You know how it goes.
You’re in a meeting. Someone mentions Employee Appreciation Day is Friday. This Friday. And suddenly you’re panic-ordering biscuits from Tesco Express while pretending you had a plan all along.
So here’s a list of spring dates that have a habit of sneaking up on people. Print it out. Stick it on the wall. Save yourself the 4pm supermarket dash.
February
Friday 13 February – Galentine’s Day
The day before Valentine’s Day, dedicated to celebrating female friendships. A good excuse to do something nice for the women in your team – without waiting until March.
Saturday 14 February – Valentine’s Day
You don’t need us to explain this one. But if you’re sending client gifts or running a campaign, don’t leave it until the 13th.
Tuesday 17 February – Pancake Day & National Random Acts of Kindness Day
Two for one. Flip some pancakes in the office, surprise your team with a small gift. Small gestures, big impact
March
Friday 6 March – Employee Appreciation Day
First Friday of March. Every year. And yet somehow, every year, it catches people off guard.
A thoughtful gift or branded swag pack goes a long way. It’s one of those small things that makes people feel valued.
Sunday 8 March – International Women’s Day
Same weekend as Employee Appreciation Day. Two birds, one order – if you’re thinking ahead.
Sunday 15 March – Mother’s Day
Easy to miss if you’re not paying attention to the calendar. Worth knowing if you’re planning client gifts or running any campaigns around this time.
Tuesday 17 March – St Patrick’s Day
Only relevant if you’ve got Irish clients, a Dublin office, or a CEO who takes Guinness very seriously. You know who you are.
Wednesday 18 March – Global Recycling Day
A good prompt to refresh your branded merchandise. Out with the old, in with something your team will love.
Friday 20 March – Spring Equinox
Day and night in perfect balance. Nature’s way of saying spring is here.
Good timing for a brand refresh, new campaign, or finally updating those swag packs that have been sitting in the cupboard for a while.
April
Wednesday 1 April – April Fools’ Day
Probably not the day to send important client gifts. Unless you want them wondering if it’s a joke.
First two weeks of April – Easter school holidays
Everything slows down. Offices go quiet. Suppliers take time off. Emails take longer to get answered.
If you need branded merchandise for anything in late April or May, it’s worth getting your order in at the start of March. Planning ahead makes everything run more smoothly.
Wednesday 22 April – Earth Day
A chance to shout about your sustainability efforts. Eco-friendly branded merchandise, carbon-neutral suppliers, recyclable packaging – if it’s part of your story, this is the day to share it.
May
Monday 4 May – Early May Bank Holiday
The first of the May bank holidays. Worth factoring in if you’ve got deadlines around this time.
Monday 25 May – Spring Bank Holiday
The late May one. Factories close, (some) couriers take the day off, and anything urgent becomes very un-urgent very quickly. Plan around it.
Why we’re telling you this
Branded merchandise and good swag packs take time. Good ones takes a bit more. Sourcing, designing, producing, packing, shipping – none of it happens overnight.
Spring is full of opportunities to make your team and clients feel valued.
We’d love to help you make the most of them.