From celebrating Harry Potter nostalgia, to recognizing hardworking essential employees, to raising awareness of sun safety, May is chock-full of holidays that present many opportunities to advertise brands with fun and creative promotional products. Pitch the suggestions here to help your clients up their marketing game.

May 2/International Harry Potter Day

Few books and films have had worldwide impact like the Harry Potter series. This day is set aside for fans, endearingly called “Potterheads,” to celebrate all things wizard. Private parties with series-inspired décor and food, readings from the books, and showings of the blockbuster movies all present a plethora of magical possibilities for celebrating this day.

PITCH: If a bookstore, library or movie theater is hosting a reading or showing, consider giveaways like striped scarves inspired by the different Hogwarts houses, candy like Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, and broom-shaped pens.

Harry Potter patch knit scarves (DTZ176) from D Best Promos (asi/48043)

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May 3/National Teacher Day

Established by the National Education Association, this day is set aside to recognize the efforts of teachers. It has taken on special significance during the pandemic, when teachers have had to manage hybrid classrooms and keep kids healthy and safe, all while maintaining high pedagogical standards.

PITCH: Help schools recognize teachers and administrators with gifts that combine hard goods and consumables. These can be distributed at school or drop-shipped to homes.

Teacher appreciation tumbler (19102701) with Ghirardelli hot chocolate and Milano cookies from Stuff A Mug (asi/89971)

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May 11/Receptionists Day

This observance, held the second Wednesday of May, recognizes the many efforts of receptionists each day as they greet visitors, field calls, answer questions and, these past couple years, check for masks and take temperatures. During COVID, many continued to come in as essential workers and were overworked due to staff shortages.

PITCH: Suggest to companies that they give out awards as a thank you for their hardworking receptionists. Encourage clients to present the gifts to recipients in front of their peers, either virtually or in-person.

Sky Bound optical crystal award (36837) from Koozie Group (asi/40480)

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May 23-29/National Safe Sun Week

Launched last year by MedStar Health, a healthcare network in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., this awareness week just before Memorial Day (the cultural, if not seasonal, start to summer in the United States) serves to educate people on the dangers of too much sun exposure. While sunshine provides critical Vitamin D, inadequate protection can lead to sunburn in the short-term, as well as cataracts, premature aging and even skin cancer in the long-term.

PITCH: Consider presenting sunglasses and sunscreen kits to healthcare facilities, including primary care doctors and dermatologists, as well as boardwalk kiosks as people begin flocking to the surf and sand.

Summer Essentials Kit (ZGSFUNINTHESUN) with SPF 30 sunscreen, aloe gel and SPF 15 lip balm from SnugZ USA (asi/88060)

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May 25/National Wine Day

This holiday is one that’s sure to have an enthusiastic audience. COVID was friendly to the wine industry as people hunkered down at home. According to the 21st annual State of the U.S. Wine Industry by the Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division, a third of winery owners said 2021 was their best year ever.

PITCH: Recommend that wineries, bars, restaurants and liquor stores promote the day by offering discounts, specials and featured blends, and pairing them with branded glasses and coasters.

Red wine glass (1414) from Moderne Glass Company (asi/71920)

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