E-Commerce Trends A Guide to U.S. Holidays for Amazon Sellers

The calendar provides more than just date information for Amazon sellers.^[1] Navigating the landscape of U.S. holidays, including when to shop before and after the holidays, related products, and promotional strategies, can be key to boosting Amazon sales and improving FBA inventory management. In this article, you'll learn which U.S. holidays are relevant to shopping and what sales opportunities may be available.

U.S. holidays and Events throughout the Year The United States is a country of many different cultures where you can experience a wide variety of holidays and events throughout the year. Furthermore, the U.S. is known for its consumer-driven economy, which means that there are many different events and shopping opportunities every month. As an Amazon seller, it's important to pay attention to the major holidays in the U.S. and identify shopping items that are appropriate for that time of year. This will help you create a marketing strategy that appeals to consumers and increases sales, as well as manage your inventory in a stable manner. ^{[1][2][3][4][5]} January is one of the most popular holiday month around the world and in the U.S. as well. It's a time to celebrate with family, friends, and loved ones in the New Year. From a shopping perspective, this is the time of year when people go shopping to use gift certificates they received as holiday gifts. ^{[1][2][3][4][5][9]}

January 1: New Year's Day
New Year is the time of new beginnings and New Year’s resolutions when consumers turn their attention to related products. Health-related items in particular see an increase in sales, as consumers look for products to help them achieve their New Year's goals. This includes everything from fitness equipment to kitchen appliances and tools that support healthy lifestyle. Since consumers are concerned about their health and determined to achieve new goals, aggressive promotion of these products can be effective during this period.

January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a special day celebrated annually in the U.S. on the third Monday of January, honoring the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who led the civil rights movement in the country. You can use this day as an opportunity to positively impact consumers with products or campaigns that emphasize fairness and equality and position your brand as socially conscious. Books, clothing, home décor, and other products that celebrate diversity and civil rights are recommended selling items. February is the month of love and marks the start of America's favorite game, the Super Bowl. With Valentine's Day, it's a great time to sell gifts, as well as to sell products related to watching the Super Bowl at home. ^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

February 11: Super Bowl Sunday
The Super Bowl is more than just a sporting event to Americans. It is the largest sporting event and national celebration in the United States. The Super Bowl is held annually on the second Sunday in February and is the most-watched television program in the country. On game day, people across the country gather with family, friends, and coworkers to watch and cheer on their favorite teams. Nickelodeon will also stream the 58th Super Bowl in 2024 with kid-friendly content. Sales will spike for outdoor essentials for game day gatherings, snacks and beverages to enjoy while watching the game, cheerleading gear like jerseys, and Super Bowl decorations and noise reduction products.

February 14: Valentine's Day
February 14 is Valentine's Day, which is a special day for expressing feelings between friends and lovers. Valentine's Day is seen as an opportunity to exchange gifts of love and affection, and therefore, consumers are interested in finding special gifts. This is a great time to sell jewelry, sweet treats including chocolates, and sentimental décor items.

In March, there is spring break and Easter season. All schools, including universities, usually have a week-long spring break. This is a time for students to rejuvenate their bodies and minds and enjoy new activities. Activities like traveling and partying are especially popular, as they allow students to relax and gain new experiences.

There’s also Easter week in March. For Americans, Easter is a special day that evokes feelings of celebration and gifts. Many schools are closed on Friday of Easter week, and some stores may close early or be closed for the whole day. ^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

March: Spring break season
While every school has a different vacation schedule, spring break generally takes place between late February and early April. This is a time when Americans often take family vacations, and college students enjoy partying at beachside resorts. Partying at a beach or resort is an important part of spring break college culture. Students plan their trips to have a good time with their friends, which leads to shopping.

Travel items, pool party items, and hangover cures can be especially popular during this time of year. Travel items include luggage, travel accessories, and more, while pool party items can include swimwear, beach towels, and beach chairs. Hangover drinks, medications, and supplements can also be popular during this time. Therefore, it is important to promote and supply products that are in high demand during this time of the year.

March 17: St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's Day in the United States is the annual celebration of Patrick, a Christian saint from Ireland, on March 17. St. Patrick's Day is characterized by the color green. People wear green outfits, and buildings and city landmarks are decorated in green. There are green parades, festivals, and other Irish cultural events. Green-themed apparel, green accessories, and anything green can be a sales opportunity.

March 31: Easter Sunday
During Easter week, U.S. consumers are busy preparing for the holiday, and it's important for merchants to get in the holiday spirit with content like Easter-themed product detail pages. Tailoring your content to the shopping season can help you attract attention and increase sales. Preparing and marketing special products for Easter holiday is very important during this time.

The Easter Bunny symbolizes Easter holiday. As an Amazon seller, you can promote all bunny-related products as Easter gift suggestions. In addition, interior decorations and spring clothing also become key items during the Easter shopping season.

April shines a spotlight on shopping anniversaries. April is a big month for shopping-related holidays. While there are no major holidays, there are meaningful events like Pet Day and Earth Day that can expect shopping specials. These are particularly important holidays for merchants who sell pet supplies and environmentally friendly products. Consumers are more likely to celebrate these days or buy related products. Therefore, merchants selling these products should focus on carefully planning their marketing strategies and managing their inventory to meet consumer demand during this time.

In April, you should also start preparing your inventory for the peak season in the second half of the year. In particular, it's important to start preparing for Prime Day in July and the Back to School season in August by checking production and logistics status. ^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

April 11: National Pet Day
This is a big day for merchants who sell pet-related products. It's a great opportunity to attract more potential customers by offering a variety of deals to pet-loving consumers. You should focus your promotions on National Pet Day.

April 22: Earth Day
This is a great day to run promotions related to green products, sustainable products, reusable items, and outdoor gear for nature lovers. Earth Day is a great way to brand your products as eco-friendly to consumers. In May, there is Mother's Day. In the United States, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. It is known as a day to thank and honor mothers for their love and sacrifice. It's a day when families express their gratitude and love for their mothers with gifts and cards, and spend special time together. This makes it a popular time for Mother's Day gift shopping. ^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

May 12: Mother's Day
On Mother's Day, the majority of Americans buy gifts to express their love, respect, and appreciation for their mothers. Spa products, jewelry, Mother's Day-themed knickknacks, and delicious gourmet treats are popular, and sales of personalized clothing, cosmetics, and other products also increase. This is a time when sellers need to plan and carry out strategic marketing promotions.

May 27: Memorial Day
This is a U.S. national holiday celebrated on the last Monday of May to remember all U.S. service members who have died in the line of duty and to honor their sacrifices. Memorial Day is also known as a day for Americans to spend time with their families. Shopping items include products for outdoor barbecues, American flag apparel, and American flag-themed accessories are popular during this time. In June, Americans get gifts for dads. In the United States, Americans celebrate Mother's Day in May and Father's Day in June. Like Mother's Day in May, June is a time for families to show their appreciation and love for their fathers. You can easily find sections of recommended Father's Day gifts on and off marketplaces. ^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

June 16: Father's Day
Recommended Father's Day gifts include electronics, outdoor gear, Father's Day-themed items, and a variety of other products that cater to the tastes of adult men. Amazon sellers of popular Father's Day products should plan ahead to replenish inventory and carry out promotions.

July is the month of Independence Day, an iconic American holiday. Independence Day is one of the biggest national celebrations for Americans. Like Thanksgiving, it's a special national holiday for family and friends to spend time together. For Americans, fireworks, parades, picnics, and barbecues are often associated with Independence Day, leading to successful sales of the related products. For consumers and Amazon sellers, there's another most anticipated event in July: the two-day Amazon Prime Day. July is also the time to start preparing your inventory for the peak season in the second half the year. ^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

July 4: Independence Day
July 4 is Independence Day in the United States, which commemorates the day that the United States declared its independence from Great Britain. It is a very important national holiday for Americans, and there are many events and celebrations to mark the occasion, often involving outdoor fun such as fireworks and barbecues. This is a popular time for sales of American flags such as the Stars and Stripes, outdoor gear, and other Fourth of July-themed products.

Amazon Prime Day in July
This is a massive two-day sale for Amazon Prime members. It usually takes place in mid-July, and Prime Day 2023 was on July 11 and 12. Consumers expect large discounts, limited-time promotions, and more on Prime Day. You should actively consider a bold promotion that can meet consumers’ high expectations.

August is back-to-school season. August is peak shopping season for school supplies, backpacks, laptops, and other school essentials, as well as dorm supplies for college students. Every year, the U.S. retail industry scrambles to capitalize on the "Back to School" shopping season for K-12 students and the "Back to College" season for college students who start a little later. This is when students and parents buy school supplies, clothing, electronics, and more for the new semester. ^{[1][2][3][4][5][10]}

August 19-31: Most elementary, middle, and high school public schools start new semester
August through October: U.S. colleges and universities start new semester

Sellers should pay attention to Labor Day in September. The first Monday in September is the Labor Day holiday in the United States. Americans enjoy Labor Day as a day of rest. On Labor Day, people often travel with their families and enjoy outdoor activities. It is also common to stay home and spend time with family. ^{[1][2][3][4][5][8]}

September 2: Labor Day
Shopping lists for the Labor Day holiday include items that promote relaxation and comfort, such as leisure items, loungewear, and spa products.

October is the month of autumn festivals. Halloween is a festival celebrated every year on October 31. Its origins trace back to the belief that dead spirits return to the living world on that day, which is why the festival is characterized by themed props and costumes such as ghosts, witches, and zombies. Also in October, there is a big event called Amazon Prime Day. In 2023, there was a two-day prime big deal day on October 10 and 11. There has been no official announcement from Amazon about Prime Big Deal Day 2024, but it’s highly likely to happen this year as well. ^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

October 31: Halloween
Halloween shopping lists are filled with themed items, from pumpkin carving supplies to Halloween costumes, decorations, party supplies, and Halloween treats.

November is the month of the U.S. presidential election, Thanksgiving, and Black Friday. November is the month of the U.S. presidential election, Thanksgiving, and Black Friday. It's a busy month for shopping.
Thanksgiving is a special day celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November, a traditional American festival and holiday where people gather with family and friends to share a meal and express gratitude for one another. The day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday, which marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. ^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

November 28: Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving shopping list is dominated by food items such as pumpkins, fall-themed decorations, Thanksgiving tablecloths, napkins, and kitchenware and cookware such as disposable plates and cups for large gatherings. It also includes gifts for family and friends who are hosting or attending Thanksgiving dinner, ranging from small items like candles to clothing and electronics like smartwatches.

November 29: Black Friday
Black Friday is one of the biggest sales opportunity of the year for Amazon sellers. Consumers buy a wide variety of products at discounted prices, and sellers use the day to clear out inventory and boost sales. The key is to offer big discounts to consumers and maintain a stable inventory so that you don't run out of stock and lose sales.

December is the month of gifts. It is an American tradition and culture to exchange gifts with family, friends, coworkers, romantic partners, etc. to express love and concern during the Christmas season. ^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

December 2: Cyber Monday
The Monday after Black Friday is not a holiday, but it is a very important day for Amazon sellers. Online marketplace carry out mega sale events. For Amazon sellers, it's the biggest shopping day of the year, a five-day period from Thanksgiving Thursday through Cyber Monday. Gift shopping continues until Christmas.

December 25: Christmas
This is a day for exchanging Christmas gifts, eating together, and having fun, and it's a great time to buy Christmas gifts, party supplies, and food ingredients.

December 31: New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve, which falls on December 31, is a day of special events and parties in anticipation of the new year. It's a time to celebrate the new year and wish for a fresh start, which leads to increased purchases of party supplies, clothing, food, and more.

Using the various American holidays wisely can help you boost sales and create a reliable FBA inventory management strategy. Many say that personal consumption is at the heart of the US economy, which comes with a reason: shopping seasons continue all year round. You need to make preparations meticulously to ensure that your product assortment and marketing strategies are tailored to the specifics of each holiday to boost sales and increase revenue. # References [1] Ecommerce Calendar 2024: Key Dates for Ecommerce Businesses in 2024, Junglescout
https://www.junglescout.com/blog/amazon-seller-holiday-calendar/
[2] 2024 FBA Holiday Calendar & Checklist: Key Dates for Amazon Sellers, supplykick
https://www.supplykick.com/blog/amazon-fba-calendar-2024
[3] Retail Calendar 2024: Key Dates for Your Ecommerce Business, Adspert
https://www.adspert.net/retail-calendar/
[4] Retail Marketing Calendar 2024: Key Dates, Campaign Ideas, and Ready-To-Use Templates, convertflow
https://www.convertflow.com/blog/retail-marketing-calendar-2024
[5] Retail holiday calendar: Key global shopping events, Amazon
https://advertising.amazon.com/library/guides/global-shopping-events
[6] The 42 best Valentine’s Day gifts under $25 in 2024, CNN Underscored
https://edition.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/gifts/best-valentines-day-gifts-under-25
[7] 25 Easter gift ideas from Amazon that everyone in the family will love. CNN Underscored
https://edition.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/gifts/amazon-easter-gifts
[8] CNN Underscored Labor day Deals
https://edition.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/deals/labor-day
[9] 75+ Best New Year Sales of 2024 That Are Going Strong, Good Housekeeping
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/money/a35082960/new-year-sales/
[10] Another Opportunity for Growth: Back to School Season, Cello Square
https://www.cello-square.com/us-en/blog/view-823.do

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