12-Month Promotional Calendar for Gourmet Popcorn Shops
12 Months of Popcorn Sales Ideas
No matter what time of year it is, there are always opportunities for gourmet popcorn shops, grocery stores, and foodservice locations alike to promote their products. With this guide, you’ll be able to tailor promotions to fit each season. From buy-one-get-one (BOGO) offers to holiday specials in the winter, you’ll be sure to keep customers coming back all year long!
January – New Year, New Flavors!
Ring in the new year with some exciting new flavors of popcorn. Gourmet popcorn businesses can experiment with unique ingredients like herbs, spices, fruits, nuts, or even candy pieces. (You can find inspiration in our gourmet popcorn recipe section.) Not only will this give your customers something new to try but it also creates excitement and buzz around your shop. It’s an excellent way to start off the year on a high note! (And don't forget National Popcorn Day is January 19!)
February – Valentine’s Day Specials
What better way to show someone you love them than with some delicious gourmet popcorn! Launch a promotion around romantic flavors. Put together special gift baskets filled with seasonal flavors like Cupid's Popcorn Mix or Red Velvet Popcorn with white chocolate drizzle. Encourage shoppers to buy one for their Valentine and get one for themselves by offering buy-one-get-one (BOGO) free deals.
March – St. Patrick's Day and Easter
March brings St. Patrick’s Day and Easter is typically in early April, which both provide great opportunities for gourmet popcorn sales promotions. Get ready for St. Patrick's Day with this recipe for Green-Colored Kettle Corn. And try these green-colored foods that even a leprechaun would enjoy! The pastel colors and fruity flavors of Rainbow Popcorn are perfect for Easter. You can also bring in families by hosting an event where kids can decorate their own popcorn containers using stickers, paint, and glitter.
April – Merchandise Makes a Difference
In April, try offering shoppers discounts on merchandise with their popcorn purchase. This will help differentiate your product from competitors and build brand loyalty among customers. For example, offer a free t-shirt with any purchase of $50 or more. Or give away a set of snack bowls when customers purchase two flavors of bulk popcorn. As an added bonus, merchandise can also serve as marketing for your shop!
May – Gift Baskets
Gift baskets are great options for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and graduation gifts. Popcorn shops can offer discounted gift baskets in May that include a variety of sizes and flavors of gourmet popcorn along with other snacks like chips and pretzels. You can also add non-edible items like mugs or tumblers with your logo on them to make the gift basket even more special.
June - Think Red, White, and Blue
Help your customers plan ahead for the Fourth of July with plenty of patriotic offerings! There are multiple ways to make red, white, and blue popcorn. Or use the candy glazes of Signature Blends to create a multi-colored Fireworks Popcorn with flavors like banana, strawberry, green apple, and blueberry.
July - Specialty Flavors
During the peak of summer, try offering specialty flavors of popcorn like lemonade or strawberry shortcake. These unique flavors can entice new customers while also driving repeat business among existing customers who want to try something different each time they visit your shop. Advertising these limited-time offerings on social media is a great way to get people talking about them and boost sales!
August – Back-to-School Snacks
As students head back to school, parents are looking for smart snacking options. To help meet this need, gourmet popcorn shops can consider popping white popcorn and packaging it in cases of snack-sized portions. This makes popcorn a great fit for lunchboxes or after-school snacks. You may also run a special discount for teachers to encourage more traffic this time of year.
September - Football Season Specials
Your shop will be the hottest spot in town for game day when you pop popcorn in your local team colors. Gold Medal's Signature Blends line offers both flavored and color-only glazes, so you can find the winning combination that works best for you. Another top-seller is popcorn platters featuring multiple flavors that can be shared at parties.
October – Pumpkin Spice Popcorn and Halloween Treats
As soon as fall rolls around, it’s time to start thinking about pumpkin spice everything! Create pumpkin spice flavored gourmet popcorn for autumn lovers who just can’t get enough of this seasonal favorite flavor. And make Halloween colored popcorn in orange, black, and green that's just right for trick-or-treaters. Partner with a local pumpkin patch to get your product in the hands of more customers.
November - Get a Head Start on Your Holiday Specials
If your shop offers delivery services, think about creating special holiday packages during the months of November and December that include multiple bags of gourmet popcorn along with other snacks like chips and dip or cookies and candy. Don’t forget about Thanksgiving specials too. You can also offer discounts on larger orders as an added incentive for customers who are shopping for holiday parties or family gatherings over the holidays.
December - Holiday Treats with a Personal Touch
Creativity can make your products stand out from the crowd, especially during the busy holiday season. Make signature recipes that your customers cannot get anywhere else. Try festive ideas like popcorn snowmen, Christmas trees, ornaments, and more. (See fun ideas for Christmas and other holidays in our blog.)
Grow Your Gourmet Popcorn Business
By taking advantage of these special promotional opportunities throughout the year, gourmet popcorn businesses can increase customer engagement while boosting sales at the same time! It's a win-win!
Looking for more info on starting or growing a gourmet popcorn business? Download our free eBook, How to Succeed in the Gourmet Popcorn Business today!