On Serpent Day, amongst other promotions, you could encourage snake-owning customers to post selfies with their pets using the #serpentday tag. (You could also use this hashtag to identify potential future customers to follow from your store or personal Twitter or Instagram account.)
4 It’s Super Bowl Sunday! You might not know it with all the Roman numeral nonsense, but this marks the 52nd edition of America’s premier sporting event. Celebrate with a 52 percent discount on football-themed toys or a touchdown service package?
8 Get your customer to laugh and you’re halfway to closing the sale. That’s the thinking behind Laugh and Get Rich Day, which was created by retail guru Rick Segel. Of course, it’s not just about the bottom line. Humor fosters creative thinking and better communication, generates loyalty and just makes work a better place to be for all.
9 Pizza Day is a fun, yummy way to build team togetherness. Bring your gang together and debate your favorite pizza toppings and styles (New York or Chicago or California or even New England Greek). Then pick a winner. But be careful. People can get serious about their pizza.
12 On Clean Out Your Computer Day, try two or more of the following: 1. Delete old files to free disk space; 2. Clean your desktop; 3. Untangle the cables behind; 4. Scrub your keyboard.
12 The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show gets under way at Madison Square Garden. Why not invite your customers — and their dogs — to your business for a viewing party?
14 If you’re not marketing Valentine’s Day gifts (or services) for pets, you’re just being lazy. From the start of the month, you should be displaying a curated selection of gifts prominently in both your store and on your website. Send two, three or four Valentine’s Day product bulletins as well. It’s also Pet Theft Awareness Day, a stark reminder about how, on a day of love, a pet owner can have his heart broken. Make sure your customers know about micro-chipping and pet protection services available in your area.
16 At long last, the Chinese New Year cycles around to a category that actually helps pet business owners. (Roosters, goats and monkeys? Not so much.) It’s the Year of the Dog, people. Promote dog gifts, gear and ways to show off your love of all things canine.
17 Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day. Pay it forward. Kindness within the community is a great look for any pet service business.
26 On Personal Chef Day, remind those on your email list that, while most people could never afford a personal chef, a personal chef for pampered dogs or cats is a reasonable and realistic expense. Share your prices by day, week and month.
MORE EVENTS
Feb. 4 is Thank a Mailman Day. You should. But it will probably have to wait until Monday.
Feb. 5 is World Nutella Day. Celebrate one of the world’s most precious substances.
Feb. 16-19 is The Great Backyard Bird Count. Submit findings at
birdcount.org.
Feb. 23 is International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. Let’s send warm thoughts to these stalwart, super-convenient staples of doggie diets everywhere.
Feb. 20 is Love Your Pet Day.
Feb. 22 is Walking the Dog Day. In February? Brrr.