Smart Cannabis Promotions for Busy Seasons

The holiday season and peak shopping events like 4/20 or Green Wednesday are more than just busy days, they’re golden opportunities for cannabis dispensaries and brands to grow sales and strengthen customer relationships. The trick isn’t only running promotions; it’s running smart, timely, and strategic ones.

Research shows that nearly 40% of cannabis consumers try a new product or brand during seasonal promotions but less than half of them return unless you nurture that connection. That’s why your holiday promotions shouldn’t just be about discounts; they should set the stage for loyalty that lasts all year.

1. Know Your Peak Seasons

While every retailer knows 4/20 is huge, fewer realize that Green Wednesday (the day before Thanksgiving) often outpaces Black Friday in cannabis sales. In fact, in some U.S. states, Green Wednesday consistently brings in double the daily average revenue.

Here’s a quick list of cannabis-specific seasonal spikes:

4/20: The “Super Bowl” of cannabis sales.
Green Wednesday: A must-win day, especially for edibles and pre-rolls.
New Year’s Eve: Heavy on celebratory products like infused beverages.
Valentine’s Day: Surprisingly strong for gift bundles and topicals.

Dispensaries that prepare two to three weeks in advance tend to outperform those that launch promotions last-minute. Using a tool like HighDay’s Social Media Scheduler, you can map out and automate campaigns so your team is free to focus on in-store execution.

2. Craft Seasonal Bundles and Limited Editions

Holiday shoppers love convenience and exclusivity. Instead of relying solely on discounts, create bundles that feel special and unique to the season.

Examples that work well for cannabis:

Valentine’s Day “Love Packs” with edibles and topicals.
4/20 “Party Bundles” including pre-rolls, vapes, and infused beverages.
Green Wednesday “Family Stress Relief Kits” with gummies or tinctures.

Limited editions don’t just drive urgency, they often lead to brand discovery. Studies show that 20–25% of customers who try a seasonal exclusive will later explore a brand’s full product line.

By pairing your bundle drops with HighDay’s Email and SMS Marketing, you can alert customers instantly when seasonal packs go live, giving them a reason to shop before stock runs out.

3. Reward Loyal Customers First

Here’s a little-known fact:

Loyalty customers contribute up to 60–70% of holiday sales in cannabis retail. They spend more, return more often, and are more likely to share deals with friends. That means your loyalty program isn’t just “nice to have”, it’s a revenue multiplier.

Ways to make it work:

Give VIP early access to holiday drops.
Offer double points during peak days.
Send personalized “thank you” perks to your top 10% of customers.

By using HighDay’s Loyalty Reward Programs, you can track customer behavior and surprise them with relevant perks like bonus points on their favorite product category. That kind of personalized touch not only increases basket size but also makes customers feel valued in a market where most promotions look the same.

4. Optimize Your Online Presence

Many shoppers research before they buy, especially during busy seasons. If your online presence isn’t up to date, you’re missing sales before customers even step into your store.

Checklist to maximize visibility:

Update store hours on Google Maps and Weedmaps.
Refresh your website banners with seasonal deals.
Keep menus current. Nothing kills excitement faster than out-of-stock products.

About 65% of cannabis shoppers check at least two menus online before making a purchase decision. That means if your info is outdated, you’re losing sales to competitors before customers even leave their couch.

With HighDay’s Social Media Scheduler, you can keep your audience engaged and informed across platforms, ensuring your promotions get in front of shoppers at the exact moment they’re searching.

5. Engage Customers Through Storytelling

Price drops get attention, but stories win loyalty. Holiday promotions should connect emotionally, not just transactionally.

Examples:

Share the story of your grower during Thanksgiving.
Highlight how your staff celebrates 4/20.
Showcase customer traditions with your products.

Neuroscience studies show that people remember stories up to 22 times more than facts or promotions alone. By blending education, entertainment, and holiday themes, you make your brand not just seen but remembered.

Conclusion

Holiday and seasonal promotions in cannabis aren’t about slashing prices, they’re about creating memorable, strategic experiences that turn one-time shoppers into loyal advocates. By knowing your peak sales days, crafting seasonal bundles, rewarding loyalty, keeping your digital presence sharp, and storytelling with impact, your dispensary or brand can maximize both sales and customer trust.

Tools like HighDay’s Social Media Scheduler, Email and SMS Marketing, and Loyalty Reward Programs give you the edge to not only compete but to lead. And the best part? These strategies don’t just work during the holidays, they help you grow smarter, every season of the year.