Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of May and marks the unofficial start of the summer season. For many brands, it's one of the most important retail events of the year and the perfect occasion to launch their new seasonal collections.

According to Numerator, 25% of consumers will make their holiday purchases online, with the majority of them (62%) spending more than $50. However, the rising inflation is expected to influence total spending heavily, as 9 out of 10 shoppers admit it will limit their purchases, and 53% claim the impact will be moderate or significant. The good news? A whopping 67% of holiday celebrators plan to battle the economic downturn by buying items on sale.

Start the hype about your Memorial Day deals with timely and engaging campaigns. Approach shoppers on the channels they prefer.

Set your store up for success with our 4 must-have SMS & email strategies and ready-to-use templates.

Let the countdown to Memorial Day begin!

14 Days Before Memorial Day

Strategy: Create buzz about your flash sale or new summer collection.  
Launch date: May 15
Target: ALL customers

With just 14 days left until the holiday weekend, it's time to launch your warm-up SMS and email campaigns. Get customers in the mood for shopping by announcing your pre-sale deals. Try to keep the discounts lower at this point, as you’ll want to save the best deals for your VIP customers later on or for the last-chance sales push around the big day.

Send your first Memorial Day campaigns around May 15. Most brands will start actively promoting their offers for the long weekend just a few days before, so such an early launch will give you a great headstart, and your customers will be notified about your offers well before others reach out to them. Furthermore, people usually plan their Memorial Day weekend in advance, so it might be better to spread the news about your offers as early as possible to give customers time to stock up on necessities. 

You know what they say: the early bird gets the worm. And early birds will become your favorite type of holiday shoppers, as they will help you get some sales in, even before the holidays begin.

You don’t need special targeting. Quite the contrary — let EVERYONE know about your Memorial Day sales! Sending timely texts and emails with a personalized touch will help you make sure that each and every one of your customers will get the announcement of your hot summer deals. 

Pro tip: Try not to be too salesy or pushy with the copy of your messages — remember to be considerate and celebrate respectfully. Use the opportunity to convey a patriotic theme. Especially on this occasion, it might be better to avoid intense FOMO.

7 Days Before Memorial Day

Strategy: Send exclusive offers to your favorite shoppers. 
Launch date: May 22
Target: Loyal and high-value customers

One week before the holiday weekend is the right time to send your most loyal and high-value customers an exclusive Memorial Day offer. Consider it another option for an early bird campaign but for the VIPs. These people bring in a significant part of your revenue by making either bigger or repetitive purchases, or in other words — these are your top spenders. 

Show your appreciation and special attention by sending them exclusive offers or a sneak peek at a brand-new product/collection. Now is the time to really go BIG on discounts. Sending ultra-tailored SMS and email campaigns will help you reach out to your most valuable segment of customers, boost AOV and CLV, and improve your overall store performance. Moreover, with the latest data privacy changes, engaging loyalty programs will remain one of the best ways to nurture customer-brand relations.

Pro tip: Personalization is key — use first names to greet your customers to create a feeling of bond and trust.

3 Days Before Memorial Day

Strategy: Spread the word about your Memorial Day deals.
Launch date: May 26
Target: Everyone

Let the Memorial Day festivities begin! Now is the time to get your customers prepped up for the long holiday weekend with appealing & personalized offers. 

Whether it will be a short-time flash sale or a special package deal — the choice is yours! Combining products in bundles will help you boost sales and, at the same time, clear out the shelves of some slow-moving items. 

Pro tip: Present an appealing offer — traditionally, Memorial Day sales are bigger than usual and can be compared in value to BFCM promotions. Big discounts, gift vouchers, and free shipping will serve as an excellent incentive for customers to hit the Purchase button. And remember, always use a clear call to action. 

Memorial Day

Strategy: Drive extra sales to your store with some last-minute deals.
Launch date: May 29
Target: All customers

The goal here is simple. Use this campaign as a last chance to move some slow-running products. Now is not the time to hold back — boost the discount value and keep those sales coming. 

This is where you can include a hint of urgency, just to let shoppers know that the deals will soon expire. Remember to remain respectful and avoid being too pushy or aggressive when it comes to sales and messaging on this special day. 

Bonus Option

Even if you don’t have a special promotion this Memorial Day, reaching out to your customers with heartfelt messages to commemorate the day or simply thank them for being there for you is always a good idea. 

It will help you strengthen the bond with your audience and keep your brand top of mind on this special day.  

Another great idea is to use the occasion and make a company announcement or launch a care campaign.  

These were our top strategies on how to engage with your customers this Memorial Day and drive more sales to your store. 

If you need more inspiration, check out these 11 ready-to-use text marketing templates  — simply copy, paste, and schedule your holiday campaigns today!

Looking for more? Leverage our Memorial Day strategy guide and learn how your brand can kick off the summer shopping season on the right foot with the right marketing tactics.