MAY 2016 GENERAL IDEAS

• Right after Mother’s day, start getting summer (and Olympic) messaging even louder• Start with Father’s Day messaging third week of May• Same with graduations gifts • Have a gift display for teachers’ gifts for year end• Kids may begin thinking of dropping for the summer; start promoting summer programming

and the importance of staying enrolled to keep choice times in advance of the Olympic boom • Continue making plans for your pro-shop for the Olympic boom, including sufficient leotard

and club t-shirts on hand• Summer camp marketing in full swing

LOOKING TO THE MONTHS AHEAD

• Order branded ballpoint pens if you are going to give them away next month for National Ballpoint Pen Day (consider using #RioReady on them!)

• Order flags and flag decorations for Flag day (which is in June; can reuse for Olympics)• Check in on your staffing. This is the time to advertise and find new people so they are up and

trained by August. • Look at your facility carefully. Are there any maintenance projects that you can tackle over

Memorial Day weekend to get your club #RioReady?• Gather press info for next month’s press release

MAY HOLIDAYS

ALL MONTH

National Get Caught Reading MonthSelect a book from amazon about gymnastics/Olympics to feature

Sell gymnastics books in gift shop

Hold a promotional offer: read 5 books free Open gym/credit to gift shop/prize etc. You can create a book log to go with it with your logo. You might even be able to offer it to local schools. Check with them!

National Salad MonthPost kid-friendly salad recipes throughout the month.

http://saladaday.org/

http://www.todaysparent.com/recipes/salad-20-delicious-kid-approved-recipes/

MAY 1Batman Day

The purpose of Batman Day is to celebrate the anniversary of the character’s first ever appearance, which was in Detective Comics #27 way back in May 1939. Since those early comic book appearances, Batman has grown into one of the world’s best-loved and most recognizable fictional characters, and is the focal point of television shows, animated cartoons, video games and Hollywood blockbusters.

Host a Batman themed Kid’s Night Out.

Happy Birthday, Spongebob!

MAY 3National Teacher Appreciation DayHappy National Teacher Appreciation Day to all of our awesome instructors! Tell us, what do you LOVE most about your child’s NAME OF GYM coach?

OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY BEGINSHold an event where you light your own “torch”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stUuBRJy-Lg

Kids can make a torch craft (there are many ways to do this, here is one: http://www.icanteachmychild.com/olympic-torch-craft/)

Torch trivia: The Olympic Games Torch for Rio will embark on a 12,000 kilometer journey, which will visit all 26 states including 250 cities and towns and will involve over 10,000 torchbearers.

The torch will begin its journey at Olympia in Greece, as per tradition, then travel straight to Brazil. The relay will conclude with the lighting of the Cauldron at the Maracanã Stadium at the Opening Ceremony on August 5, 2016.

MAY 4National Star Wars Day (May the Fourth Be with You)Star Wars merchandise in gift shopCoaches dress as charactersHave a character visit classesHave a Star Wars themed Kid’s Night Out

Melanoma Awareness Day Post information about sun protection

Sell sunscreen, sunhats and cover ups in your proshop.

MAY 53 MONTHS UNTIL OPENING CEREMONIES

Cinco de Mayo!In honor of the ‘Cinco’ extend a $5 promotion to clients such as $5 off every $50 spent in your gift shop.

Happy Birthday, Steven Legendre!https://usagym.org/pages/athletes/athleteListDetail.html?id=356905

MAY 8Mother’s DayWish all mothers a happy holiday!

MAY 9Lost Sock Memorial Dayhttp://unearthedcomics.com/comics/recently-single/

Offer a promotion on socks in your proshop (i.e. Buy one pair, get one pair)

MAY 12National Limerick Dayhttp://kingpoetry.com/limolympics.htmBe sure to credit the author!

MAY 13National Frog Jumping DayTake and post videos of kids jumping like a frogs#NationalFrogJumpingDay

MAY 14National Dance Like a Chicken DayVideo staff/kids doing the chicken dance#NationalDanceLikeaChickenDay

MAY 17Happy Birthday, Alyssa Baumann!https://usagym.org/pages/athletes/athleteListDetail.html?id=165517

MAY 20 (third Friday in May)National Pizza Party Day#PizzaPartyDayHost a pizza party themed Kids’ Night Out

Buy a pizza lunch for your staff; post pictures to social media

MAY 21National Learn to Swim DayIf your gym has a swim school or has summer swim lessons, promote them here!

Even if you don’t have a swim school, still promote the importance of learning to swim!

You can find more information at the following websites:• http://www.swimways.com/ • http://www.teachmetoswim.com/  

MAY 24Brothers DayPost pictures of brother pairs you have in your gymVideo of Paul and Morgan Hamm

Tiara DayTiara Day is as much about women celebrating being empowered, intelligent leaders in control of their own lives as it is about wearing tiaras. Still, you can embrace both approaches and celebrate with a physical and/or metaphorical tiara!

Feature tiaras in your gift shop

Lucky Penny DayClear out items in your gift shop with a Lucky Penny sale! (i.e. buy 2, get the 3rd for a penny). Post penny trivia onlineAllow customers to redeem “Lucky Pennies” (like pennies made in the year your gym club opened or another specified year) for a free gym T-shirt, water bottle or other prize.

MAY 25 National Tap Dance DayIf you have a tap program, feature it.

Happy Tapping with Elmohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riuDWE3uARs

Towel DaySummer is coming and people will soon be making trips to the beach and the pool. Sell towels in your gift shop.

Happy Birthday, Aly Raismanhttps://usagym.org/pages/athletes/athleteListDetail.html?id=97680

MAY 26Happy Birthday, Christopher Maestashttps://usagym.org/pages/athletes/athleteListDetail.html?id=330003

MAY 30Memorial DayPosts remembering those who gave their lives in our armed forces.

If your gym club is closed today, post to remind and email all Monday customers a reminder.

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