The fall is traditionally a slow sales time for game and hobby stores. Here are some ideas for September that may help to keep those sales from slipping too much.
Below is a printable calendar for September 2023. Hopefully, this easy reference can help you plan events, sales, and marketing. You certainly don’t need to create something for every day, do what feels right for your store.
1st – National Food Bank Day
Another great opportunity to help a local cause while also encouraging visits to your business. This would be a great weekend to run a charity event where canned and dry goods are the entry fee.
2nd – World Beard Day
Growing an epic beard is quite an achievement. Celebrate those manly men by offering a discount for those bearded beauties. Maybe the amount of the discount is tied to the length of the beard.
3rd – National Pet Rock Day
The first Sunday in September marks this odd day. Take this opportunity to make it a special moment and create a marketable event around it. Maybe a Paint and Take event focused on creating a pet rock, a fashion parade showing off your customer’s favorite painted rocks, or creating a special roleplaying adventure based around a magic rock, Earth elementals, or scaling a huge rocky mountain to save the King or Queen.
3rd – National Tailgating Day
Almost as popular as football itself, tailgating is like having a mobile barbeque. Check with your local restaurants for a cross-promotion or maybe you can set up a grill outside and give out free hotdogs. A good day for creative promotions.
4th – National Wildlife Day
There are tons of animal and wildlife-themed games and products. If you carry any of these, why not have a special sale or demo to promote them? Take a percentage of your profit and donate it to a good cause local to you.
4th – Labor Day
The unofficial end of summer. One last long weekend before school is in full session and the weekly grind continues. This is a great moment to ride the coattails of major chain advertising offering Labor Day sales. Customers will already be expecting a discount, bundle, or deal. It’s also time to review your event schedule and adjust if needed due to most kids returning to school and changing schedules.
5th – National Cheese Pizza Day
Does anyone really need an excuse to offer free pizza to customers? Well, if you do, here it is. Nothing brings gamers in like free food. This would also make a great day to cross-promote with a local pizza place. And don’t forget to stock up on those pizza-themed games.
6th –
National Read A Book Day
If you’re stocking comic books this is a no-brainer. Even if you don’t sell comics, RPG source books are a great product to push on this day. If you have access to a local writer, consider an event having the writer do a reading that day, a book signing, or any other way to possibly cross-promote your business to a group of customers that may not have known you existed.
7th – National Beer Lover’s Day
If you’re lucky enough to have a liquor license you’re probably already on top of this day. If you don’t, you’ve still got some options. Check with a local bar, tavern, or restaurant to see if you can host a game night with drink specials.
8th – Star Trek Day
Star Trek originally aired on September 8th, 1966. While the original series original ratings were subpar at best, the cult-like following it created has turned the Star Trek Fan Base into one of the most fanatical bases of all time. Be sure to showcase any Star Trek products you’re currently carrying, set up a cosplay event, and/or attend a convention as a vendor.
8th – National Ampersand Day
What a great day for promoting pairs of things. Set up some bundles & sell them together. Sleeves & deck boxes. Binders & packs. Minis & paint. You get the idea.
9th – When Pigs Fly Day
Based on a saying, “When Pigs Fly!” is basically saying that something is impossible. Well, make the impossible happen on this day! Deep discount, i.e. clearance day, change the rules of a popular game or focus on having a magician in store to entertain your customers and staff as a special event.
10th – Grandparent’s Day
Even Grandparents enjoy hobbies. Especially retirees. This day could be a great opportunity to welcome a new demographic into your store.
12th – National Video Game Day
Even if you’re not dealing in video games, you probably have some collectibles or tabletop games themed after some popular video games. Take advantage of this day to promote those products and possibly offer discounts.
13th – National Bald is Beautiful Day
Much like National Beard Day, find ways of celebrating your bald customers. You know you’ve got some.
15th – Double Cheeseburger Day
Cheeseburgers are a classic American staple meal. A double cheeseburger must mean it’s a double classic meal. If you serve food, today is the day to feature and focus on these delicious sandwiches.
16th – Batman Day
Every third Saturday in September, Batman is honored. Originally in Detective Comics in 1939, Batman has grown into a household name and several successful feature films.
22nd – Hobbit Day
Another major franchise with a huge fanbase. Have a second breakfast or dress like a Hobbit. Whatever you do make sure to celebrate some love to J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpieces of fantasy fiction.
22nd – National Singles Day
This day is meant to celebrate all the single people in your life. However, if your store sells card singles you could have some fun with it. Maybe advertise some of those card singles like a dating site. Or parody a dating game show. Get creative.
25th – National Comic Book Day
Obviously, if you’ve got comics you want to push them this day. But if you don’t, take some time to celebrate the artists and creators who built the comic industry.
26th – National Family Day
This is a great day to invite entire families into your store and promote games and products the whole family can enjoy.
29th – National VFW Day
Take some time today to honor those veterans who not only served our country, but continue to serve other veterans, their families, and their communities.
29th – National Coffee Day
Most of us probably celebrate coffee every day, but today is the big day. Check with local coffee shops, and set up a flyer swap or coupon exchange. There are lots of ways to take advantage of celebrating everyone’s favorite wakeup juice.
