May 27, 2024 • 9 mins
Can leveraging holidays for marketing actually harm your brand? This episode may ruffle some feathers but it needs to be said.
Ever wondered if delaying a product launch out of respect for a significant holiday could actually benefit your brand? Hear why it’s essential for entrepreneurs to prioritize honor and gratitude over sales. This episode will inspire you to rethink how you approach marketing around important holidays, focusing on maintaining reverence and integrity. Join me as we call on all entrepreneurs to embrace values of respect and build trustworthy, respectful brands that honor the true essence of Memorial Day.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
All right, hey everyone, and welcome back to
the she's on Fire podcast.
So today I may ruffle somefeathers and, as you can imagine
, I don't care.
This is a really importanttopic.
Today we're going to be divinginto a timely and important
matter, which is why usingMemorial Day as a sales tactic
(00:37):
is not okay and how it detractsfrom the true meaning of this
significant day.
I think, first, a lot of peopleforget what Memorial Day
actually is.
It's not just a three-dayweekend.
Memorial Day is a time for usto remember and honor the brave
men and women who have made theultimate sacrifice for our
(01:00):
country.
It's a day of reflection,gratitude and remembrance.
In recent years, there seems tobe an increase in the amount of
emails that I get.
I'm on a lot of different emaillists the amount of emails that
I get that are all aboutMemorial Day sales, whether
(01:23):
they're from coaches or peopleselling products, and it just
seems like there's this trend ofbusinesses using this solemn
holiday or what should be moreof a solemn holiday as an
opportunity for sales andpromotions.
Yes, I know we've seen the bigbox stores, the car dealerships,
(01:43):
et cetera, do this for yearsand no, I don't think that's
okay either.
I never have.
I literally never have butright now I'm talking about us
entrepreneurs.
We're the innovators, all right.
We're the ones that shouldn'tneed to use a tactic like this.
We are the creators, right.
(02:04):
If you're using this holiday inthat way, if you need to use
this kind of sale to move yourservices or products, then
you're either out of touch, youdon't care, or your shit's
broken and you need to fix it,okay.
So let's take a step back andconsider what Memorial Day truly
(02:25):
represents.
It's not just another longweekend.
You know, I know it's often thekickoff to summer, but it's.
It's not just another longweekend.
It's not just a chance for asale.
It's a day dedicated to thosewho have given their lives in
service to our nation.
(02:46):
When businesses use Memorial Dayas a marketing ploy, it can
come off as insensitive anddisrespectful.
I got a lot of emails frompeople who I respected in my
industry using Memorial Daysales and I was just.
I was like blown away.
I'm like I actuallyunsubscribed from their lists
(03:10):
because of it.
And maybe I'm alone in this, Idon't know.
But as entrepreneurs this is myopinion as entrepreneurs, as
the innovators, as the creatorsespecially those of us building
brands based on authenticity andintegrity, it's crucial to
approach Memorial Day with therespect that it actually
(03:32):
deserves.
So here's a few reasons whyusing Memorial Day for sales
promotions is not okay, in myopinion.
For one, it undermines thesacrifice.
When we turn Memorial Day intoa sales event, we risk
trivializing the immensesacrifices made by our military
(03:53):
personnel.
This day is meant for honoringtheir memory, the ones that have
died for our country, not forcommercial gains.
Two, it alienates your audience, or it can.
Many of your customers andclients may have personal
connections to the military.
(04:13):
They might have lost loved onesor have family members
currently serving.
Using Memorial Day for sales cancome across as tone deaf and
can alienate those who value thetrue meaning of the day.
I'm going to talk more on thatin a second Number.
Three, it really reflectspoorly on your brand, in my
(04:33):
opinion.
Your brand's reputation isbuilt on the values that you
uphold.
Showing respect for nationalholidays and the people they
honor is part of maintaining apositive and respectful brand
image.
Misusing such a significant daycan really damage your brand's
(04:54):
credibility and trustworthiness.
I want you to think for just asecond.
How poorly would it look if youdid a sale because it was 9-11?
How poorly would that look?
You would never even think ofdoing it right.
Can you imagine?
It's no different.
It's not.
(05:15):
I want you to imagine how thatmother feels going to her son's
grave in Arlington NationalCemetery on Memorial Day.
On Memorial Day, imagine thewife bringing her young child to
(05:35):
his father's grave.
We can do better than needing atone-deaf sale like this.
So what can we do instead?
What can you do as a businessowner?
Here are some ways that you canobserve Memorial Day as a
business owner.
First, honor the day.
Use your platform to sharemessages of gratitude and
(05:56):
remembrance for those who havedied.
Highlight stories of those whohave served and sacrificed.
It not only shows respect, butalso aligns your brain with
values of honor and gratitude.
You can support veterans'causes.
Consider donating a portion ofyour proceeds to organizations
(06:16):
that support veterans and theirfamilies.
I'm not saying don't sell.
You're a business owner.
You should sell.
I'm saying don't use MemorialDay as a sale sell.
I'm saying don't use MemorialDay as a sale, as a sales tactic
.
Just do it differently.
It's a meaningful way tocontribute and show that your
(06:41):
business cares.
When you donate a portion ofthe proceeds right In my
upcoming launch, I'm donating20% of proceeds to specific
veterans causes because I'mlaunching around Memorial Day.
All right, encourage reflectionInstead of promoting sales.
Encourage your audience to takea moment to reflect on the true
meaning of Memorial Day.
Share resources for how theycan honor and remember those who
(07:02):
have served, or take a break.
Sometimes the best way to showrespect is just to step back and
take a break.
Consider doing that from youknow don't post, or you know
don't post promotional contentand allow the focus to remain on
the significance of the day.
(07:23):
I was going to launch on Sunday,but decided to hold off until
Tuesday.
Now that doesn't mean that'swhat's right for you.
I'm just telling you what Idecided.
We have to think of thesethings as entrepreneurs.
So as we approach the holiday,let's remember to prioritize
(07:48):
respect and gratitude overcommercial stuff.
By doing so, we not only honorthose that have given their
lives for our freedom, but alsobuild a brand that our customers
can trust and respect.
I hope you get what I'm saying.
Thank you for tuning in todayto this episode.
I hope this discussion helpsyou approach Memorial Day and
(08:13):
other holidays with thereverence it deserves.
I hope that you understand.
I'm not saying don't sell.
I'm just saying don't use salestactics that are disrespectful.
All right, take care and I hopeyou have a very meaningful
(08:35):
Memorial Day.
I'll talk to you soon, thankyou.
All right, hey everyone, and welcome back to
the she's on Fire podcast.
So today I may ruffle somefeathers and, as you can imagine
, I don't care.
This is a really importanttopic.
Today we're going to be divinginto a timely and important
matter, which is why usingMemorial Day as a sales tactic
(00:37):
is not okay and how it detractsfrom the true meaning of this
significant day.
I think, first, a lot of peopleforget what Memorial Day
actually is.
It's not just a three-dayweekend.
Memorial Day is a time for usto remember and honor the brave
men and women who have made theultimate sacrifice for our
(01:00):
country.
It's a day of reflection,gratitude and remembrance.
In recent years, there seems tobe an increase in the amount of
emails that I get.
I'm on a lot of different emaillists the amount of emails that
I get that are all aboutMemorial Day sales, whether
(01:23):
they're from coaches or peopleselling products, and it just
seems like there's this trend ofbusinesses using this solemn
holiday or what should be moreof a solemn holiday as an
opportunity for sales andpromotions.
Yes, I know we've seen the bigbox stores, the car dealerships,
(01:43):
et cetera, do this for yearsand no, I don't think that's
okay either.
I never have.
I literally never have butright now I'm talking about us
entrepreneurs.
We're the innovators, all right.
We're the ones that shouldn'tneed to use a tactic like this.
We are the creators, right.
(02:04):
If you're using this holiday inthat way, if you need to use
this kind of sale to move yourservices or products, then
you're either out of touch, youdon't care, or your shit's
broken and you need to fix it,okay.
So let's take a step back andconsider what Memorial Day truly
(02:25):
represents.
It's not just another longweekend.
You know, I know it's often thekickoff to summer, but it's.
It's not just another longweekend.
It's not just a chance for asale.
It's a day dedicated to thosewho have given their lives in
service to our nation.
(02:46):
When businesses use Memorial Dayas a marketing ploy, it can
come off as insensitive anddisrespectful.
I got a lot of emails frompeople who I respected in my
industry using Memorial Daysales and I was just.
I was like blown away.
I'm like I actuallyunsubscribed from their lists
(03:10):
because of it.
And maybe I'm alone in this, Idon't know.
But as entrepreneurs this is myopinion as entrepreneurs, as
the innovators, as the creatorsespecially those of us building
brands based on authenticity andintegrity, it's crucial to
approach Memorial Day with therespect that it actually
(03:32):
deserves.
So here's a few reasons whyusing Memorial Day for sales
promotions is not okay, in myopinion.
For one, it undermines thesacrifice.
When we turn Memorial Day intoa sales event, we risk
trivializing the immensesacrifices made by our military
(03:53):
personnel.
This day is meant for honoringtheir memory, the ones that have
died for our country, not forcommercial gains.
Two, it alienates your audience, or it can.
Many of your customers andclients may have personal
connections to the military.
(04:13):
They might have lost loved onesor have family members
currently serving.
Using Memorial Day for sales cancome across as tone deaf and
can alienate those who value thetrue meaning of the day.
I'm going to talk more on thatin a second Number.
Three, it really reflectspoorly on your brand, in my
(04:33):
opinion.
Your brand's reputation isbuilt on the values that you
uphold.
Showing respect for nationalholidays and the people they
honor is part of maintaining apositive and respectful brand
image.
Misusing such a significant daycan really damage your brand's
(04:54):
credibility and trustworthiness.
I want you to think for just asecond.
How poorly would it look if youdid a sale because it was 9-11?
How poorly would that look?
You would never even think ofdoing it right.
Can you imagine?
It's no different.
It's not.
(05:15):
I want you to imagine how thatmother feels going to her son's
grave in Arlington NationalCemetery on Memorial Day.
On Memorial Day, imagine thewife bringing her young child to
(05:35):
his father's grave.
We can do better than needing atone-deaf sale like this.
So what can we do instead?
What can you do as a businessowner?
Here are some ways that you canobserve Memorial Day as a
business owner.
First, honor the day.
Use your platform to sharemessages of gratitude and
(05:56):
remembrance for those who havedied.
Highlight stories of those whohave served and sacrificed.
It not only shows respect, butalso aligns your brain with
values of honor and gratitude.
You can support veterans'causes.
Consider donating a portion ofyour proceeds to organizations
(06:16):
that support veterans and theirfamilies.
I'm not saying don't sell.
You're a business owner.
You should sell.
I'm saying don't use MemorialDay as a sale sell.
I'm saying don't use MemorialDay as a sale, as a sales tactic
.
Just do it differently.
It's a meaningful way tocontribute and show that your
(06:41):
business cares.
When you donate a portion ofthe proceeds right In my
upcoming launch, I'm donating20% of proceeds to specific
veterans causes because I'mlaunching around Memorial Day.
All right, encourage reflectionInstead of promoting sales.
Encourage your audience to takea moment to reflect on the true
meaning of Memorial Day.
Share resources for how theycan honor and remember those who
(07:02):
have served, or take a break.
Sometimes the best way to showrespect is just to step back and
take a break.
Consider doing that from youknow don't post, or you know
don't post promotional contentand allow the focus to remain on
the significance of the day.
(07:23):
I was going to launch on Sunday,but decided to hold off until
Tuesday.
Now that doesn't mean that'swhat's right for you.
I'm just telling you what Idecided.
We have to think of thesethings as entrepreneurs.
So as we approach the holiday,let's remember to prioritize
(07:48):
respect and gratitude overcommercial stuff.
By doing so, we not only honorthose that have given their
lives for our freedom, but alsobuild a brand that our customers
can trust and respect.
I hope you get what I'm saying.
Thank you for tuning in todayto this episode.
I hope this discussion helpsyou approach Memorial Day and
(08:13):
other holidays with thereverence it deserves.
I hope that you understand.
I'm not saying don't sell.
I'm just saying don't use salestactics that are disrespectful.
All right, take care and I hopeyou have a very meaningful
(08:35):
Memorial Day.
I'll talk to you soon, thankyou.
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