Memorial Day Weekend Retail Spending Facts & Stats - GSP

Memorial Day weekend is considered the unofficial start of the summer vacation season in the U.S. as well as one of the biggest retail shopping weekends. Are you ready? Here are a few retail facts, stats and tips.

Memorial Day Weekend and Convenience Stores

Summer tourism kicks off this Memorial Day weekend and despite a rising national gas price average, a record-breaking 37.6 million travelers are hitting the road. Memorial Day weekend travelers will create traffic on the roads and in your c-stores, so be sure your store is clean and signage is on point.
Convenience store retailers know that both road-trippers and staycationers seek special offers on beverages, alcohol, snacks and grab ‘n go items. Travelers fueling up along the way will be checking out your restrooms. How does your c-store rate?

Memorial Day Weekend and Big Box Stores

Shoppers are expected to be out in full force seeking everything from summer clothing and mattress deals to discounts on refrigerators, washers and dryers and other large appliances. According to last year’s Vistar Media study, 93 percent of U.S. consumers planned on doing in-store shopping, with 50 percent planning to shop solely or mostly in physical stores.

A Prosper Insights & Analytics study found 45.5 percent of consumers 18+ were likely to take advantage of sales and promotions over Memorial Day weekend – including nearly 60 percent of 18-to-34-year-olds.

Photo Credit: AAA

5 Quick Memorial Day Marketing Tips

1. Now’s the time to promote your company’s loyalty program and seasonal offerings like frozen beverages – consider developing a customized, fully integrated omni-channel campaign that reaches all media channels.
2. Extend your reach by sponsoring an area event such as a holiday weekend concert, festival or run.
3. Convenience store retailers can easily capitalize on fountain drink sales with creative in-store signage and canopy banners.
4. Kick off summer with a social media campaign your millennial customers will love like this one Alon Brands did with 7-Eleven.
5. Vacationers love shopping, make sure your store windows convey the right message, capture your story and resonate with your customers.

From full-blown store remodels to branding and retail marketing, GSP helps more than 65K stores make retail better. Let’s schedule a time to chat.