Your 20/21 Business Calendar - An essential guide for retail, ecommerce and hospitality businesses, giving you the key dates to make the very most ...
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Your 20/21 Business Calendar An essential guide for retail, ecommerce and hospitality businesses, giving you the key dates to make the very most of the coming year.
Planning for success with Opayo After a difficult year, we’re doing everything we can to support retailers to bounce back and thrive – and have the best possible 2021. This calendar is designed to help you plan to prosper by highlighting important dates, and reminding you in plenty of time to prepare for key seasons and events. It’s part of a suite of materials that we’ve created to help businesses open up confidently to every possible opportunity. You’ll find more online at: opayo.co.uk Opayo.ie
December 2020 January 2021 February 2021
Highlights 5
10
19
24
25
Small Business Saturday
Hanukkah
Super Saturday
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Any
New Year’s
Resolutions
for your
business?
1
5
10
14
18
Corporation Tax Deadline
The Golden Globes
Spring/Summer Top Drawer Show
Retail’s Big Show
Blue Monday
1
7
12
14
15
St Brigid’s Day (Ire)
Spring Fair & VAT return/payments
Chinese New Year
Valentine’s Day & Book Giving Day
Singles Awareness Day
26 Boxing Day / St Stephen’s Day (Ire) 19 The Toy Fair 16 Pancake Tuesday
31 NYE, Brexit & SCA Deadline 25 Burns Night 19 London Fashion Week February
30 National Storytelling Week 24 Fairtrade Fortnight is LGBT+
Month
March 2021 April 2021 May 2021
1 St David’s Day 2 Good Friday & Children’s Book Day 3 Early May Bank Holiday (UK)
4 World Book Day 4 Easter Sunday 10 National Vegetarian Week
8 International Women’s Day 5 Easter Monday 14 Shoptalk Europe
1st of April
14 Mother’s Day 7 World Health Day is April Fool’s 16 National Children’s Day
17 St Patrick’s Day 12 Ramadan Day - plan your 18 RHS Chelsea Flower Show
prank :)
19 Red Nose Day 14 Retail Week Live 21 International Tea Day
27 British Summer Time and Passover 22 Earth Day 23 English Wine Week
28 Holi 23 St George’s Day 31 Bnk Hldy (UK) & Garden Wildlife Week
June 2021 July 2021 August 2021
5 World Environment Day 4 Independence Day (US) 2 Bank Holiday (Ire)
July is
6 UK Bikeweek 7 International 6 Cycle to Work Day
June is Independent
7 Bank Holiday (Ire) Pride Month! Chocolate Day Retailer 8 International Cat Day
8 National Best Friends Day 18 Home and Gift Show Month 12 International Youth Day
20 Father’s Day 19 Eid al-Adha 19 World Photo Day &
23 Glastonbury Festival 23 Tokyo Summer Olympics World Humanitarian Day
24 Mid-summer’s Day 26 National Fishing Month 26 International Dog Day
29 Children’s Art Week 30 International Day of Friendship 30 Summer Bank Holiday (UK)
September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021
Festival of Learning Month 1 World Vegetarian Day 4 Diwali 4 Small Business Saturday
4 National Fish and Chips Day 5 World Teachers Day 5 Bonfire Night Movember 14 Christmas Jumper Day
is here.
5 International Day of Charity 7 National Curry Week 11 Singles Day Grow a mo,
18 Super Saturday
6 Rosh Hashanah 10 World Mental Health Day 13 World Kindness Day save a bro! 24 Christmas Eve
12 Great North Run Remember, 14 National Baking Week 14 Remembrance Sunday 25 Christmas Day
September is
16 Yom Kippur Back to School
16 Bank Holiday (Ire) & World Food Day 25 Thanksgiving 26 Boxing Day / St Stephen’s Day (Ire)
27 World Tourism Day Month! 25 Bank Holiday (Ire) 27 Black Friday 31 New Year’s Eve
28 Bike to School Week 31 Halloween 29 Cyber Monday
December December 2020
5
1 2 3 4
Small Business
Saturday
Today is your day! Don’t forget
6 7 8 9 to remind people to #shopsmall
for #smallbusinesssaturday.
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Hanukkah Christmas
Jumper
Day
19
17 18 20 21 22
Super
23
Saturday
The very best day for
Thinking ahead
festive sales. So many
cram their Christmas
to January... Click here
Last Day gift shopping into
or many, the start
F January
to jump to
for One Day the weekend before
Christmas, so make of a new year brings
to see all the
events
Delivery sure you’re well a chance to start afresh.
stocked.
Just one final push So, kick off 2021 with deals
to deliver all the last that promote health and
goods. Make sure to be
clear with all consumers 24 25 wellbeing and find ways
that this is the cut-off A very to get customers involved.
date for orders. Merry
Christmas Veganism’s rise continues, so
Day to
you! if you want to get behind, or just
26 27 capitalise on ‘veganuary’ now
Boxing Day / St Stephens Bank is the time to shout about it.
Day (Ire) Holiday
Another continued trend
(especially with younger
31
demographics) is reduced
28
alcohol consumption. So if
you’re in the business of booze,
Opayo-ho-ho! plan a way around this to avoid
things drying up with ideas like:
December sales can’t compete with Black Friday. However, Boxing Day in the New Year’s mocktails, low-alcohol beers
UK is still a more traditional seasonal peak. Historically strong for bricks-and-
29 30
Eve and guilt-free replacements.
Brexit and
mortar stores, customers are now dodging the crowds and searching for great SCA deadline.
deals online during their Christmas break.
January January 2021
5
1 2 4 6
It’s
January The Golden
sales for
customers
Globes
and tax These film and television industry
deadline 3 awards are always a glitzy affair. 7
time for Shh…it’s the Festival of Hold your own Golden Globes awards
you! Sleep day! (After all those for business excellence and promote
sales, finally, a day of rest.) your brand in the process!
9
8 10 11 12 13
Spring/
Sunshine Summer
Saturday Top
Drawer
Show
Those feeling the winter
14 blues go in search of 15 16 17
Retail’s summer getaways.
Big Show
18
19 20 21 22 23
The Toy
Fair
Blue Monday
25
24 26
Organise a Australia
#BrewMonday to raise Burns Day
money for Samaritans
and bring warmth
Night
to someone at their “Oidhche Bhlas Burns!” Scot or not,
toughest time. 27 this Scottish version of Thanksgiving
is celebrated and loved by many.
30
28
Thinking ahead
to February...
Click here
to jump to
February
National V
alentine’s day is still a crucial date,
to see all the
events
29
Storytelling though consider ‘Singles day’ as an
Week up-and-coming opportunity to broaden
Happy new year in business! National Storytelling
the range of indulgent goods.
Week begins and is the ‘Love your pet day’ is often overlooked as
Shoppers may be feeling a little gloomy with the usual ‘Christmas 31 perfect time to share
the story of your a retail opportunity – especially in the UK
comedown’. However, following the unexpected challenges of 2020, there’s a (where we haver an especially caring attitude
business online.
strong desire to start over with resolutions, health kicks, and post-pandemic towards their furry, feathered or scaly friends!).
holiday plans, (yes, we’re all crossing our fingers).
February February 2021
1
2 3 4 5 6
St Brigid’s
Day (Ire)
and
LGBT+ 7 8 9 10
Month Spring Fair.
VAT return and payments
Safer
Internet
deadline for Q4 Day
14
11 12 13
Chinese New Year
(Year of the Ox) Valentine’s
Day &
International
16
15 17 Book Giving
Singles
Aware-
National
Random
Day
ness Day Acts of
Kindness
Pancake Day
20
and Ash
Tuesday Wednes-
19
London
day Fashion
Time to flip those
window shoppers Week
into customers!
International
18 21
Love Your
Pet Day
22
23
Bread Thinking ahead
Week to March... Click here
to jump to
Supporting local independent March
bakeries is on the rise. to see all the
events
In retail purchasing, women
hold the most power - and
March is a time to focus on
24
them.
25 27
With International
They love us, they love us not. Women’s Day and Mother’s
Day on the horizon, make
Whoever your customers are, February is a great time to woo them and show Fairtrade sure you’re thinking of ways
them you care! It’s also Fashion Week in New York and London this month,
Fortnight 26 28
to celebrate women locally
and throughout the UK.
so brands that sell threads should swot up on new innovations, trends in
sustainability and the ‘fashtech’ shaping the world of fashion.
March March 2021
1 4
2 3
British Pie World
St. David’s Week Wildlife World
Day Day Book Day
March kicks off with Share the stories that helped
St David’s Day – when 5 6 shape you and your business.
Welsh people across
the world celebrate
their fantastic heritage.
8
7 9 10 11 12
National Popcorn No
Butchers’ Lovers Smoking
Week Day Day
International
14
13 Woman’s Day 15 16
Mother’s Day
17
18 19 20
World Red Nose First Day
Recycling Day of Spring
Day
St. Patrick’s
Day 21 22 23 24 25
The
Oscars
26 27
Earth Hour, British
Summer Time and
Thinking ahead Click here
Passover begin
to April... to jump to
April
to see all the
events
28 29 ith garden, wedding and
W
World Theatre day festival season coming up, it’s
and Holi good to get ahead by considering
summer plans.
31
Earth Day is a great time to showcase your
30
sustainability efforts for 2021 and beyond.
The Easter break is a big time for DIY, so
Business is blooming. Deadline for
with Easter coming up next month, think
about any DIY related promotions you
delayed 2020 VAT can start now.
The start of spring makes space for us to help lift our customer’s
Mar-Jun 2020
spirits. Mother’s day is the perfect opportunity for gifting, in particular,
experiences over physical gifts; so take advantage of this trend.
April April 2021
2 4
1
April
Fool’s Day Good Friday and
International Children’s
Book Day Easter
3
With a four-day break, consumers are expected to Sunday
spend some time getting around to making those
purchases they’ve been considering for some time. An egg-cellent time to
offer up some sweet
savings to your loyal
customer base whilst
5 6 7 8 9 many businesses take
Easter New Tax World time off.
Monday Year Health
Holiday Day
12
10 11
Ramadan
Don’t miss the opportunity to engage in the third-
13 14 15 biggest festival in the UK after Christmas and Easter.
Retail Ramadan is celebrated by around a quarter of the
Week world’s population. Consider adjusting your opening
Live and customer support hours.
16 17 18 19 20 21
English Tourism Week
22
23 24
St
George’s
Thinking ahead
Day
to May... Click here
to jump to
Earth Day Wedding season is
May
25 26 to see all the
almost upon us. With events
This year’s theme is
“Restore Our Earth”. many UK weddings
‘Restoration’ brings postponed by a year in 2020,
hope, itself an essential
we could expect a boom this
There’s no plan-et B.
ingredient in the age
of COVID-19. 27 28 summer, (even if many of
these are ‘micro weddings’).
Research is revealing that consumers show significant and increasing preference to
We’re graced with not one,
brands that place an importance on sustainability. Earth Day is a great reminder to but two bank holidays in May,
reassess your company’s carbon footprint. Consider switching to recyclable packaging, 29 30 so watch out for the uptick
or giving to a green cause and engage with new audiences. With the weather getting Stop Food Waste Day International Jazz Day in DIY.
increasingly warmer, customers will naturally be thinking of their outdoor spaces and
beginning to consider their summer wardrobes.
May May 2021
3
1 2 4
Wedding Season Begins
and Early May Bank Holiday
Weddings during the pandemic hung in the balance in
5 6 7
2020. Be ready for uncertainty and find innovative and
thoughtful ways to engage with any of your customers
who may have had to cancel or postpone.
10
8 9 11 12
World Fair Trade Day End of
Ramadan
National
14
13
Vegetarian 15 16
National
Shoptalk Week Children’s
Europe If you’re a business that
Day
sells veggie delights,
The new retail event now is the time to
helping reshape how dangle the carrot. 17
consumers discover
and shop in an age of
digital disruption.
21
18 19 22 23 24
RHS World English
Chelsea Goth Day Wine
Flower week
Show
18-21st
May
Intl. Tea day
20 25 26 27
A good day to stir National
up a conversation BBQ week
with customers.
Click here
31
to jump to
28
Thinking
June
to see all the
events
ahead to June...
Bank Holiday (UK) and June is Pride month. To plan your
29
Garden Wildlife Week support for customers and team
Longer days bring longer Banking on engaging more customers
this year? There’s no better time to
members within the LGBTQ+
community, ensure policies are in
purchasing hours. 30
do so than during Bank Holidays
when people relax and make time for
place that demonstrate you practice
what you preach (If these aren’t
purchases they may have been too in place, it’s wise to steer clear of
With more weddings, come wedding gifts, clothing, accessories busy to make.
advertising that takes advantage
and travel accommodation starting in May. Offer helpful information, of Pride).
and see opportunities to promote your higher-value products.June June 2021
1
2 3 4
World
Bicycle
Pride Month Day
Happy Pride month! Days are getting warmer
and nights longer – this brings with it more hours 5
for customers to shop both online and off. World Environment Day
Use this campaign to sing about your
business’s efforts to protect our planet
6 7 8 9 10 11
UK Bank National Best
Bikeweek Holiday Friends Day
(Ire)
Tee up the
lycras and
15
bring on
the bikers 12 16
National Beer
Day and Loneliness
Awareness Week
13 14 Running a business on your own or working from 17
home can feel lonely at times. There are some
fantastic initiatives bringing people together.
20
18 19 21 22
National Picnic Week
Father’s
23
Day
Glastonbury
Festival starts
Thinking ahead
to July...
Look out for any Dads
on social media who Click here
might be sharing your to jump to
products and make sure July
24 25 to engage and share July is ‘Independent to see all the
Mid- Retailer’ month – keep events
their stories.
summer’s an eye out for local events,
Day
as well as support from
service providers like us here
26 27 28 at Opayo, who are committed
Armed Forces Day to supporting a vital part of the
Ding dong sell.
nation’s diverse economy.
Can you go plastic-free for
Wedding-related searches increase by 33% in June compared to other months, so be 29 30 “Plastic Free July”?
prepared for any surges in views on your shop front window. Father’s Day is another Children’s Art Week
excellent opportunity to engage with your audience via social media - falling in the
same month as bike week, take advantage of the rise of the ‘MAMIL’ trend!July July 2021
1 4
2
Independent Independence
Retailer Month Day (US)
It’s your time to shine. Shout from the As there are plenty of Americans living
rooftops about your store. Connect with 3 here, and with many of us happy for a
consumers, communities and other good reason to party, 4th of July events
local businesses. are becoming more customary.
7
5 6 8 9 10
International
11 12
Chocolate Day 13 14 15
World
Youth
Time for confectionery Skills Day
businesses to melt their
customers hearts with
16 17 offers they can’t resist. 18 19 20
Home Eid al-
and Gift Adha
Show
23
21 22
Thinking ahead
to August... Click here
to jump to
Tokyo Summer Keep your mind on
August
24 25
Olympics Back-to-School.
to see all the
events
Subject to change... Summer holidays can
sometimes get in the way
of September marketing
26 27 28 plans, so do your prep now
National Fishing Month before you get ‘tied’ up.
If you employee staff that
are taking holidays over
30
29 31 the summer, ensure you’re
covered for any campaigns
and marketing that you wish
Time to make a splash! to go out.
Consumers are now up to their eyes in the search for summer clothes and International
swim wear. For the forward-thinking retailers, start thinking about Back-
Day of
Friendship
to-School. It may seem a long way off, but get your marketing campaigns
prepped for the second-biggest shopping season of the year.August August 2021
2 6
1 3
Bank
Holiday Cycle to
(Ire) Work Day
Research shows that those arriving at
4 Many customers will 5 work via bike are more productive than
spend their time off their car commuting compatriots and
hunting for summer feel more refreshed. Get employees
bargains. involved with a fun initiative!
12
7 8 9 10 11
Intl Cat
Day
International
13 14 15 16 17
Youth Day
Why not partner
with a great initiative
supporting Teens
19
and Youths locally
18 20 21 to engage with your
younger community.
22
World Photo 23
Day and World Thinking ahead
Humanitarian
Day to September...
Click here
24
A global campaign
25 Finalise any prep for to jump to
that celebrating
humanitarians –
Back-to-School and September
to see all the
a “thank you” to consider engaging with events
#RealLifeHeroes who Recycling Week UK to
have committed their highlight how you’re doing
lives to helping others.
26 27 your bit for the planet.
Intl Dog
Day Start thinking about
next season’s marketing
campaigns ahead of Autumn.
30
28 31 Most businesses prepare
too late in the game for Black
Friday and Cyber Monday,
The last sizzle of summer. so place your apparel orders
now for these and start
Summer sales are starting to cool down, though couples without kids might now Summer Bank
ordering for Christmas.
be thinking ahead to September getaways – an excellent chance to sell old stock
29
Holiday (UK)
and launch a sale. Remember the upcoming Bank Holiday providing extra uplift
opportunities for ‘Back-to-School’.September September 2021
1
2 3 4
National
Back-to-School and Fish and
Festival of Learning Month Chip Day
A time for sharing the benefits of learning and to
5
encourage everyone to embrace lifelong learning.
Engage any employees you may have by offering
a course that might upskill them or educate them in International
something that sparks their interest.
Day of Charity
Time to showcase your philanthropic
6 7 8 9 efforts and find ways to link sales to
Rosh donations and support any charities
Hashanah close to your heart.
10 11 12 13 14 15
Great Garden, Leisure, Irish Nat’l
North Run Equipment Exhibition Ploughing
Champs
16 17 18 19
Yom
Kippur
Thinking ahead
to October... Click here
to jump to
20
21 22 Time to brew up a October
to see all the
spooktacular sales events
campaign as
Halloween approaches.
Recycling Black History Month is in
Week UK 23 24
October. Whatever you’re in
the business of, consider your
Find a way to share
these efforts and inclusivity of employees and
engage with customers consumers, discovering ways
27
who care deeply to engage, participate and
about creating
positive change. deepen your knowledge.
Again, ensure policies are in
place that demonstrate you
World Tourism actually practice what you
25 26
Day preach. Remember, if these
Summer might be over, but it’s not aren’t in place, it’s wise to steer
clear of any form of advertising
entirely rubbish… 28 29 30
that takes advantage.
With the holiday season behind us, trends begin to focus on meaningful change. Bike to International Day of
School Awareness of Food Loss
Promoting your own recycling, waste reduction or charity principles can build loyalty and Week and Waste
referrals, and resonate with consumers.October October 2021
1 5
2 3 4
World
Smile Day
World World
Vegetarian 6 7
National
8
Teachers Day
Day Curry
Week
If you’re aligned with
vegetarian values, then
10
take a bite out of the 9 11
meat-free movement by
sharing your story! World Mental
Health Day
Following an increase in mental
12 13 14 health issues last year, set your mind 15
National on what you can do to engage with
Baking this campaign.
Week
16
17 18 19 20 21
October Bank
Holiday (Ire) 22 23 24
Dublin
25
Bank
26
and World City Holiday
Food Day Marathon (Ire)
Serving up a real
reason to snap your 27 28
sweet or savouries
today and find a way
Thinking ahead
to promote healthy
lifestyles and reduce
to November...
food waste. Click here
Check that you’re all to jump to
29 November
up-to-date ahead of the to see all the
busiest season with your events
Christmas Payments Review.
31
Ensure that you’ve tried and tested
30
any new methods of payment in
good time for Black Friday and
Halloween Christmas time.
Get into the spirit of things! Get creative with social content, run a
themed flash sale to expose your brand
It’s wise to also get a head start on
retargeting ads to nudge new and
After a somewhat stagnant Halloween in 2020, the expectation is to more people, or offer dead-good
interested customers down that
that 2021 will blow the cobwebs well away with a monstrously bigger discount codes to loyal customers.
festive purchasing funnel.
occasion across UK and Ireland – so double down on treats.November November 2021
1 5
2 3 4
Diwali and
National
Spa Week
Movember Bonfire Night
6 7 8
“Grow a mo, save a bro” Plot a way to create
some fireworks this
If you have a part to play November.
in changing the face of
men’s health, then show
11
your support and create 9 10 12
an initiative.
Singles Day
13 14 15
World Kindness Day Remembrance
Sunday
16 17 18 19 20 21
World Children’s Day World
Television
Day
22 23 24
Thinking ahead
to December...
Click here
25
We’re just a month to jump to
26 December
away from being hit to see all the
with day-long playlists events
of Christmas music. Make time
Thanksgiving for decorating your shops front
27
window (virtual or otherwise) and
Focus your messaging receiving necessary goods.
on positivity, family,
friends and gratitude. Cybercrime and fraud have
dramatically increased during the
Black Friday
Remember, remember, these
28 29 pandemic, so also take the time
Hanukkah Cyber Bundle up your to ensure your systems
Monday products and consider
dates in November.
are secure, to give your
a ‘value-add’ offer as a
customers the gift of total
great way to keep your
normal pricing whilst confidence when they buy
November is one of the most significant shopping peaks of the year around the 30 sweetening the deal. with you.
world. Some retailers start online sales a week before Black Friday and continue St Andrew’s Day
(Scotland)
for weeks after. Following a bleak 2020, shoppers may swoop in for even more
bargains on considered goods this year.December December 2021
4
1 2 3 5
Small Business
Saturday
Today is the day small businesses
6 7 8 are in the spotlight! Remind people to 9
#shopsmall for #smallbusinesssaturday
– and look out for promotions and
community activities to be a part of.
14
10 11 12 13 15
Christmas
18
16 17
Jumper Day
...not just jumpers, but
all sorts of festive wear.
Super
19 20
Saturday
Thinking ahead
to January...
The last Saturday
before Christmas. When
it’s left this late, typically
people are looking
21 22 for inspiration and not ew year can be a time
N
bargains, so give them consumers either turn to home
ideas for the important comforts, or kick-start a new
people in their lives!
regime. Both offer opportunities
– especially with the rise of
23
24 25 social media ‘swipe up’ shopping
Christmas Merry which capitalises on smart
Eve Christmas!
targeting and impulse buys.
Don’t forget ‘Veganuary’
Last Day around the corner – not just for
for One Day 26
Boxing Day / St Stephens food retailers but relevant to
Delivery Day (Ire) The very first many product lines.
January sales commence
Unless you’re able to Dry January might sound
same-day deliver, via gloomy for beverages, but
drones, teleportation or 27
sleigh, this is the last day Bank Holiday consumers appreciate ideas
for orders – make sure for virgin cocktails, healthy
It’s that time of year again! your customers know! alternatives and winter warming
beverages to get them through
Hot on the heels of Black Friday, come the highlights of the December shopping calendar: 28 29 30 31 the long evenings.
Super Saturday and Boxing Day. Demand is high, both online and in store, with customers New
Year’s
looking for last-minute gifts and post-Christmas bargains. Remember to let your Eve
customers know the last ordering date for Christmas delivery.Call us on +44 808 149 8697 Elavon Digital Europe Limited, trading as Opayo. The liability of the member is limited. Registered in England and Wales – Number 07492608. Registered Office: North Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE13 9AA United Kingdom. ©️ 2020 Elavon Digital Europe Limited
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