JULY 2016 GENERAL IDEAS

· Full blitz in direct marketing, social media marketing and internal marketing to bring the excitement of the Olympics to a fever pitch encouraging everyone to enroll now before the games begin!

· Call every family that dropped for summer and encourage them to sign up NOW to get their spot

· All out countdown to the games; lots of videos of P&G and St. Louis of internal monitors and social media.

· Get back to school displays up right after July 4th

· A “Christmas in July” sale is a great way to get rid of excess inventory.

· And of course, we hope to see you in San Jose in July for National Congress and the U.S. Women’s Olympic trials—and if you attend, be sure to market this fact to your clients via newsletter and social media.

LOOKING TO THE MONTHS AHEAD· Prepare Facebook ads for use in August to capitalize on the Olympics (Here is a great article on how to create Face-

book ads: http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/facebook-paid-ad-checklist

· Make sure Front Office staff is up and running; hold training if needed

· Organize and market any events you have planned for August to celebrate the Olympics

· Order Halloween merchandise and décor

JULY HOLIDAYS

JULY 1Canada Day

July 3Stay out of the Sun dayStay Out of the Sun Day encourages us to stay cool in the shade, giving our skin a rest from the hot, damag-ing rays of the sun.

Hold an Open Gym to encourage an activity away from the sun.

Post information about sun safety. http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/outdoor/sun_safety.html?tracking=89573_F

JULY 4Independence Day

If your city has a parade, participate. Also hand out business cards, flyers or even promotional gifts such ice-cold branded bottled waters, branded calendars, rulers, pens, lip balms or other items people are likely to keep and use.

Post holiday greetings.

Author— Anne Josephson, Josephson Academy of Gymnastics (JAG)

JULY 5ONE MONTH UNTIL OPENING CEREMONIES

JULY 7Business Member Club Forum (San Jose, CA)

JULY 8-10USA Gymnastics National Congress (San Jose, CA)U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Women’s Team (San Jose, CA)

JULY 9National Sugar Cookie DayTo celebrate, here is a classic sugar cookie recipe for you. Post on social media using #NationalSugar-CookieDay. http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/classic-sugar-cookies/90993177-b5fe-4cc7-a6b6-8f58913d36e8

JULY 10Joke DaySome gymnastics jokes for you:https://annejosephson.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/because-sometime-you-just-have-to-laugh/

Teddy Bear Picnic DayHave preschool students use teddy bears as props; post pictures to social media

Sell Teddy Bears in gift shop

Video of Teddy Bear Picnic songhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDndFOtBy-E

JULY 1620 Days Until Opening Ceremonies

JULY 17National Ice Cream Day (third Sunday in July)Hold an ice cream social or ice cream sundae happy hour at your gym.

JULY 20 (THIRD WED IN JULY)National Hot Dog DayFun fact: Over 25 million hot dogs are sold at baseball stadiums each year.

Info graphic on hot dog typeshttp://editorial.designtaxi.com/editorial-images/news-hotdog22052015/big.jpg

JULY 24Cousins’ DayEncourage everyone to show appreciation of his or her cousins. If you have cousins in the gym, feature pictures of them on social media.

JULY 26Happy Birthday, Bert! (Sesame Street)

All or Nothing DayEveryone has at least one thing that they would like to try, need to do or want to do but might be fearful or hesitant to do so. Today is the day to go ahead and do it, take that first step and go for it! Post video that you collect from the week of kids “going for” new skills.

10 Days Until Opening Ceremonies

JULY 279 Days Until Opening Ceremonies

JULY 288 Days Until Opening Ceremonies

JULY 297 Days Until Opening Ceremonies

JULY 30National Dance Day (last Saturday in July)Created as a day to raise awareness about and encourage Americans to embrace dance as a fun and pos-itive way to maintain good health and combat obesity. If you have a dance program, feature it on social media. Have a “bring a friend” day in your dance program.

Even if you don’t have a dance program, celebrate by having your gymnasts to a dance and featuring it on social media. Here is an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtxKjUe__Zw

Hold a sale of dance merchandise in gift shop

International Day of Friendship

Feature friendship merchandise in gift shop

6 Days Until Opening Ceremonies

JULY 31National Mutt DayWork with a local rescue to hold an adoption event at your gym

Sponsor a donut sale/cartwheel-a-thon/car wash etc. and donate proceeds to a local animal shelter

Encourage pictures of gymnasts and their mutts

5 Days Until Opening Ceremonies

Author— Anne Josephson, Josephson Academy of Gymnastics (JAG)