Our Ultimate Guide to Key Retail Dates in 2025

Welcome to our Ultimate Guide to Key Retail Dates in 2025, where you can plan ahead for the retail year with confidence and a solid strategy in place. With plans that draw your customers in for major events to tailoring your promotions to consumer trends, this guide is designed to empower you to maximise sales, immerse your customers in your brand and stay ahead of what’s happening in 2025.

The foundation of retail success lies in forward planning. Anticipating key dates and aligning your inventory, promotions and customer experiences ensures an enjoyable shopping journey. With our month-by-month breakdown of 2025’s most important retail opportunities, you’ll be well-equipped to make the most of the year ahead!

Key Retail Dates in 2025

January

By getting ahead with your retail calendar, you can hit the ground running in January so make sure 2025 starts with a bang. It’s easy to think that things might die down after the Christmas rush, (and you might be ready for a breather) but really this couldn’t be further from the truth. With your customers armed with gift cards, this is your chance to maximise their spending. It’s also an opportunity to attract new customers by cashing in on New Year’s Resolutions – with 79% of those based around improving health and 55% trying new hobbies and sports.

• 1st – New Year’s Day
• 2nd – Bank Holiday (Scotland)
• 1st-31st – Dry January
• 1st-31st – Veganuary
• 12th-26th – Australian Open Tennis
• 20th – Blue Monday
• 25th – Burns Night
• 29th – Chinese New Year (Year of the Snake)
• 31st – Six Nations Rugby Begins

February

Still going with your New Year’s Resolutions? By now 43% of News Year’s Resolutions have been abandoned and February is all about indulgence and romance, making it perfect for themed promotions. Pancake Day, Valentine’s Day and the lead-up to Lent offer plenty of opportunities to engage your customers. In 2024, the Super Bowl drew in record viewership from the UK so if you haven’t already looked into how you can use this to your advantage, it might be an idea to include it in your plans for 2025.

• 8th-16th – Invictus Games
• 9th – Super Bowl
• 14th – Valentine’s Day
• 20th – Love Your Pet Day

March

March celebrates women, mothers and cultural traditions. Use Mother’s Day and International Women’s Day as opportunities to create gift bundles and promote meaningful offers. As Easter falls late this year, you can look at further opportunities to maximise your sales in March.

• 1st – St David’s Day
• 4th – Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)
• 6th – World Book Day
• 8th – International Women’s Day
• 9th – Mother’s Day
• 17th – St Patrick’s Day
• 21st – Red Nose Day
• 30th – British Summer Time Begins
• 31st – Eid al-Fitr (Muslim)

April

April offers eco-focused opportunities with Earth Day and Easter celebrations. This is a chance to showcase your sustainable practices to connect with environmentally-conscious consumers.

• 5th – Grand National
• 7th-13th – Golf Masters Tournament
• 14th – Garden Day
• 18th – Good Friday
• 20th – Easter Sunday
• 21st – Easter Monday
• 22nd – Earth Day
• 23rd – St George’s Day

May

Spring into summer with Bank Holidays, sporting events and promoting outdoor essentials. Focus on driving sales with targeted campaigns for leisure and relaxation. After all, we’re British – if it’s sunny, we’re lighting the BBQ!

• 4th – Star Wars Day
• 5th – May Day
• 17th – FA Cup Final
• 20th-24th – Chelsea Flower Show
• 26th – Spring Bank Holiday
• 31st – UEFA Champions League Final

June

June is filled with opportunities from Father’s Day to the vibrant celebrations of Pride Month. Prepare for the best or British summer festivals and the start of the famously good summer weather while promoting your seasonal offerings.

• 1st-30th – Pride Month
• 14th – Official Birthday of HM King Charles III
• 13th-15th – Download Festival
• 15th – Father’s Day
• 25th-29th – Glastonbury Festival
• 30th – Wimbledon Starts

July

July marks the peak of summer and a flurry of events, from Wimbledon to back-to-school campaigns. Your customers are starting to plan ahead for September and so should you!

• 1st-14th – Wimbledon
• 4th – Last Day of Term (Scotland)
• 5th-27th – Tour de France
• 17th-20th – The Open Championship Golf
• 21st – Last Day of Term (England & Wales)

August

The back-to-school season ramps up in August. Create promotions for families and students while catering to summer leisure and fun.

• 1st – Yorkshire Day
• 4th – Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland)
• 13th – Back to School (Scotland)
• 22nd-24th – Reading & Leeds Festivals
• 25th – Summer Bank Holiday (England & Wales)

September

As routines return, focus on university students with home and cookware, technology and stationery bundles. Freshers’ Week is a golden opportunity for targeted campaigns.

• 2nd – Back to School (England & Wales)
• 1st-30th September – Freshers’ Weeks

October

From Halloween to World Mental Health Day, October is about embracing Autumn. Highlight themed products and promote warmth and comfort, from pumpkin-spiced candles to cosy cashmere! Each year, Halloween becomes bigger and better in the UK so why not decorate your store front with a spooky theme?

• 10th – World Mental Health Day
• 20th – Diwali
• 26th – British Summer Time Ends
• 31st – Halloween

November

Here we go again! The busiest retail season kicks off in November. Get ready for Black Friday and Cyber Monday with a solid inventory and promotional strategy.

• 5th – Bonfire Night
• 9th – Remembrance Sunday
• 11th – Remembrance Day
• 14th – Birthday of HM King Charles III
• 28th – Black Friday
• 30th – St. Andrew’s Day

December

December demands meticulous planning. As the holiday rush peaks, focus on delivering seamless customer experiences and promoting gift cards to set up a successful January.

• 1st – Cyber Monday
• 1st – St. Andrew’s Day (Substitute Day)
• 24th – Christmas Eve
• 25th – Christmas Day
• 26th – Boxing Day
• 31st – New Year’s Eve

Conclusion

As we look ahead to 2025, preparation is your greatest guarantee of a great year! With our calendar of key dates, you can align your promotions with seasonal trends and stay ahead of what your customers need.

Having the right tools in place can make all the difference. RMS provides tailored software solutions, including OpSuite, our powerful EPoS and inventory management system designed to streamline operations, optimise your stock and enhance the customer experience. Whether you’re managing a single store or an omni-channel retail business with multiple locations, OpSuite ensures you’re equipped with real-time insights and efficient processes to stay ahead of the competition.

From the resolution-driven energy of January to the festive cheer and indulgence of December, each month presents unique opportunities to connect with your customers. With our guide and OpSuite at your side, you’re well-equipped to navigate 2025 with confidence, creativity and strategic foresight.

Here’s to a successful 2025—let’s make it your best retail year yet!

Why Choose OpSuite?

At RMS, we’ve been supporting ambitious businesses since 2004 with tailored software solutions and EPoS hardware. Ready to make 2025 your most successful year yet? Contact us to discover how OpSuite can transform your retail journey.