According to the National Retail Federation, US consumers spent an estimated $7.2 billion on St. Patrick’s Day in 2024. Wow!
St. Patrick’s Day, with its vibrant green hues and festive spirit, presents a fantastic opportunity for businesses to engage with customers and boost sales.
Here are some captivating marketing campaign ideas to help you “go green” and win big.
1. Embrace the Green
GO GREEN! Literally, greenify your brand!
Dye your products green (if applicable); imagine green bagels, green beer, green mimosas, green cupcakes, green smoothies, or green merchandise.
A local donut shop in my hometown served green donuts, with green frosting, and shamrock sprinkle topping.
Dress your storefront with green lights, use a festive background for your website, and adorn your social media with green accents.
Offer green-themed promotions and giveaways:
- Offer “wear green” discounts.
- Host a “guess the number of shamrocks” contest.
- Create a limited-edition “Lucky Charm” product bundle.
When I worked for a boutique, we were located in a city that celebrated the holiday all day long; we would put green beads on the mannequins, had a lucky wheel to spin for prizes, and offered 20% off all merchandise that contained the color green.
2. Tap into Irish Traditions
Enhance your customer’s experience with some Celtic music and entertainment. You can hire an Irish band or a traditional musician for live entertainment or create a playlist of Irish folk music to play in your store.
Have some fun while sharing the culture by hosting a virtual Irish dance lesson or a “how to play the bodhrán” tutorial.
Serve Irish Food and offer drink specials to draw hungry patrons in. Offer Irish-inspired dishes like shepherd’s pie, corned beef and cabbage, or Irish stew. Feature festive libations, with Irish beers, whiskey, and cocktails. Top off their luck with a green dessert!
A bar in my hometown would offer a “Lucky Charms” cocktail, a “free-refills” pot of gold mug, and green tinted pitchers to celebrate. Let me tell you, people absolutely loved it!
Sláinte!
3. Use Social Media
St. Patrick’s Day consistently ranks as one of the most talked-about holidays on social media, with a large volume of posts, comments, and shares. (Statista)
Be a part of the buzz, and incorporate the holiday into your social media content
Giveaway: Run a St. Patrick’s Day-themed giveaway that encourages your customers to share photos of themselves wearing green at your business. Offer a prize for the most creative use of green in their outfit.
Caption Contest: Hosting a caption contest with a St. Patrick’s Day-themed image is a great way to create buzz around your brand and reach new clients. At the boutique we had people share photos of themselves with a green version of our shopping bag (with our logo on it) and a festive and relatable caption like #luckyday.
Host a Live: Go live with your followers with interactive elements like St. Patty’s trivia. Draw them in with a decorated backdrop. Entice participation by adding an element of luck, choose a random winner just for joining in!
User-Generated Content: Have users share content that incorporates your brand or industry. For example, your customers can share a photo of their lucky holiday home décor and choose the most festive one as a winner. At the boutique, I used influencers to share their favorite festive green looks.
Create engaging social media content: Share Irish folklore and fun facts. You can post behind-the-scenes sneak peeks of your St. Patrick’s Day preparations. Try including Irish themed GIFs, such as shamrocks or leprechauns, to draw attention to your stories. Make sure to use relevant St. Patrick’s Day hashtags like #StPatricksDay, #GoGreen, #IrishLuck.
4. Direct Mail
Direct mail could be your four-leaf clover in a St. Patrick’s Day marketing strategy, while it may seem old school – it’s actually a great way to target your customers in a tangible and hands-on way.
For example, you could send a pot of gold shaped invite with a scratch-off coupon with a one-of-a-kind discount.
And the best part? You can personalize the mailer itself. Instead of just a generic “Hey there,” use their name! It makes it feel way more personal and less like junk mail, which means they’re way more likely to actually pay attention.
5. Community Engagement
Community engagement is key when it comes to celebrating special events.
Actively participate in local events to build strong relationships with your customers and put your brand in the spotlight. For example, you can sponsor a local St. Patrick’s Day parade or event to show your involvement in the community. It can also be a great way to flash your logo and gain new customers or clients.
The more the merrier, partner with other local businesses for a joint St. Patrick’s Day promotion. Make it an Irish potluck event, with different businesses coming together and inviting their customers to join the fun.
Enhance your brand reputation, consider donating a portion of your proceeds to an Irish charity or a local organization.
St. Patricks Day Marketing Ideas
Remember, you should have fun with your St. Patrick’s marketing campaigns. Incorporate these creative and engaging ideas into your marketing strategy to attract new customers and strength existing relationships with your loyal ones.
Remember to keep your messaging authentic, festive, and aligned with your brand’s unique personality.
Embrace the spirit of this fun-loving holiday and let the luck of the Irish be with you!
For additional ways to market around St. Patricks Day and other holidays, contact Welcome Wagon!
Founded in 1928 to welcome new movers to their community, Welcome Wagon is committed to connecting your business with new homeowners through online and offline channels.
