As summer winds down, one of the largest shopping weekends is just around the corner. Snag some inspiration for your brand’s Labor Day marketing plans.
Labor Day is almost here, marking the unofficial end to the summer—and a time to celebrate with some of our favorite traditions: beach outings, barbeques, and bargains.
Consumers will be taking advantage of this long weekend to refresh their wardrobe, stock up on fall must-haves, and shop last-minute back-to-school deals.
Looking to stand out from the crowd and maximize your end-of-summer revenue? We’ve pulled together top-performing text messaging examples to inspire your Labor Day marketing.
Pura Vida Bracelets: Rewarding VIPs with exclusive early access
Knowing that many Labor Day sales start before the holiday weekend, Pura Vida Bracelets sent this early access offer to subscribers in their VIP segment—reserving the exclusive deal for their most engaged subscribers.
The sustainable jewelry brand emphasized the exclusive and personal nature of the VIP-only offer (“We want YOU”). This special treatment and limited-time nature of the offer encouraged Pura Vida’s loyal customers to shop the sale before everyone else.
Rastelli’s: Boosting last-minute sales with delivery deadlines
Meat delivery service Rastelli’s tied in their final “Summer Freeday” campaign with timely Labor Day offers. This seasonal twist to their weekly deals excited subscribers and encouraged them to take advantage of the limited-time sale.
The brand was looking out for their customers’ delivery needs, reminding them to order now to receive their items in time for the long weekend. They included a mouth-watering GIF, showcasing the grill-ready products and BBQ party inspiration.
True Religion: Using an omnichannel approach to drive traffic
Designer jeans and clothing brand True Religion drove online and in-store revenue around Labor Day with personalized text messaging. In their message, which was sent to their full list of SMS subscribers, the brand doubled down on the sitewide sale’s limited availability in the text message copy and seasonal GIF (“time is running out”).
True Religion also sent a text message to subscribers who recently added an item to their cart. By pairing the cart abandonment message with their Labor Day sale campaign message, the brand incentivized high-intent subscribers to shop without having to offer additional discounts.
Harold Home: Growing email & SMS lists with a Labor Day-specific sign-up unit
Harold Home, a personalized art retailer, converted Labor Day shoppers into subscribers by offering a free mug with purchase after they opted in for emails and texts. This unique incentive captured the attention of new site visitors, who were already looking for personalized art.
The brand customized their mobile sign-up unit with the adorable graphic to stand out to visitors around the major shopping weekend. The seamless opt-in process grows both the brands’ email and SMS subscriber lists, building their audience ahead of Black Friday/Cyber Monday and the rest of the holiday shopping season.
Thread Wallets: Driving online revenue with limited-time offers
Thread Wallets—a lifestyle and accessories brand—used a creative text campaign to stand out from other Labor Day weekend flash sales. Since SMS subscribers are highly engaged, Thread Wallets’ limited-time discount drove immediate revenue from the channel’s mobile audience.
The brand made sure to clearly communicate the sale’s details and limited-time nature. The simple but effective GIF was designed to capture subscribers’ attention, setting the message apart from the many sales happening around the holiday weekend.
Labor Day is one of the last major sales events before Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Think about using your Labor Day marketing campaigns to kickstart your holiday strategies by building out your SMS plans, growing your subscriber list, and driving brand loyalty. Now is the time to experiment with new ways to engage your audience, and test what works for your brand.
Looking for more ways to prepare and plan for the holiday season? Explore our Holiday Marketing Reboot, an interactive guide full of holiday tips and strategies you can implement for your own brand.
Tips for other upcoming holidays:
- Women’s Equality Day (August 26): Women earn 84% of what men are paid in the United States, on average. Share what your brand is doing behind the scenes to promote women’s equality—from highlighting women leaders to your company’s mentorship programs.
- National Beach Day (August 30): Offer subscribers 10% off to stock up on beach essentials before the end of the summer, like swimwear, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Remind shoppers of their shipping options so they can get their items in time for Labor Day.
- Read a Book Day (September 6): If your brand doesn’t sell books, share recommendations to help subscribers achieve their optimum reading environment—from comfy pillows to bubble bath supplies.
- International Day of Peace (September 21): Share the values and causes that matter to your brand, including how subscribers can get involved.
- First Day of Fall (September 22): Help subscribers get ready for chillier weather by highlighting new seasonal items like sweaters, boots, earth-toned cosmetics, and fall decor.
- International Coffee Day (October 1): Offer subscribers a “perk,” like free shipping or a gift with purchase.
Check out our full 2022 text messaging calendar to find more tips for key marketing dates. And find more inspiration for Labor Day and beyond in our SMS gallery, Texts We Love.
