Cathy's Food Service Marketing
ph: 760-983-0764
cathypac
Weekly/Monthly Holidays October 
Weekly Holidays
Always check your area for any local festivals/fairs and get involved and participate by promoting those specialties also! Lots of State Fairs this month.
9/16-10/2
9/23-10/2
9/23-10/30
9/30 -10/9
9/30-10/23
9/30-10/10
6-16
13-23
14-23
10/17-11/16
10/27-11/13
9/17-10/2
9/29-10/1
(dates vary by area)
9/25-10/1
9/27-10/3
9/25-10/2
Remember to Register to Vote Week
If your State allows this, I would have registration forms available and offer to mail in for customers if they would like
9/29-10/7
International Friendship Week
9/30-10/9
International Sand Sculpting Championships
1-7
(1st week)
If you have fireplaces this would be the week to review how often you have it cleaned. You could develop a promotion with any local Chimney Sweeps.
Universal Children's Week
Getting the World to Beat a Path to Your Door
2-7
See if Vendors are promoting any Dairy products during this period.
2-8
(1st Full Week)
If you are a healthcare facility do not forget these people and have something special going on in your retail areas to honor them - and do not forget that they should not be preparing their own specials/party.
How to Organize your Business
Now is a good time to look at all your systems and review your finances. How do your goals look - realistic - growth, etc.? Are your marketing $'s working? Are you ready for the Holidays?
National Healthcare Supply Chain Week
Promote to the Materials Management Department in all Hospitals and Healthcare facilities in your area.
If you have a local School or Theater Group work with them on developing a mystery that can be performed on site and involved guests in assisting the series Detective find the Perpetrator. You could promote this for a special evening or Brunch.
(1st Business Week)
Promote to all local banks in your area.
Gerontological Nurses Week
Promote to nurses in all residential/longterm care homes around you
3-7
(1st M-F Week)
How to Handle the Angry Customer
Instant Customer Appreciation Lesson for your Staff
6 Examples of Great Customer Service
If you have ever considered doing a survey this is a great time - I prefer open ended questions to find out what my customers actual think. Easier to have them fill them out when they're there in person - offer discount or treat for complying
Heimlich Heroes Week
3-9
(1st Full Week starting Monday))
Local Newspapers could do a list of holidays each day including food holidays and then promote business in the area that also promote those holidays.
(1st M-S Week)
4-5
4-8
Check with local Schools on date but definitely get involved and be in the book of the year!
4-10
6-8
6-12
National Physician Assistants Week
PA's are found in Doctor's Offices and most Healthcare facilities so send out your promotions
7-14
(starts 1st Friday)
8-14
(Always has Columbus Day in it)
Work with Libraries and Schools to develop a promotion
9-14
(week with 2nd Monday)
World Rainforest Week
Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T. Week
(2nd Monday-Friday)
9-15
(2nd full Week)
(S-S with 9th in it)
National Case Management Week
Promote to Hospitals and long term care facilities for this department
(Has 10th in it)
With so many products/recipes listing portions/size with metrics it would be good to ensure that your staff understands and can convert metrics
Take Your Medicine Americans Week
Healthcare Security and Safety Week
National Wildlife Refuge Week
10-14
What about marketing some of your favorite meals in microwavable containers that can be frozen for families to use on hectic mornings.
10-16
11-16
National Dialysis Technician Recognition Week
12-20
Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week
14-19
14-20
15-16
National Kegger Weekend
16-22
(3rd full Week)
National Kraut Sandwich Week
Assorted Kraut Sandwich Recipes
Check your area as some states have different dates
Offer collecting and adding cans of food - check your area and see if leftovers can be donated (some areas allow this)
International Infection Prevention Week
Meditation Week
National Business Women's Week
National Retirement Security Week
A week to celebrate Kids achievements in the community - work with Schools and local organizations to honor these children.
This is becoming a big factor in recipe creation - understanding the actual chemical reactions of products with one another. A basic understanding can help in developing new recipes for your branding.
(starts 3rd Sunday)
National Teen Driver Safety Week
Work with schools to develop promotions but also review your management style and make sure your employees see you and your business as having true Character!
National Health Education Week
17-21
(M-F 3rd Week)
National Health Education Week
National Medical Assistants Recognition Week
National Nuclear Science Week
National School Bus Safety Week
17-23
(3rd Week starting M-S)
National Veterinary Technicians Week
National Friends of Libraries Week
Market to these groups at all local libraries and don't forget School Libraries also.
18-24
23-29
National Chicken Soup for the Soul Week
Market to all local Churches, Meeting Halls, Mosques, etc. and don't forget any organizations of Inter-Ministry/Inter-Faith Groups
National Healthcare Facilities and Engineering Week
National Massage Therapy Awareness Week
Develop a combination promotion with a masseuse or spa in your area - great prize for a contest
National Respiratory Care Week
Kids Care Week
23-31
24-30
National Temperature Check Week
24-31
Global Media and Information Literacy Week
Prescription Errors Education and Awareness Week
25-27
25-31
Hire a magician to perform around your customers - if there is a Magic Show or shop in your area work with them on a dual promotion - Tie into Halloween celebration
1/24-11/11
10/27-11/1
10/29-11/4
10/31-11/4
National Veterans Small Business Week
New cars hit dealerships in October so the later models have the best buys. October is a slow month for vacationers so good deals out there. Costumes for Halloween go on sale right after Halloween but great deals can be seen the week just before the great event (if ordering on line remember that quick shipping costs might destroy those savings)
Monthly Holidays
All of these items below celebrate a particular food or theme - develop recipes using these themes, develop nutritional information for these foods and talk with vendors to see what specials or items they have to help promote these products. Remember to mix and match
Apple Month actually lasts through November, check for your area and see if there will be apple festivals and the timing
National Bake and Decorate Month
Assorted Halloween Decorated Cookies
Assorted Halloween Decorated Cakes and Cupcakes
Assorted Halloween Cookie Recipes
You should strive to be so popular that your guests ask for your recipes - then put out a cookbook - it can be fun and great marketing - even with technology people still love cookbooks to use and collect
Rhizomes Month
National Sun-dried Tomato Month
National Spinach Lover's Month
You should know how this affects your customer base - if you have a percentage then you should be appealing to them daily but use this month to determine your customer response/base
National Pickled Peppers Month
(and again in June)
Eat Better, Eat Together Month
Eat Better, Eat Healthier Month
Pros and Cons of Raw Food Diets
National Restaurant Hospitality Month
Now is the time to demonstrate what you have to offer and how well you do it!
International Microwave Month
10 Cities Where you can eat Amazing Street Food
Global Diversity Awareness Month
Celebrate with meals from each of these Heritages that are also being celebrated this month
Polish American Heritage Month
Filipino American History Month
Italian American Heritage Month
Don't forget that it is also Pasta Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 - October 15
German American Heritage Month
Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
You could promote non-caffeine beverages this month
A great time to collect cans of food and donate to the community
General Interest Items
These are items that you might be able to work with a local business, school or organization in developing a promotion or getting out information to the community
National Pit Bull Awareness Month
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Squirrel Awareness Month
Work with Veterinarians and Shelters in your area to develop a promotion
(10/15-11/30
National Arts and Humanities Month
Photographer Appreciation Month
International School Library Month
National Medical Libraries Month
National Medical Librarians Month
Black Speculative Fiction Month
Class Reunion Month
Most common time of the year - if your facility accommodates large groups or you offer catering start marketing six months in advance to all school groups - also reunions have break off groups/ guests that get together for individual meals - think of ways to market for this business
You could have fun with this one - I was thinking that you could set up a table for collectors to put extra stamps or whatever is being collected (free beverage) and invite school kids (with parents) to come and start a collection by looking through the items and picking up what they need. I am sure that the collectors would also like to offer advice to the kids that are interested.
National Roller Skating Month
If you have a roller rink in your area work with them to develop a promotion.
Energy Management is a Family Affair
Million Minute Family Challenge Month
Nation Go On A Field Trip Month
National Field Trip Month
International Walk to School Month
National Kitchen and Bath Month
National Improve your Home Month
(10/1-3/31/13)
National Orthodontic Health Month
National Sarcastic Awareness Month
Market to all charitable organizations in your area this month.
Church Safety and Security Month
Pastor/Clergy Appreciation Month
National Chiropractic Health Month
Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month
National Physical Therapy Month
Market to all Physical Therapists in your area and local healthcare centers.
Organize Your Medical Records Month
Tips for Organizing Medical Records
See if local hospitals or insurance companies have some organization tools that you can pass out
I'm Just Me Because Month
Women Walking in Their Own Shoes Month
Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season 5/15-11/30
Atlantic Caribbean and Gulf Hurricane Season (6/1-11/30)
Central Pacific Hurricane Season (5/15-11/30)
Apply these ideas to your business and future goals
Celebrating companies owned by employees or employee ownership through stock purchases.
I would ask the question - do your employees take ownership in their work and habits? This is what every business owner should strive for - yes you will be inundated by suggestions/ideas but if some of them work then I say great!
National Toilet Tank Repair Month
Utility companies used to offer free analysis of businesses but often charge now. If your company is large enough and you have not done a review recently then this is a consideration as you can save money by changing light bulbs to adding solar or turbines - give it some thought but always keep ROI in mind.
Workplace Politics Awareness Month
Happens everywhere and ignoring it does not make it go away. Be aware of it and deal with it.
You can never market yourself enough so contemplate how you can get more word out about your business.
National "Gain the Inside Advantage" Month
National Positive Attitude Month
National Work and Family Month
Tips for Financial Planning for your Business
International Strategic Planning Month
Computer Learning Month
Free On Line Computer Classes for Business
Do you have programs that might benefit your business but you have not gotten around to learning them - now is the time get on it!
National Cyber Security Awareness Month
National Crime Prevention Month
Do It Yourself Month
I would contemplate more scratch cooking; learning how to repair your equipment to some degree, facility maintenance as many smaller issues can be handled in house
Celebrating not enough time in the day - learn how to delegate
National Fire Prevention Month
National Window Covering Safety Month
ph: 760-983-0764
cathypac