Social media has become a key retail channel. The rapid growth of ecommerce has accelerated the need for retailers to incorporate social into their marketing strategy, with 66% of Gen Y/Z using social media to look for ideas and inspiration for gifts. This 2022 retail social media calendar features key retail dates for 2022, as well as events that every retailer should be aware of when creating a marketing calendar for the new year.
Ranging from national holidays to retail events and quirky days, pick out any that are relevant to your brand and use them to engage your audience!
2022 Retail Social Media Calendar:
January
January sees shoppers redeem gift vouchers, spend Christmas money and tap into those eagerly awaited January sales. Not only is this a way to capture the attention of loyal customers, but it also presents the opportunity to showcase your brand to new customers.
Key retail dates in January:
- All month – Dry January
- All month – Veganuary
- All month – Ginuary
- 1st January – New Year’s Day
- 9th January – National Pizza Day
- 17th January – Blue Monday
- 21st January – International Hug Day
- 24th January – International Day of Education
- 25th January – Burns Night
- 26th January – Australia Day
- 27th January – Chocolate Cake Day
February
February is commonly associated with Valentine’s Day, but there are plenty of other opportunities to celebrate a wide range of customers and design content that inspires.
Key retail dates in February:
- All month – LGBT History Month
- 1st February – Chinese New Year (Year of the Tiger)
- 2nd February – Groundhog Day
- 4th February – World Cancer Day
- 5th February – World Nutella Day
- 6th – 9th February – Spring Fair
- 6th February – Good Retail Awards Ceremony
- 6th February – Yorkshire Pudding Day
- 9th February – National Pizza Day
- 14th February – Valentine’s Day
- 17th February – Random Act of Kindness Day
- 22nd February – World Thinking Day
March
March has plenty of days which retailers can use to get creative and show off exciting initiatives, such as their recycling and sustainability work.
Key retail dates in March:
- 1st March – Pancake Day
- 3rd March – World Book Day
- 3rd March – World Hearing Day
- 3rd March – World Wildlife Day
- 8th March – International Women’s Day
- 10th March – International School Meals Day
- 17th March – St. Patrick’s Day
- 18th March – World Sleep Day
- 18th March – Global Recycling Day
- 18th March – Comic Relief Day
- 20th March – International Day of Happiness
- 21st March – World Poetry Day
- 22nd March – World Water Day
- 27th March – Mother’s Day
- 27th March – Clocks go forward
April
April is a day full of exciting events around the world and of course, plenty of Easter promotions. Plan ahead to create social media imagery and content that will capture the imaginations of your target market.
Key retail dates in April:
- 1st April – April Fools Day
- 2nd April – World Autism Awareness Day
- 2nd April – Ramadan begins
- 7th April – World Health Day
- 9th April – Grand National
- 10th April – National Siblings Day
- 11th April – National Pet Day
- 15th April – Good Friday (Bank Holiday)
- 16th April – National Eggs Benedict Day
- 17th April – Easter Sunday
- 18th April – Easter Monday (Bank Holiday excluding Scotland)
- 19th April – Bicycle Day
- 21st April – World Creativity and Innovation Day
- 21st April – National Tea Day
- 23rd April – St. George’s Day
- 26th April – World Intellectual Property Day
- 28th April – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
- 29th April – International Dance Day
May
May brings Star Wars puns, sports and some of the most unique national days of the year. Find your own take on these dates, making sure they fit with your brand for memorable content.
Key retail dates in May:
- 1st May – End of Ramadan
- 2nd May – Early May Bank Holiday
- 3rd May – World Asthma Day
- 4th May – May the Fourth (Star Wars Day)
- 5th May – World Password Day
- 8th May – World Red Cross Day
- 11th May – Eat What You Want Day
- 13th May – World Cocktail Day
- 14th May – National Biscuit Day
- 15th May – International Day of Families
- 16th – 22nd May – National Vegetarian Week
- 17th May – World Baking Day
- 19th May – National Numeracy Day
- 20th May – World Bee Day
- 21th May – International Tea Day
- 23rd May – World Turtle Day
- 28th May – World Hunger Day
- 28th May – UEFA Champions League Final
- 30th May – Gloucester Cheese Rolling Day
- 30th May – National BBQ Week begins
June
June includes World Social Media Day, so what better time of year to focus your efforts on unique content than this month?!
Key retail dates in June:
- 1st June – World Milk Day
- 2nd June – Spring Bank Holiday
- 3rd June – The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
- 3rd June – National Fish and Chips Day
- 5th June – World Environment Day
- 8th June – World Oceans Day
- 11th June – The Queen’s Birthday
- 16th June – Clean Air Day
- 18th June – International Picnic Day
- 19th June – Father’s Day
- 23rdJune – National Writing Day
- 30th June – World Social Media Day
July
With countless sporting events taking place in July, it’s the perfect opportunity to stock products that complement the excitement. Here are just some of the key dates in July.
Key retail dates in July:
- 1st July – Tour de France begins
- 1st July – British Grand Prix begins
- 4th July – American Independence Day
- 6th July – UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 begins
- 7th July – World Chocolate Day begins
- 15th July – World Youth Skills Day
- 17th July – National Ice Cream Day
- 17th July – World Emoji Day
- 24th July – National Tequila Day
- 28th July – Birmingham Commonwealth Games
- 30th July – International Day of Friendship
- 30th July – International Cheesecake Day
August
Whether you want to showcase your entrepreneurial spirit in August, or show off outstanding product photography, why not create marketing campaigns to share with your followers on social media?
Key retail dates in August:
- 4th August – Cycle to Work Day
- 5th August – International Beer Day
- 8th August – International Cat Day
- 10th August – International Update Your Bio Day
- 12th August – International Youth Day
- 13th August – International Left-Handers Day
- 13th August – National Prosecco Day
- 19th August – World Humanitarian Day
- 19th August – World Photography Day
- 21st August – World Entrepreneurs’ Day
- 23rd August – Reading Festival begins
- 25th August – National Burger Day
- 29th August – Summer Bank Holiday (excluding Scotland)
September
September is full of events that give retailers the opportunity to share important messaging and showcase their values and support for those in the community. Why not highlight the stories of employees or share sign language with customers?
Key retail dates in September:
- Whole month – Sourdough September
- 1st September – National Tofu Day
- 4th – 7th September – Autumn Fair
- 5th September – International Day of Charity
- 8th September – International Literacy Day
- 10th September – World Suicide Prevention Day
- 17th September – World Cleanup Day
- 17th September – Oktoberfest begins
- 18th September – International Equal Pay Day
- 23rd September – International Day of Sign Languages
- 27th September – World Tourism Day
October
Whether you’re looking to decorate your premises for Halloween, create content to celebrate UK Black History Month, or remind customers that the clocks go back, October is the month to do this.
Key retail dates in October:
- All month – UK Black History Month
- 1st October – World Vegetarian Day
- 1st October – International Coffee Day
- 2nd October – London Marathon
- 4th October – World Animal Day
- 5th October – World Teachers’ Day
- 6th October – National Poetry Day
- 10th October – World Mental Health Day
- 14th October- World Egg Day
- 15th October – Global Handwashing Day
- 20th October – International Chefs Day
- 21st October – Back to the Future Day
- 24th October – Diwali
- 25th October – World Pasta Day
- 30th October – Clocks go back
- 31st October – Halloween
November
Peak begins in October and the Black Friday promotions will be in full force. Make sure your content encourages engagement to stand out from the crowd. Take note of the other days and get creative, for example, offering discounts to customers taking part in Movember for charity.
Key retail dates in November:
- Whole month – Movember
- 1st November – World Vegan Day
- 2nd November – National Stress Awareness Day
- 3rd November – Sandwich Day
- 4th November – National Roast Dinners Day
- 5th November – Bonfire Night
- 11th November – Remembrance Day
- 13th November – World Kindness Day
- 14th November – World Diabetes Day
- 20th November – World Children’s Day
- 21st November – World Television Day
- 21st November – FIFA World Cup begins in Qatar
- 25th November – Black Friday
- 28th November – Cyber Monday
December
Spread the festive spirit this December with a social media calendar packed full of exciting ideas. With Christmas and the FIFA World Cup Final happening in the same month, there are plenty of ways to tap into customers’ excitement through social media.
Key retail dates in December:
- 1st December – World AIDS Day
- 2nd December – English Breakfast Day
- 3rd December – International Day of Disabled Persons
- 3rd December – Small Business Saturday
- 4th December – National Cookie Day
- 5th December – International Volunteers Day
- 9th December – Christmas Jumper Day
- 10th December – Human Rights Day
- 18th December – FIFA World Cup Final
- 21st December – Winter Solstice
- 24th December – Christmas Eve
- 25th December – Christmas Day
- 26th December – Boxing Day
- 27th December – Bank Holiday
- 31st December – New Year’s Eve
Make the most of the 2022 retail social media calendar
Remember, this 2022 retail social media calendar isn’t exhaustive. Find unique and relevant ways to link these national days and events to your retail business. Make sure you check out the response you get from followers online, using this to adapt your future content.
Holly brings a wealth of experience in both print and digital publishing. As Modern Retail’s Content Editor, Holly is passionate about helping independent retailers to thrive in today’s ever-changing market.
