It's April! So what furry pet holidays can we get into? And how can they help you make more sales? Let's jump right in with all four paws...
April 3rd: Every Day is Tag Day (first Saturday of April) - Created by www.humaneamerica.org to urge "...pet owners to equip their pets with ID tags and/or microchips to maximize the chance of their safe return if they stray from home or are lost."
Could this be a better way to celebrate a day? Just think how many frantic animal guardians are faced with the horrible realization that their pet is missing. What a perfect day to shine a spotlight on.
So play it up! Throw that red carpet down and bring every ID tag, tool for tags, bowls, leashes, and anything else you would give to a stray animal front and center.
> Shake a leg and get that newsletter or blog out the week before to make the announcement. Don't forget social media.
> Create an infographic to hand out to customers. Include details like:
a) The number of missing pets in the US yearly -- 10 million
b) Only "15 percent of dogs and 2 percent of cats in shelters without ID tags or microchips are reunited with their owners."
c) A story of someone who lost and then found their pet. Ask your employees. Around one in three of us have lost a pet at some point.
d) Print this article to give them when they get there --
https://www.petfinder.com/dogs/lost-and-found-dogs/why-microchip/
> Put animal carriers in the reception area.
Since...
a) Catching/rescuing dogs and cats ideally requires a carrier.
b) Crates can house dogs while house training.
c) Crates can be a place for dogs to relax and have a den...
...the importance of carriers and the safety they provide for animals can be taught. Keep them in the front until the 19th for another significant holiday!
> Invest in a tag engraver, train an employee, and set them up beside the register so customers can see the process. Give a disount for the service.
April 6th: National Siamese Cat Day. A day for kitties! Siamese cat guardians are proud as peacocks. Much like the cats themselves, they know how stunning they are. This is the day to help celebrate them!
-- Send the word out via email, blog, e-newsletter, or on social media. Ask your customers to come in with their brazen beauty so they can pick up some catnip or treats. On the house.
-- Hire a photographer to snap shots of the felines to post on your social media platforms and website.
-- Make sure your cat food and accessories are easily seen.
-- Hand out "What is it about Siamese cats" fact sheets. Here are a few to start you off:
1. "Siamese cats were not seen in the US until the late nineteenth century. One of the first known owners of a Siamese cat was First Lady Lucy Hayes, wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes, who was in office from 1877-1881. She received the cat from a US diplomat working in Thailand." www.aspcapetinsurance.com
2. Most of them are extremely affectionate.
3. "Siamese cats are descended from felines born in Siam, or modern-day Thailand."
www.mentalfloss.com
4. Siamese kittens are born with all-white fur.
5. They are especially vocal.
April 10th: National Hug Your Dog Day - Created by Ami Moore, an author and dog behaviorist, to show appreciation for our beloved canines.
It's time to decorate! Dress up your store like you're throwing a birthday party. Well, for furry things. Since you've announced the holiday beforehand (getting the picture?), use the time in between to get some supplies at the dollar store like party hats for your employees and streamers to hang.
Skip the horn-blowers.
This day is the time to highlight all things dog. Bring a photographer in and ask her to take pics of dogs and guardians hugging each other with a Polaroid camera to give to them. People love instant photographs.
April 11th: National Pet Day, created by celebrity pet lifestyle expert and animal welfare adcocate Colleen Paige, was founded in 2005 to shine a light on shelter animals.
> Make sure your customers know -- when you, ahem, announce the holiday beforehand -- they can use #NationalPetDay on social media to bring awareness to orphaned pets.
> Have information pre-printed about local animal shelters and rescues for customers to take with them.
> Since it's also a day to celebrate our own animals, go to town on decorations and brainstorm with employees about how to celebrate this holiday for our pets. Offer a day off for the person who comes up with the best idea.
> Inform customers that a portion of the sales from certain products, i.e., food, leashes, toys, etc., will be donated to your local animal shelter.
AND GUESS WHAT?!
April 11th is also........drum roll........Dog Therapy Appreciation Day!
A therapy dog is trained to give comfort, support, and affection to those who struggle emotionally. They often serve in hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. They are working dogs.
I have a special place in my heart for them since my husband, who's a Veteran, has one named Shadow and she's a Secret Agent miracle-worker.
So having a double celebration is definitely called for!
-- Notify customers. Go figure.
-- Have plenty of special treats on hand for any therapy dog who visits.
-- Give them their choice of bandannas.
-- Use the photographer to get pics.
-- Attn: Pet bakeries, now's your time to shine. Mini dog-safe cakes are called for!
April 18th: Pop! Boom! Pop Pop! (Those are fireworks.) Pet Owners Independence Day, created by Thomas and Ruth Roy (www.wellcat.com), was started to carry out a nonsensical task -- sending our pets to work while we stay at home, play with our "toys," eat, and sleep. We change roles. How quaint.
Their silliness aside, I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you treat your customers like kings and queens instead. Give them treats! Tip: www.samsclub.com is great for bulk rates on candy.
Of course, give furry, finned, and feathered royalty pet treats right along with your two-legged customers.
April 19th: National Cat Lady Day
Alert those customers! (via carrier pigeon if you have to)
Carriers -- This is the perfect day to have these in the reception area so hopefully you've kept them there from the 3rd to save yourself some work.
Boas! The thing you sling around your neck! -- Want to go all out and tickle your customers pink? Have employees wear boas, to celebrate the uniqueness of women who adore cats. How fun!
Hats -- How 'bout some great hats to go along with the feathery neckwear. Ask employees to wear their cowboy, top, or beach hat. Tip: Ask your customers to wear those boas and hats in when they visit.
Post pics! -- Encourage customers to post pictures on social media WITH their cats. #NationalCatLadyDay
Cat toys, cat toys, and more cat toys -- Keep 'em happy!
April 21st: Bulldogs are Beautiful Day
In 2005, Jackie Valent published a children's book titled "Stinky the Bulldog," and she created Bulldogs are Beautiful Day in 2007. Since bulldogs are a little different looking, she hoped the holiday would have a larger meaning, to help people look beyond appearance and accept those who may be a little different.
www.checkiday.com
Customer announcement!
So today's a fine day to bring the Bulldogs who are at animal control or a local nonprofit to your store to interact with your customers. Let them experience their cuteness and hopefully, adopt or foster one!
Give a discount to anyone who brings their pudgy one with them.
Get that red carpet out. It's time for the bulldogs to have the limelight.
April 23rd: National Lost Dog Awareness Day -- Since this holiday lines up with Every Day is Tag Day on April 3rd, duplicate the process and add or change the things that worked or didn't work for your store.
April 24th: World Veterinary Day -- What would we do without them? They provide health maintenance for our loved ones and rush in to do their magic, including calming us, in emergencies.
The theme of World Veterinary Day 2021...is "Veterinarian response to the COVID-19 crisis. The WVA created World Veterinary Day in 2000 as an annual celebration of the veterinary profession, taking place on the last Saturday of April.
www.avma.org
So what's there to do today?
Collect reputable and well-loved veterinarians' contact information (ask employees and customers) to send out with your announcement about the holiday.
Talk to a vet and prepare information on yearly vaccinations, flea and tick medications, and heartworm preventions needed for animals to give to customers.
Buy some inexpensive animal greeting cards and have them onhand for customers to send a heartfelt "Thank you" to their vet to take with them. It will mean so much to your animal's doctor.
April 25th: National Hairball Awareness Day -- Created in 2006 by the National Museum of Health and Medicine, it's a day that's even recognized by the AVMA. This unique holiday aims to educate people about the dangers of hairballs to cats.
Although a celebratory event at your business would be somewhat inappropriate, Google the subject to have information available to teach your customers.
April 25th is also National Pet Parents Day which is absolutely a party! It's celebrated on the last Sunday of April. Created in 2007 by Veterinary Pet Insurance, today's purpose is to celebrate the intense bond between animals and humans.
And it's for ALL pets: Dogs, cats, rabbits, lizards, birds, whatever lives with you!
> In your announcement, remind your customers to use #NationalPetParentsDay on social media.
> Make sure to list as many pets as you can think of to try and recognize as many as possible.
> Give a 20% discount to all customers who bring their pets in and urge them to use a carrier.
April 28th: International Guide Dogs Day -- Guide dogs are trained to assist visually impaired people navigate obstacles. On this day, they and their trainers are celebrated.
Fact: Johann Wilhelm Klein, founder of the Institute for the Education of the Blind in Vienna, came up with the idea for guide dogs.
Most people don't see them a lot, but they're so worthy of praise.
Encourage customers and employees to donate to The Guide Dog Foundation, a nonprofit organization that serves people with disabilities.
April 30th: National Tabby Day -- It is what it says. Meow. Eighty percent of Tabby cats are male. (No wonder the females are so bossy.)
How to celebrate:
> ANNOUNCE!
> Bring those Tabbies in to enjoy another cat day! Display what you have already prepared for previous kitty holidays.
> Encourage customers to go full tilt with their social media posts and include themselves in their cat pics.
We've come to the end of the line with April animal holidays. Did you ever imagine there would be so many? Oodles of opportunities to serve your customers of all species.
Above everything, have fun. If you do, everyone else will, including our pets. And don't all of us just want them to enjoy life?
https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/resources/siamese-cat-facts/
https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/cat-breeds/siamese
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/77113/13-sleek-facts-about-siamese-cats
https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-pet-day-april-11/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therapy_dog
https://www.checkiday.com/5099c14f87c6175654d8e290dbe8ddb4/bulldogs-are-beautiful-day
https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/hairball-awareness-day/
https://www.holidayscalendar.com/event/national-pet-parents-day/
P.S. If you need blogs that will grab your customers' attention, gimme a shout! Contact me at jenflattosborn@writeawaycreations.com or here.