I first heard of 5th Saturday promotions when I worked for a national department store chain. I was the director of staff training and my office was right next to the advertising team. This was in the 1980’s when ad teams still mocked up magazine and newspaper ads by hand on drafting tables. It was a glorious thing to watch.
Fast forward to 2010 and I started noticing a few independent stores holding Fifth Saturday promotions, mostly for VIP customers. Lately, more retailers have asked me about it, so I think it warrants a newsletter post. It’s not new to many, but still a new idea for some, and worth consideration. Or perhaps you are looking for fresh ideas for your current promo.
So, what is a Fifth Saturday Promotion? Each year, there are four or five months that have a 5th Saturday. Many businesses use the days to hold a special promotion on those days only.
March, June, August, November all have 5 Saturdays in 2024.
Many retailers choose to reward VIP customers on these days, but there are a number of ways to generate store foot traffic including special bags to “fill” for a discount, extra % or BOGO on clearance items, a gift-with-purchase and more!
Lately, I have helped several annual subscribers source bags for their VIP 5th Saturday promo. Some plan to sell the bags and others give them away to customers who “earn” them. There are many variations…