When you think of Memorial Day, what comes to mind? A parade filled with American flags? A barbeque in your backyard? Time spent with friends and family? While partly a somber holiday for remembering those who died for our country, Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer. As a Sales Advisor, you can use the holiday to start teasing shoppers’ taste buds for the flavors of this favorite time of year now—and all summer long.
Items for the grill are, of course, a natural fit for Memorial Day and summer celebrations. Keep in mind that goes well beyond hamburgers and hot dogs—or even the usual cuts of beef and chicken. If you have a new marinade or seasoning packet, encourage shoppers to try it out on firm fish like tilapia or salmon, or even vegetables like mushrooms, eggplant or squash. Have ice cream or a sweet sauce on your cart? Suggest adding it to grilled pineapple or peaches for a perfect ending to the perfect barbeque.
Also keep an eye out for ways to bring out the lighter, brighter flavors of summer in dishes that might not normally have them. For example, if you’re sampling a frozen dinner, encourage shoppers to add some fresh vegetables to lighten it up or to serve it with a fresh fruit or vegetable salad. Or show them how to mix pudding and fruit or yogurt and juice and freeze them into popsicles for a refreshing summer treat.
Remember that Memorial Day and the rest of summer are big travel times, so be sure to highlight road trip-friendly ideas, too. For example, encourage shoppers to combine your new high-fiber cereal with nuts and dried fruit for a quick, easy and healthy trail mix. Or encourage them to swap out their usual mayonnaise-based potato salads for more car-friendly ones made with bottled salad dressing or flavored vinegar and oil. Get shoppers’ mouths watering and watch your sales blossom!