How to market your small business for St Patrick’s Day

To market your small business for St. Patrick’s Day, you can start by creating festive-themed promotions or limited-time offers that align with the holiday. Consider offering discounts on green or Irish-themed products, or hosting special events or activities that celebrate the holiday.

Use social media and email marketing to spread the word about your St. Patrick’s Day promotions, and consider partnering with other local businesses to cross-promote your events or specials. Don’t forget to use St. Patrick’s Day hashtags and keywords in your marketing efforts to make it easier for potential customers to find you.

With a little creativity and planning, you can use St. Patrick’s Day to drive traffic to your small business and generate buzz in your community. Irish culture is celebrated all over the world on St Patrick’s Day. There is no better excuse for a party in the Republic of Ireland than this public holiday on the 17th March.

Amazing St. Patrick’s day marketing ideas to stand out

To stand out with your St. Patrick’s Day marketing ideas, consider offering unique and creative promotions or products that set you apart from your competitors. You can also leverage user-generated content and encourage your customers to share photos of themselves using your products or participating in your St. Patrick’s Day events on social media to increase engagement and build brand awareness.

What’s so special about the date?

According to legend, St Patrick died on the 17th, and the day was initially celebrated as a religious holiday. Ireland is credited with introducing Christianity to its people through St Patrick. The day is less of a party and more of a religious celebration in some parts of Ireland and in some families.

A worldwide celebration

Nevertheless, lots of Irish (and some non-Irish!) celebrate the day by returning to their Irish roots and having a shindig. The United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand, and Australia – as well as everywhere else with a large Irish population – celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Unlike any other national festival, this is the most celebrated event across the globe. This makes it ideal for businesses around the world to participate in.

Current St Patrick’s Day events

Historically, the Irish living overseas in other territories have greatly influenced the modern-day version of St Patrick’s Day. As well as the parades, music, and decorations that are famous, they are the ones who started the day.

If the celebration is on a grand scale, there will usually be a festival or a public parade, or some Irish music will be played. Green is the typical colour for participants, and shamrocks, flags, and green bunting are common decorations. Some people prefer pub and restaurant events over more formal gatherings like banquets and dances.

Marching bands, cultural organisations, charities, youth groups, as well as military and emergency personnel are usually included in St Patrick’s Day parades. It dates back to 1762 and is said to be the largest parade in the world. Taking place each year in Trafalgar Square and surrounding areas in central London, the St Patrick’s Day festival attracts over 125,000 participants.

Irish Language Week is held in Ireland in the weeks leading up to St Patrick’s Day, and everyone speaks in Irish – an endangered language. Tourism benefits from St Patrick’s Day, with visitors from all over the world flocking to the country to participate in the traditional celebration.

St Patrick’s Day is traditionally celebrated by lighting up a number of landmarks around the world. A few of the most well-known are the Sydney Opera House, the Colosseum, the London Eye, and the Empire State Building. The Chicago River is dyed green every year because of a curious trend among the Irish living there.

St Patrick’s Day clothing

Wearing green clothes (or accessories) or wearing shamrocks is a tradition during St Patrick’s Day. In explaining the Holy Trinity, St Patrick is credited with using the shamrock.

Every year, St Patrick’s Day-themed clothing lines, hats, and other party equipment are sold to avid partygoers. A savvy business looking to get a piece of the action will find plenty of money around. National Retail Federation estimates almost $6 billion will be spent on St Patrick’s Day alone in the U.S. – not counting the weeks leading up to the event. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 are especially fond of the holiday.

The story of St Patrick

In regards to St Patrick, he wasn’t even Irish. As a slave, he was kidnapped from Roman Britain and taken to Ireland. After escaping, he began spreading the Christian faith among the Irish. Shamrocks have become a symbol of good luck in Irish culture, as evidenced by their liberal use.

All businesses can participate in St Patrick’s Day thanks to its many versions and worldwide appeal. To celebrate, there are many ways, for all budgets – from holding a competition to putting on a mini-parade.

St Patrick’s Day marketing ideas

Some St. Patrick’s Day marketing ideas for small businesses include creating themed social media posts, offering special discounts or promotions, creating Irish-themed products, hosting St. Patrick’s Day events, and collaborating with other local businesses to offer joint promotions. Another idea is to use green or Irish-themed packaging or decorations to create a festive atmosphere in your store or on your website.

Throw a St Patrick’s Day parade

You can unite a community by holding a St Patrick’s Day parade, depending on the space and budget you have. Perhaps some youth groups and charities can be involved, or you can sponsor a smaller parade.

The doggie version of the St Patrick’s Day parade is a cute option for pet owners – get them to dress up their dogs. You’re sure to get a few likes and followers when you upload photos of your St Pup-trick’s Parade on social media.

Run a costume competition

Bring your customers in their greenest, craziest, or most Irish costumes to your St. Patrick’s Day event. A round of drinks could be won, as well as a discount, free meal, voucher, or discount. As an alternative, you can ask people to share their outfits on your company page or on social media with a certain hashtag. If you just use #StPatricksDay2019, entries will be lost if you don’t pick a specific hashtag for your event (like #BobsDinerPaddysParty). To create more excitement and engagement, re-post your business’ best outfits on social media.

Race the leprechaun

It is likely that St Patrick’s Day will be a great excuse for sports and other businesses to hold races. Dress up the fastest person you know as a leprechaun. Whether you want to race the leprechaun on a treadmill, down a street, or through the entire area is up to you. In keeping with the theme of the game, those who beat the leprechaun win a prize (in the form of a pot of gold).

A fun run can also be arranged in which several people dress up as leprechauns. Consider sponsoring an Irish or local charity. Alternatively, you can do a ‘rainbow run’ to raise funds and awareness for LGBT organisations.

You might even get some free press if you do it on a large enough scale (for example, throughout an entire town or neighbourhood). Show other potential customers what you are doing on social media by posting photos of the race and winners.

Spend it in the pub

Pubs and St Patrick’s Day go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s pretty much set for you if you run a pub! Partnering with a local pub is an option if you operate another business, such as a clothing store. Promos can be offered at each location to entice customers. An example would be that if someone buys a green outfit in the pub, they will receive a free drink on St. Patrick’s Day. As a thank you for their loyalty, you could host an Irish quiz night at the pub for regular customers.

Your target audience would benefit greatly from this promotion if they are between the ages of 18 and 24. Before heading to the pub for a pint, students can buy their St Patrick’s accessories in-store.

Read more: Marketing Ideas for Pubs and Bars

Sell all things Irish

The lead up to St Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to showcase Irish products and producers in your shop, restaurant, or bar. Irish-made products can be discounted or highlighted on your website. It is possible for bookstores to host a night where Irish tales and stories are shared and bookshops can showcase Irish authors. Irish artists and music could be promoted in music stores, or perhaps a small show could take place there to introduce guests to new Irish music.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could write a blog about the Irish promotional products and all the good stuff coming out of the country? By doing so, you’ll get a boost in SEO from people seeking St Patrick’s Day products online.

Also, any blog with a St. Patrick’s Day theme should think about topics. Your website might be seen by someone else as a result.

Let the green be seen

This color is synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day, so don’t understate it! Put green decorations on your eCommerce site, switch your social media icons, or swathe your physical location in green.

Consider producing a limited edition green creation if you produce food or drink? As part of the celebration, Krispy Kreme turned their Original Glazed Donut green. You could also follow McDonald’s lead. A month before St Patrick’s Day, the burger chain introduced the Shamrock Shake, a green milkshake. Whether it’s a St Paddy’s cocktail or a green tea latte, you can create something special!

You can increase sales (and hype) by releasing a limited-edition product before St Paddy’s Day. Customers will begin anticipating it well before St Patrick’s Day if you make it an annual tradition, as McDonald’s has.

Cook some Irish food

You might want to consider creating a special menu using Irish ingredients and recipes instead of turning your food and drink green? Fish and chips dipped in Guinness batter, or an Irish stew classic. Several American-Irish families traditionally eat corned beef and cabbage, or you can opt for layered potato, bacon, and sausage dishes (like Dublin Coddle).

Hold a rainbow event

You can use the occasion to promote LGBT rights if green isn’t your thing and you’re passionate about Irish folklore. Customers might dress in rainbow colours or order a special rainbow menu if you encourage them to do so. The great thing about rainbow food and drink is that it’s very Instagrammable, so you’ll likely gain some exposure on social media as well.

Offer a St Paddy’s discount

During St. Patrick’s Day, offer a special discount to all online and in-store shoppers. A special discount can be offered to customers wearing green (or rainbows, or traditional Irish clothing). Discount codes such as IRISHLUCK can extend the theme if you are shopping online.

Use the luck of the Irish

A competition or raffle can encourage customers to try their luck, since luck is a big cultural thing in Ireland. A trip for two to Ireland or a tour of the Guinness brewery could all be winning items.

It is even possible for online businesses to participate. An interactive crossword was created to mark St. Patrick’s Day by marketing software company SEMrush. A Guinness gift set could be won by customers who completed it successfully.

Try breaking a record

Become a world record breaker on the day and put your business on the map. The Book of World Records is, of course, associated with Irish firm Guinness.

Go green or go home

Use the day to find some sustainable commitments instead of focusing on your company’s color theme? By going (environmentally) green, the event appears less commercial and benefits the community. In addition, sustainable practices are a growing concern for a majority of consumers, so your business may be able to stand out from the crowd. If you want to explain why you make any efforts, a blog is a good place to start.

Use social media

In this piece, we’ve already discussed social media several times. As a primary promotion for St. Patrick’s Day, you can use it as well.

Make sure your pictures reflect the occasion by sharing a greeting. If you know who your target audience is and what they might respond to, then you can choose from a variety of options.

Consider offering your business’ opinion on a local event that’s happening nearby. In the New York St. Patrick’s Day parade, for instance, a clothes store could comment on the outfits. There is no doubt that big brands will launch many campaigns for the event, and a marketing agency may be able to have its say on them.

You might also be able to help someone by using social media to target people specifically looking for St. Patrick’s Day tips. For example, an online recipe website may offer some last-minute Irish party food ideas, or an alcohol retailer may sell pre-made St. Patrick’s Day cocktails. Use relevant hashtags, such as #StPatrick’sDay and #StPaddy’sDay, if they’re available.

Contests can also be held on social media. Costume competitions have already been mentioned, but you could also hold an Irish cooking contest or award a prize for the greenest food/drink. A trip to Dublin to celebrate St Patrick’s Day was the prize of a social media competition run by Jameson in the lead-up to St Patrick’s Day. Additionally, they changed the design of their bottles to commemorate the occasion.

Additionally, Guinness is a regular social media promoter of St Paddy’s Day. A year ago, they ran a campaign called #StacheForCharity to raise money for charity. Upon drinking a pint of Guinness, customers were encouraged to share their Guinness-staches. It was also acceptable to have a regular moustache. A donation was made to charity for every photo received by the company.

Give it a charitable spin

Finally, you may want to consider giving some of the ideas for St Patrick’s Day marketing a charitable spin to build some goodwill. By giving up your profits from St Paddy’s events to a local youth club or food bank, or incentivising your customers to do something charitable, you can extend the generosity of the Irish to your business.

One last tip

When planning your St. Patrick’s Day marketing and promotions, it’s important to keep your target audience in mind. While the holiday may be associated with drinking and partying for some, it’s important to remember that not everyone celebrates in the same way. For example, if your target audience is middle-aged, it may not make sense to attract 18-year-olds to your door with promotions that focus solely on drinking and partying.

Instead, you can consider offering promotions that appeal to a more mature crowd, such as Irish-themed dinner specials or discounts on Irish-themed merchandise. By understanding your target audience and tailoring your promotions to their interests and preferences, you can increase the effectiveness of your St. Patrick’s Day marketing efforts and attract more potential customers to your business.