When to Shop, When to Stock: Sale Cycles

Seasonal Sale Cycles

JANUARY:

Sales/Deals:
Oatmeal (it’s National Oatmeal Month!)
Quaker products

Diet foods and products, New Year, New You type promotions
Healthy Choice, South Beach, Lean Cuisine, yogurt, 100 calorie packs, Special K, K20, Right Bites, Smart Start
Diet aids

Winter Health: Cold Medicines, Pain relief, Health products, Vitamins

Soup, Chili, “warm you up” type foods

Super Bowl party foods-
Pepsi, Coke, soda, chips, dips, cheese, sandwich items, crackers, snacks

Cleaners/household items (winter cleaning, organization, storage, Rubbermaid totes)

White sales/home items

Furniture

Computers

Sports and Weight Loss Equipment

Special promotions introducing new product lines, especially hair color, make up, beauty products, bath products

Clearance items:
Calendars, planners, anything dated items

Christmas/Hanukkah/New Years party supplies
Wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, cards
Ornaments
Candles

Toys
Winter clothing, coats, gloves, hats, boots, etc.

FEBRUARY:

Sales/Deals:
National Canned Food Month – Canned vegetables, Canned fruits, Canned tuna, Canned beans, Cherry pie filling

National Hot Breakfast Month promos-
Kellogg’s, General Mills, Post, Quaker, etc. Hot cereal, Eggo’s, waffles, syrup, etc.

Heart and heart-healthy products (American Heart Month) -
aspirin, supplements, low cholesterol oils and spreads, etc.

Westminster Dog Show this month-
Dog food, Eukanuba, Pedigree, Purina, Iams

Valentine’s Day promos-
Chocolate (also Celebration of Chocolate Month), Valentine’s candy, KY, Monistat, etc., Hershey’s, Hershey’s kisses promos

Chinese New Year promos- Soy sauce, Teriyaki, Canned water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, Crunchy noodles, Ramen, Stir fry

Electronics

Floor Coverings

Housewares

Furniture

Clearance items:
Valentine’s candy, Candy, Chocolate

MARCH:

Sales/Deals:
Frozen food month- Frozen vegetables (box, bag, steam), Frozen fruits, Frozen dinners/meals, Ice cream, Waffles

Cleansers and household items (spring cleaning month)

Peanuts (national Peanut Month)

St Patrick’s Day –
Potatoes, corned beef, “Irish” foods

Gardening supplies

Clearance items:
Winter items
Popsicle, ice cream, frozen novelties, etc (this is the time when “last year’s flavors” are cleared out, packaging redesigned, etc., to make room for the new products in April)

APRIL:

Sales/Deals:
Easter/Passover: Eggs, Ham, Asparagus, Horseradish, Butter, Coconut
Some Jewish/Passover items not found during other months, 

Toys (Easter basket-type toys)

Earth Day promos- Organic foods, Organic/environmentally conscious products
Energy savers, Coupon inserts for environmental causes

Daylight Savings Time promos- Batteries, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide monitors

Clearance items:
Easter - great time to stock up on decorations & non-perishable gifts for next year

Olive Oil (April starts the new season)

MAY:

Sales/Deals:
BBQ/Memorial Day promos- BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonnaise, Marinade, Pickles, Salad dressing, Popsicles, Hot dogs, Hamburger/ground beef, Ribs, Steaks, Buns, Paper plates, napkins, plastic utensils, etc., Soda
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Allergy meds
Coupon inserts of Summer Blast-off theme

Cinco De Mayo promos – Salsa, tortillas, tacos, seasonings

National Pet Week promos- Dog food, cat food, treats

JUNE:

Sales/Deals:
National Dairy Month promos- Dairy Products, Milk, Cheese, Ice cream, Yogurt, Sour cream

July 4th promos- BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonnaise, Hot dogs, Marinade, Pickles, Salad dressing, Popsicles, Hamburger/ground beef, Ribs, Steaks, Buns, Soda
Paper plates, napkins, plastic utensils, etc.
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Hats
Self-tanner

National Headache promos- Aspirin, pain relievers, headache meds, allergy / sinus headache meds

JULY:

Sales/Deals:
Back to school starts school supply “deals”

National Ice Cream Month

July 4th promos- best BBQ sales of year through 7/4.
BBQ Sauce, Baked beans, Ketchup, Mustard, Mayonnaise, Marinade, Hot dogs, Hamburger/ground beef, Ribs, Steaks, Buns, Soda
Paper plates, napkins, plastic utensils, etc.
Insect repellent
Sunscreen

Fireworks

Clearance Items: Toys (Target)

AUGUST:

Sales/Deals:
Back to School promos-
Lunchbox foods/meals, Pudding cups, Lunchables, Lunch meat, Bread, Cold cereal, Waffles
Kellogg’s promos
School and office supply – Pens, Pencils, Markers, Crayons, Glue, Paper

Backpacks
Lunchboxes

Fuel for School/Back to School coupon inserts and rebates

Teacher Appreciation Days at various stores (Staples, Office Depot, etc.)

1c sales on items each week at Staples and Office Depot

Clorox Classroom cleanup, disinfecting wipes, Purell, sanitizers

Clearance items:
BBQ equipment
Patio furniture, equipment
Charcoal, lighter fluid, etc.
August White sale/linens
Summer items
Sunscreen
Insect repellent

SEPTEMBER:

Sales/Deals:
Back to School promos continue up to Labor Day-
Lunchbox foods/meals, Pudding cups, Lunchables, Juice boxes, Capri Sun, Pop Tarts
Lunch meat, Bread, Cold cereal, Waffles
School and office supply – Pens, Pencils, Markers, Crayons, Glue, Paper

Tomato products begin- Spaghetti Sauce, Tomato soup, Canned tomatoes, Tomato sauce

Diabetes Smart coupon themes - Diabetic meters, Glucerna/Boost, etc., Diabetic care

BABY ITEM MONTH, look for sales mid month on major baby equipment, baby safety, general new baby "stuff"

Organic Harvest month sales

Clearance items:
Summer holiday and picnic supplies
After Labor Day end of season clearance - look for 75% off BBQ and picnic supplies this weekend and after.

OCTOBER:

Sales/Deals:
Halloween promos- Candy, Cookies, Baking season begins, Baking chocolate chips, Fruitcake/candied fruit, nuts

Fall promos
Apples
Pumpkins (fresh)

Pet products, food

Cars, Car care products

Daylight Savings time ends promos- Batteries, smoke alarms, safety equipment, alarm clocks

Clearance items:
“last year” flavors of holiday foods – time to clear the shelves for new products and packaging…

NOVEMBER:

Sales/Deals:
Quilts, blankets
Hot cocoa, coffee, tea

Canned foods – soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce
Baking goods - nuts, chocolate chips, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, cake mixes.

Holiday/Thanksgiving dinner foods – Turkey, Pumpkin (canned), Stuffing mix, Potato mix, Butter, Sweet potatoes, Fresh potatoes, Gravy, Bread/rolls, Frozen pies, Cranberry sauce, Fresh cranberries

Clearance items:

After-Halloween sales are the time to stock up on things for the next year. I like to buy the Halloween candy-alternatives like Halloween crayons, erasers, watches, spinning tops, etc. I mix this in with my next year’s candy bowl and it stretches my loot for all the neighbor kids!

DECEMBER:

Sales/Deals:
Christmas dinner/Holiday party foods -Party/deli platters, cold cuts, sour cream, dips, crackers, chips, soda, ham, stuffing mix, potato mixes, butter, fresh potatoes, gravy, bread/rolls, frozen pies, green beans, french-fried onions, cream soups, broth, pie filling

Baking supplies – Flour, Sugar, Butter, Cream, Cake mix, Brownie mix, Muffin mix, Breads, Pie Crust, Marshmallow, Whipped cream

Wrapping paper, cards, ribbon, bows, tape

Egg nog
Party supplies, paper plates, napkins

Clearance items:
Post Thanksgiving clearance
Fall décor and craft clearance
After Christmas clearance