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An end of summer sale is an ideal way to move out the old merchandise to make room for the new, but it only works if people actually know it’s happening. Check out these hot-as-August tips to promote end of summer sale to help get customers engaged and excited to buy.

Personal Invites

Direct mail can still be a boon, provided you target the right people likely to be interested in what you’re selling. Pick a theme and promote your end of summer sale as a full-blown party, perhaps billing it as an indoor beach bash. Set up your direct mail piece as a party invite, printed on colorful, eye-catching paper or postcards showcasing your party’s theme. The same concept works for an email blast if you want to extend your reach online.

Then host a party. Offer apps and drinks during a late-night evening of sales. The first 10 people to arrive get free product.

Flyers

High-quality flyers can give your sale a huge local boost, and they can also work widespread magic online. Striking imagery is your flyer’s best friend, YFSmagazine says, so go for a brilliant photo or stationary featuring an intriguing summer design.

Create a captivating headline and catchy text that fills in the details. Use no more than two different fonts to keep it simple, streamlined and visually appealing. Don’t forget to post a downloadable version of your flyer online where people can view and print it.

Social Media Blasts

Pick the platform where those most interested in your end of summer sale are most likely to hang out, then send out various posts promoting it. You can promote your end of summer sale in a variety of different ways, and Curata notes you can definitely send out more than one blast about the same event.

To increase engagement, try asking questions, posting spectacular photos or even asking folks to vote on their favorite photo you post. Make sure to include a mention of your sale in every post.

Contests

Contests are a keen way to promote end of summer sale while amassing a useful stock of user-generated content you can use for other purposes down the line. Again, pick a theme, and then ask users to submit their own photos, videos, poems or artwork. Other contest ideas from Wordstream include having users vote of their favorite piece of content or asking them to submit humorous captions for an existing photo.

Whatever route you choose, these strategies to promote end of summer sale can help ensure your seasonal merchandise goes marching out the door. And don’t forget to pepper your store with plenty of end of summer sale signs!

When to start holiday marketing is a tricky decision. You want to stir up excitement and gain momentum early, but you don’t want to overload consumers with holiday fanfare and totally turn them off.

There is no clear-cut right or wrong answer on when to start holiday marketing, although Dec. 23 is probably a shade too late. InternetRetailer reported on a ChannelAdvisor Corp. survey that says September is the most common month for many retailers to start gearing up for the holiday shopping season.

When to Start Holiday Marketing

Retailers responding to the survey noted when they planned to start holiday marketing for 2014.

• June or earlier: 1 percent
• July: 7 percent
• August: 12 percent
• September: 46 percent
• October: 23 percent
• November: 14 percent

Following the majority would put September as your target month for kicking off your holiday marketing. And tips from Constant Contact show you how.

How to Start Holiday Marketing

Plan to participate in the biggest sale days. These include Black Friday on Nov. 28, Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29, and Cyber Monday on Dec. 1. This trio officially kicks off the holiday shopping season, and you want to start promoting them in your first round of activity with signs, emails, flyers and other promotional materials.

Cook up a can’t-miss holiday offer. Even the hottest holiday sales have tons of competition, so you need to whip up a special holiday offer your customers can’t refuse. Decide on an alluring coupon, local deal, or both – and then spread the word. Coupons let people redeem the offer in-store or online when they shop. Local deals, using platforms like Groupon, have customers pay in advance and then redeem their deal within a certain time frame.

Run a few social media contests. Contests help build consumer engagement, remind people that your business is offering spectacular holiday deals, and give people a chance to win a great prize or discount. Have users vote on photos or videos, submit their own photos, videos or captions, or answer fun trivia questions related to the holidays or your industry.

Reward your loyal customers. Make your loyal customers feel extra special and you can reap the rewards of additional sales and referrals. Offer loyal customers special deals, sneak previews, secret sales or free shipping.

Have a holiday party. A holiday open house or other special event can help bring big crowds into your shop, especially if you offer free refreshments and special in-store discounts. Here you can showcase your seasonal merchandise and gifts, even presenting customers with a small gift or coupon for future purchases if they buy something during the party.

Whether you’re promoting your holiday sales with digital or printed materials, just remember to keep your promos short, to the point, visually appealing and revved up with a fun, festive vibe that gets customers in the holiday (shopping!) mood.