Coupons” buy one get one free.
4. Spring Forward –not only is it time again to move our clocks forward an hour, but time to move your company forward too. Freshen up your marketing materials like your business cards, brochures, coupons, and website. This is also a great time to analyze and refine your marketing plan and set new sales goals for the coming year based upon the previous year’s numbers.
5. Spring Seeds –spring is always a good time to make things grow. Let your customers know that your company is “green” by tying in promotions that utilize seeds. Have avid readers? Give them plant-able bookmarks. Or you could attach your business card or drink punch card to a Tree Seed Tent Card and give out to regulars. Or let your customers know you look forward to growing your relationship with these branded flower and plant stakes. Have a local Direct-Mail campaign and send out some branded seed packets ”Since you can’t grow coffee in this part of the world, grow these instead”.
6. Spring in your Step –most people are experiencing a sense of renewal and rejuvenation in springtime so suggest they do so with your coffee & tea offerings. Promote “Espresso Shots to put a Spring in your Step”. Participate in, or sponsor, a local event that benefits a worthy cause, like a walk or marathon. Invite all of your employees and customers to join the effort and collect donations. Have a contest where the person who collects the most donations wins something spectacular. On the day of the event let everyone know that 10% of sales will be donated to the cause. You should send out a Press Release a month in advance so perhaps your company will get some free publicity and the cause will probably garner more awareness and donations.
7. Spring Swing –this is a time for barbeques, dances and parties. Think of how you can tie-in celebrations to your coffee-shop marketing efforts. Host a company barbeque for your employees to reinvigorate and reenergize them … you could invite choice customers too. Sponsor a dance at a local community center, seniors home, or school. Have a VIP party during non-regular business hours, invite your best customers and give them special discounts.
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