Government and Banks Honor Wednesday, June 19, But Marketers Largely Forgo Promotions Tied to the Holiday
Updated June 18, 2024
This Wednesday will mark the fourth Juneteenth since the date became a federal observance in 2021. Several brands previously embarked on marketing campaigns related to the holiday, and many of them flopped. This year’s Juneteenth apparently will be just another workday for most businesses, and Retailbrew.com attributes the lull to the backlash that occurred after businesses launched Juneteenth-themed merchandise and holiday-related sales in the past.
Of course, American financial markets, the U.S. Postal Service, most banks and most local government offices will honor the day by closing, USA Today reported. USPS Priority Mail Express, UPS and FedEx will still operate, Economic Times said. NBC’s Washington, D.C., affiliate reported that most stores, restaurants and other privately owned businesses will be open on Juneteenth.
Most holidays, even lesser ones such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Presidents’ Day, give rise to sales, special menu items, themed merchandise, and so on. But last year an Ad Age writer noted that businesses have tested ice cream, head wraps and watermelon salad with Juneteenth tie-ins, and those tactics failed because they seemed opportunistic and had stereotypical vibes. Missteps that turn off Black consumers are a big deal because they spend some $1.4 trillion per year.
What Is Juneteenth?
So what exactly is Juneteenth and how should brands approach this new holiday?
Juneteenth marks the last freeing of American slaves, which occurred June 19, 1865. That was the date when Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas, proclaimed that all slaves in the Lone Star State were freed. Texas was the final state to acknowledge emancipation so his action in effect marked the end of slavery in the United States. Black communities nationwide have for decades commemorated the event as Juneteenth (a merger of June and the 19th), and it is a day that mixes fun, seriousness and a celebration of Black history.
Because of the day’s importance to Black Americans, they are often turned off when brands try to cynically leverage Juneteenth in inauthentic ways, according to another Ad Age article. This conclusion comes from Collage Group’s March survey of 3,800 Americans; of the 500-plus Blacks responding to the survey, 30% said they were suspicious of brands’ motivations when they do marketing associated with cultural holidays.
Of the Black Americans surveyed, 41% said all brands should celebrate Juneteenth; 19% said only certain companies should celebrate; and 24% said they didn’t care if brands celebrated or not. Nine percent of those surveyed said brands should never celebrate Juneteenth. Brands’ actions relating to Juneteenth should do more than “box-checking,” survey respondents stated. Instead, according to Ad Age, they should celebrate all Black cultural holidays throughout the year; commit to diversity, inclusion and equity practices; and hire Black professionals.
Authentic Content and Genuine Marketing
For Juneteenth-related marketing to succeed, brands need an authentic approach. They should explain the holiday and its importance, 41% of Collage Group’s Black respondents said. Thirty-eight percent said ads should present ways people can support Black Americans; 36% said brands should teach how to celebrate Juneteenth; and 35% wanted advertising to mention issues that Black Americans confront.
Black Americans also want brands to hold or support local Juneteenth celebrations and donate proceeds to help the Black community, according to the Ad Age report on the survey. The Collage Group’s report also advises brands to team up with Black content creators throughout the year so their marketing’s Black cultural references are authentic.
A Gold Star for Ben & Jerry’s
Collage Group applauded Ben & Jerry’s for the Juneteenth Resource Guide it posted in 2022. The guide explained the holiday and told about the ice cream retailer’s efforts to address reform of the criminal justice system.
For instance, the ice cream franchise’s guide calls Juneteenth “America’s True Independence Day” and includes historic milestones such as the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court Ruling that led to desegregation of public schools and ended the discriminatory separate-but-equal policy for schools. By these actions, Ben & Jerry’s revealed its awareness of Black experiences and struggles, Collage Group said in its report.
Best Practices for Celebrating Juneteenth
To successfully woo consumers, marketers must share authentic content. They should be genuine in their advertising approach and be sensitive to the significance of Juneteenth and Black culture. Getsauce.com suggests that restaurants can effectively and respectfully commemorate Juneteenth in these ways:
- Play the numbers game. Temporarily set special pricing on menu items such as $5.19, $18.19 and $18.65.
- Point out the contributions of America’s Black chefs on social media, signage, menus and webpages. Two people that Getsauce.com highlighted: 1890s White House chef Dolly Johnson and TV celebrity chef Carla Hall, whose hibiscus ginger sweet tea – along with other red foods and beverages – embody eye-catching symbols for Juneteenth, CNN reported. (Not included by Getsauce but worth a shout-out: the late B. Smith, saluted by NPR as a restaurateur, celebrity chef and lifestyle doyenne.)
- Participate in local Juneteenth celebrations.
- Contribute to charitable organizations – and solicit donations from clientele – that help the local Black community.
- Source Black-owned suppliers and point out supporting them on places such as the establishment’s menu, website and social media posts.
Following are tips from Ad Age that all types of business owners and marketers should use in promoting the newest federal holiday, building good will in their communities, and adding to their customer base.
- Consult affluent Blacks, who are influencers and early adopters.
- Acknowledge that Black immigrants are often overlooked; 10% of Black Americans are foreign-born. Blacks is a more inclusive term than African Americans.
- Check out social media and do online research to get a handle on trends in race and culture as they relate to your marketing efforts.
- Choose words carefully. Saying a Black person is “articulate” can imply that many Blacks are not.
- Build knowledge about systemic racism, a label for institutional policies and laws that treat minorities unfairly but may not be inherently racist.
- Be aware of stereotypes. Blacks are disproportionately portrayed as servants, entertainers, criminals or as one-dimensional characters. When doing research for branding initiatives, involve diverse groups – employees, business leaders, investors, medical professionals, social media influencers, tech experts, engineers, teachers, etc.
