Top 3 tips to take Valentine's strategies year-round

Valentine's Day is less than forty-eight hours away, but the strategy used to engage consumers for the holiday doesn't have to be over. Interactions Marketing has released a string of tips geared toward Valentine's engagement, but the tips could also be used year-round. Here are three of our favorites:

by Kristina Knight

First, play cupid.

"Not everyone will be lucky enough to have a special someone on Valentine's Day. Help make love connections in your store by hosting singles events. Host pop-up cooking classes or wine tastings. Shoppers can pre-register for the events via dedicated microsites or in-person. Cater the affairs with waiters, tray-passed hors d'oeuvres, and a beverage station. Then encourage social sharing by having photo activations using event-specific hashtags. You'll be bringing people together and building shopper loyalty in a way you probably never imagined," writes the company.

Second, put the [ingredients] together.

"Your store has chocolate, health and beauty products, meats and cheeses--all the makings of a fantastic gift basket. Go one step further and set up a gift basket station. Offer pre-printed shopping lists for a few different basket options, or leave it up to the shopper. When the shoppers complete the checkout, invite them back for a complimentary gift basket assembly," writes Interactions.

Third, pair things up.

"Your store sells wine. Your shoppers want great wine to pair with ...meals they're preparing but don't know where to start. Hire a sommelier during the weeks leading into the holiday to be on hand to help shoppers make the best decisions. Shoppers will love the suggestions as well as information they'll get about the wine and you'll love the increased return in the wine department," advises Interactions.

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Tags: advertising, Interactions Marketing, valentine ads, valentine's day strategy