Summer can be a slow time for some businesses. A look at last year’s summer retail season shows sales in June were stagnant and rose by less than one percent in July.

As families take vacations, host BBQs and lounge in the sun, they may not be stopping by your shop as often as usual. However, with Fivestars, you can encourage those stragglers to continue shopping throughout the summer with special promotions.

Using the Promotions feature in your Fivestars Dashboard, you can create these three summer-specific promotions to get sales to rise as the mercury rises:

1. Host a flash sale during a heat wave

When kids are frying eggs on the sidewalk and the news warns you about dehydration, you know it’s going to be a hot day. When a heat wave comes along, use it to your advantage with an impromptu flash sale.

A flash sale doesn’t require any prep work. You simply create an offer for customers that’s only around for a limited time.

Create a deal that’s connected to the heat. For instance, coffee shops can offer a deal on iced coffee, a restaurant could tell its customers it’s too hot to cook and encourage them to order takeout and a massage center could offer a cool cucumber facial as a way to combat the heat.

Fivestars members can use the promotion information below, just tweak what’s in brackets to fit your business.

Here’s what to enter as a promotion in Fivestars:

What’s the promotional offer?

• Save 15% off [iced coffee]

What’s the occasion?

• with our ‘Beat the Heat’ deal going on today only.

When does it expire?

• The day the promotion is sent (all promotions sent day-of expire at Midnight).

2. Strike curiosity with a Fourth of July trivia promotion

Fourth of July is a ready-made holiday for promotions. You can simply host a Fourth of July sale and advertise it, but for those looking to try something a little different – why not add a trivia question to a Fourth of July promotion?

Send a promotion that gives customers a certain discount if they can answer a trivia question when they come in to your store.

Here’s a good trivia question, “Which president was born on the Fourth of July?” The answer: Calvin Coolidge. He was born July 4, 1872.

Use this fun fact as part of a promotion.

Here’s what to enter as a promotion in Fivestars:

What’s the promotional offer?

• Answer a 4th of July trivia question and save 15%.

What’s the occasion?

• Which president was born on the Fourth of July? Tell us the answer and get 15% off your purchase.

When does it expire?

• July 4, end of day.

If you aren’t a fan of that particular trivia question, there’s plenty of little-known facts about this holiday. For instance, did you know that only two people actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4? Here’s a link that provides some fun-filled facts about the holiday that you can use for trivia questions.

3. Tempt customers with a giveaway or a deal tied to the day’s temperature

Does your business have a little swag on hand? If so, consider giving some away as part of a summer promotion. Pick a day that’s typically a little slower for your business, and create a giveaway that’s connected to the temperature that day.

For instance, if it’s 88 degrees outside, give the first 88 customers of the day something for free. It could be a free beverage koozie, chap stick, shampoo sample or in-store coupon.

Here’s what to enter as a promotion in Fivestars:

What’s the promotional offer?

• Get a free [drink koozie.]

What’s the occasion?

• It’s 88 degrees outside, so we’re giving the first 88 customers a free gift. Today only.

When does it expire?

• The day the promotion is sent.

Of course, this implies that you have some branded merchandise to giveaway, and that you have that kind of in-store traffic each day.

If that doesn’t fit your business, try this twist. Consider knocking the price of one item down to the day’s temperature. For instance, candy that’s usually $1 is now $0.88, a pair of designer jeans that usually sell for $100 is now $88 in honor of the 88-degree day.

Here’s what to enter as a promotion in Fivestars:

What’s the promotional offer?

• Deal of the Summer: [Designer jeans for $88.]

What’s the occasion?

• It’s 88 degrees outside so we’re marking down our [designer jeans, normally $100,] to $88.

When does it expire?

• The day the promotion is sent.

With these promotion ideas, you can combat sluggish summer sales. Theses ideas are designed to fit any business or audience, but keep in mind, you can segment these ideas and send them to specific groups like VIPs.

Need more Fivestars-specific promotion ideas? Check out, 3 Promotions to Send When Introducing a New Product, Item or Service.