The new year brings new opportunities to expand your growth internationally and reach new customers.
Whether you’re a publisher looking for ways to convert international traffic or an advertiser looking to test in new global markets, it’s important to familiarize yourself with some of the emerging international online shopping events. We all know that Amazon Prime Day, Cyber Monday, and Black Friday have taken off in the US, but there are several other online shopping events across the globe that should be on your radar.
For many marketers, the assumption is that the most important online shopping events are squeezed into Q4.
I’m here to tell you otherwise.
According to e-Marketer, “Today’s most successful companies are focused on attracting and retaining cross-border shoppers, and taking advantage of global retail holidays is one of the most effective ways to do exactly that." Special shopping events and holidays happen every month around the world. We've compiled a list of the top eight to put on your radar as well as best practices to get started.
Eight International Shopping Events to Consider Adding to Your Promotional Calendar
1. White Day
Celebrated in Japan and Southeast Asian countries, White Day falls on March 14, one month after Valentine’s Day. On White Day, women present gifts to men in expression of love, courtesy, or social obligation.
- Date: March 14, 2021
- Main Products: Luxury, chocolate, small gifts, fashion, accessories
- Target Markets: Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, China
2. Click Frenzy
Held four times a year for a limited 29 hour period, Click Frenzy is Australia’s first and most recognized national online mega-sale event, bringing together online retail brands to feature exclusive offers on a single shopping platform.
- Dates: March 16, 2021 is Click Frenzy Travel. Other dates TBA.
- Main Products: Fashion, accessories, travel, home
- Target Markets: Australia
3. 618 Shopping Holiday
618 is a newer shopping holiday created by Chinese ecommerce company JD.com to celebrate their anniversary. 618 is smaller than Singles’ Day but offers a mid-year alternative to target Chinese consumers.
- Date: June 18, 2021
- Main Products: All verticals
- Target Markets: China
4. Children’s Day (LATAM)
Children’s Day is one of the most popular and beloved holidays in Latin America. There are several variations of the holiday across the world celebrated at different times.
- Date: October 12, 2021
- Main Products: Children’s gifts
- Target Markets: LATAM, International
5. Singles’ Day
Singles’ Day was originally created as a shopping holiday in China to celebrate being single, and quickly became the largest global shopping day of the year.
- Date: November 11, 2021
- Main Products: Fashion, luxury, electronics
- Target Markets: China
6. Diwali
Diwali, India's festival of lights, is celebrated on the 15th day of the Karthik month of the Hindu lunar calendar, which falls either in October or November. It’s estimated that 1/3 of all annual India ecommerce sales are made the month prior to Diwali.
- Date: November 4, 2021
- Main Products: Jewelry, electronics, confectionery
- Target Markets: India
7. Double 12 Day
Double 12 Day is considered the “sequel” to Single’s Day, where the focus is given to small and medium sized retailers and brands.
- Date: December 12, 2021
- Main Products: Fashion, luxury, electronics
- Target Markets: China
8. Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a secular holiday celebrated the day after Christmas. It originated in the UK and is celebrated in several countries in the British Empire as well as Canada.
- Date: December 26, 2021
- Main Products: Fashion, consumer goods, electronics
- Target Markets: UK, Canada, International
Best Practices to Consider for Global Shopping Events
Conduct a Traffic Audit: 96% of publishers and advertisers in the CJ network see global transactions. Many advertisers would be surprised at the number of transactions that are coming cross-border. It’s important to take inventory of your traffic and use this data to your advantage when you’re deciding where to allocate your marketing budget.
Allocate a Small Budget to Test: I encourage all advertisers to start small when investing budget into a new market by testing one new global shopping event each year. Don’t put all your marketing dollars into one holiday or one market. Test, test, test, and see what works!
Plan Ahead: Have your annual promotional calendar planned out so you can contact partners at least one month in advance. Better yet, send publishers your annual promotional calendar along with individual reminders as each holiday approaches.
Leverage CJ’s Global Team: CJ has a dedicated global publisher team with expertise in many top markets. If you’re looking to expand internationally, make sure to take advantage of this perk by scheduling a call with our team—we can help you build a successful go-to-market strategy. Reach out to Ryan Burkley to get started.
Have a great year!
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Looking for more? Check out our full list of 2021 global holiday and retail events.
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