Do you smell that? Smoky. Sweet. And oh-so savory. That’s BBQ on the grill. And with Memorial Day approaching, that scent is wafting closer. For most Americans, Memorial Day is synonymous with getting away for the weekend, family gatherings and feasting with friends. Along with a holiday that calls for socializing and second helpings of delicious food, Memorial Day has become a weekend for big deal hunting, exploding with marketing promotions that rival Black Friday.
Unofficially, Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season. And with three out of four Americans celebrating, it’s a huge opportunity for business owners to connect with their customers. But what is Memorial Day?
We’ll discuss:
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Why is Memorial Day important for retailers?
Prior to jumping with both feet into the festivities, it’s important to understand what Memorial Day is all about. The observance goes all the way back to 1868. Originally called Decoration Day, it was a day to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers. The early traditions, which are still upheld today, were decorating graves with flags, wreaths, flowers and letters.
Today, Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States, observed on the last Monday of May.
Memorial Day has evolved into a significant retail event, marking the unofficial start of summer and presenting substantial opportunities for businesses. One survey found that 75% of US consumers planned to celebrate the holiday, with 92% intending to make purchases. That means retailers have a prime opportunity to boost sales through targeted promotions and seasonal offerings.
When is Memorial Day 2025?
Memorial Day 2025 falls on Monday, May 26th.
Memorial day promotion ideas
Memorial Day offers up an opportunity to connect with your community, current customers and potential customers. People are primed for promotions on Memorial Day, and Americans will spend $500 on average that weekend at various retailers as well as restaurants. There are a variety of approaches, some with simple executions that are great for small businesses or shorter turnaround times.
Let’s explore some opportunities for simple and easy Memorial Day Promotions from digital to brick and mortar. Here are 10 Memorial Day campaign ideas for 2025.
1. A show of support
If you don’t want to run a major sale but still want to acknowledge the meaning behind Memorial Day, a message showing support can go a long way in resonating with your audience. It’s a thoughtful way to pause and honor the significance of the day, without commercializing it.
Consider adding a website banner, social media post or in-store signage that reads something simple yet sincere, such as:
- “We remember.”
- “We’re taking a moment this Memorial Day to remember the fallen.”
2. Time-sensitive promos
If you’re running a Memorial Day sale, make it count with a time-sensitive offer that drives urgency. Limited-time deals create excitement and encourage customers to act fast before the opportunity passes.
Try promotions such as:
- 20% off sitewide with the code MEMORIAL20
- $10 off purchases over $50
- Buy one, get one 50% off on select seasonal products
- Flash sale: 30% off your top 10 bestsellers for 24 hours only
Considering a flash sale? We’ve got you covered.
To maximize impact, clearly communicate the promotion’s end time:
- Install countdown timers on your website or within emails to create real-time urgency
- Use subject lines like “Ends Tonight: 25% Off Memorial Day Sale” or “Final Hours: Your Memorial Day Discount Is Expiring” to drive immediate action
- Add pop-ups or banners on your homepage that show how much time is left
- Use social media stories with hourly reminders or last-call countdowns to amplify reach
3. Contests
Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, making it a perfect time to launch a themed contest that builds community and spreads brand awareness.
Keep the contest light and accessible, while tying it into the spirit of Memorial Day or summer:
- Creative caption contest: post a summer-themed photo (like a backyard BBQ, beach scene or product flat lay with an American flag) that showcases your products and ask followers to comment with their best caption
- Photo-sharing challenge: ask customers to share a photo of how they’re spending their Memorial Day weekend or kicking off summer, ideally with purchases from your store
- Sweepstakes entry: you can keep it simple—participants can enter by following your account, liking the post and tagging a friend
No matter the format, it’s crucial to:
- Clearly define the prize. Whether it’s a $100 gift card, a free product bundle or a Memorial Day-exclusive item, make sure it’s appealing and relevant to your customer base
- Make participation easy. A low barrier to entry boosts engagement
- Post terms and deadlines upfront. Make the contest simple to execute and understand and post the rules and regulations in a visible place for participants and iron out the timing
4. Summertime tie-ins
Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season. That means shoppers are on the lookout for products to help them embrace the season. If your business sells anything that aligns with summer fun, now’s the time to highlight it.
You can do so by creating a seasonal landing page with a curated selection of items that reflect Memorial Day weekend and summer vibes. For example:
- Home and garden stores can showcase patio furniture, planters, grilling accessories, outdoor lighting and citronella candles
- SEO keyword ideas: “outdoor entertaining essentials,” “Memorial Day BBQ must-haves,” “backyard furniture for summer”
- Clothing retailers should feature swimwear, linen shirts, sandals, sun hats and red-white-and-blue outfits
- SEO keyword ideas: “summer clothing sale,” “Memorial Day outfits,” “warm weather fashion essentials”
- Pet stores could promote outdoor toys, portable water bowls, cooling mats and travel accessories
- SEO keyword ideas: “summer pet gear,” “travel accessories for dogs,” “Memorial Day pet products”
- Health and wellness brands might curate SPF products, water bottles, electrolyte packs and activewear
- SEO keyword ideas: “summer wellness products,” “stay hydrated gear,” “Memorial Day fitness deals”
Even if you don’t sell summer-specific products, you can still nod to the season:
- Add a Memorial Day badge to your homepage
- Use a festive red, white, and blue color palette in banners and email campaigns
- Include copy that highlights “summer starts now” to create relevance and urgency
5. In-store events
Memorial Day weekend offers a unique opportunity for retailers to connect with their communities. Whether you’re in a high-traffic tourist area or a quiet neighborhood, a thoughtful in-store event can create a welcoming, memorable experience and bring in more foot traffic.
One way to do this is with an in-store event.
Different types of retailers can tailor their Memorial Day events to their customer base. For example:
- Bookstores: host a Memorial Day reading featuring poetry or letters from WWI/WWII veterans, or curate a reading list on American history.
- Hardware stores: offer free demos on how to use outdoor power equipment, such as string trimmers or lawn mowers, or run a “get your grill ready” station with toolkits and tips.
- Garden centers: invite customers for a “plant your own planter” session with red, white and blue flowers.
- Clothing boutiques: host a summer style showcase or offer mini styling sessions with complimentary lemonade or iced tea.
Events don’t have to be elaborate to garner more traffic. If you’re short on planning time, try a promotion on summer-specific items, paired with a deep sale on merchandise from fall and winter you’re trying to clear out. Use a system like Lightspeed Insights to identify older merchandise with slow sales and create a fun change-of-seasons display.
Promote your event in advance through email, social media and in-store signage. Consider adding a countdown or RSVP incentive to build momentum. For example, “First 20 attendees receive a free gift!” or “RSVP for early access to our Memorial Day markdowns.”
6. Bundles and packages
Creating Memorial Day bundles is a smart and festive way to clear out older inventory and help customers feel like they’re getting a great deal. With the right combinations, you can showcase popular products while introducing shoppers to less familiar ones, maximizing the perceived value of each purchase.
Think about your top-selling items for this time of year and build related products around them:
- Sporting goods store:
BBQ prep pack – Include grilling tools, charcoal and a firestarter or apron.
Backyard games kit – Bundle a frisbee, cornhole set and extra bean bags. - Clothing boutique:
Summer outfit bundle – Pair shorts, a t-shirt and sunglasses for a ready-made look.
Weekend getaway set – Include a lightweight jacket, weekender bag and water bottle. - Beauty store:
Sun-ready skin kit – Sunscreen, lip balm with SPF and a summer-scented moisturizer.
Self-care Sunday bundle – Bath salts, a candle and a sleep mask.
Home goods store:
Outdoor dining bundle – Melamine plates, drinkware and patriotic napkins.
Grill master kit – A marinade brush, thermometers, sauces and spice blends.
Bundles are especially effective because of the psychological power of perceived value. When customers see multiple items grouped together with a single discounted price, they instinctively compare it to buying each item separately and often feel they’re getting more for less. This strategy not only increases average order value but also helps move items that might not sell as quickly on their own.
7. Freebies and extras
An unexpected gift, even a small one, can go a long way in creating a positive and memorable shopping experience. Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to offer a themed freebie that feels seasonal and thoughtful.
To align with the Memorial Day and summer vibe, consider offering:
- Sunscreen samples: useful and relevant as summer kicks off, especially if you sell beauty or wellness products
- Miniature candles or travel-sized lotions: perfect for self-care and popular among a wide audience
- Drink koozies: branded or themed, these are great for summer BBQs and are inexpensive to stock
- Seed packets: a thoughtful seasonal freebie, great for home and garden stores
What matters most isn’t the dollar value of the freebie, but how it’s presented. A small, well-branded item can feel like a premium gift if it’s packaged nicely or tied into a holiday theme.
8. Reward customer loyalty
Memorial Day is a prime opportunity to show appreciation to your most loyal customers. A holiday promotion exclusive to your best customers can drive sales while deepening the relationship.
With Lightspeed Advanced Marketing, you can take your loyalty strategy to the next level. Advanced Marketing allows you to segment your customer base, automate campaigns and deliver personalized offers that resonate.
Here are a few ideas to try this Memorial Day:
- Early access to your Memorial Day sale for VIP customers
- Double loyalty points on seasonal items like summer apparel or outdoor gear
- A surprise add-on gift for purchases over a certain amount
- Exclusive discount codes just for loyalty program members
Make sure your emails or texts feel personal—use customer names and include a thank-you note. Even a short, thoughtful message can make loyal customers feel recognized and valued.
9. Emphasize convenience
Memorial Day weekend is often packed with travel plans, family gatherings and outdoor events, so make shopping with your business as easy and flexible as possible. Promoting convenient services like buy online, pickup in store or curbside pickup lets customers shop on their own time without sacrificing the immediacy of in-store fulfillment.
If your business offers extended holiday hours, highlight them prominently in your emails, website banners and social media posts so customers know you’re open when they need you.
Also, consider adding time-saving perks like express checkout lanes, mobile payments or even reserving popular items online for in-store pickup. For example, a garden center could encourage customers to pre-order mulch or potting soil online for quick pickup on their way to weekend projects. A boutique might offer a “Memorial Day reserve & try on” option so shoppers can browse online and swing by for a hassle-free fitting.
10. Charities, fundraisers and donation
If you’d rather skip a traditional promotion and focus on giving back, a Memorial Day charity initiative can be a meaningful way to honor the holiday. Consider partnering with organizations that support veterans, active-duty service members, or military families. Some impactful options include:
- Wounded Warrior Project: provides services to injured veterans and their families
- Fisher House Foundation: offers housing for military families while loved ones receive medical care
- TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors): supports families who have lost loved ones in military service
- Operation Homefront: helps military families with financial assistance, housing and caregiver support
Clearly communicate your campaign with signage in-store and banners online. Be transparent about how the donation works, whether you’re matching a percentage of each sale, collecting customer donations at checkout or donating proceeds from specific products.
Final words
No matter what you do for Memorial Day weekend, it’s a perfect time for promotions as people prepare for their weekends of travel and getting together with friends and family.
Make sure you’ve got a point of sale system that can delight customers, not frustrate your employees, for the holiday. Looking to improve your overall customer experience? Lightspeed can help. Watch a demo here.
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