Sell more bikes as summer comes to a close - Monthly Marketing Planning for September 2026

Summer is closing up, kids are headed back to school, and September can be the gateway to the holiday season if you're prepared. Here are our tips for marketing your store in September. What did we miss? What works for you?Back to SchoolHistorically, K-12 schools start the day after Labor Day, but in some districts, schools can start as early as mid-July through August.  A great time to sell locks, commuter bikes, kids' bikes, helmets. Also, think about other security measures such as Apple AirTag holders from MucOff or Topeak.Colleges start classes in September…talk to your local campus police departments about new fleetsSales to campus police don’t stop with the bikes; there are police decals, police bags, police-specific lights ...and don’t forget service!  These aren’t typical retail sales; they often require a check to be mailed in from the Accounts Payable department, so plan for that difference in cash flow earlyLabor Day SaleIt doesn’t have to start and end on Labor Day; ride it out for a week or two. Adjust Google Hours if you are closedSpring/Summer ApparelWhat hasn’t moved yet …let’s start marking those jerseys down ...make room for the fall apparel that is just about to hit your dockFor non-perishables, such as black gloves, bibs, shorts, etc., you can keep those at full price.  Maybe take inventory on them, so if you store them away, you at least know the inventory is correct.Holiday Planning - not too early to think about the holidaysBlack Friday offersSpecial buys from your vendors (socks, sun sleeves, hats…stocking stuffers)Talk to your reps, find out what they are heavy onWe have a great E-Bike Premium Page which has great data for great SEO, AEO and GEO…talk with your account coordinator to get that added to your site Search Engine, Answer Engine, Generative EngineNew E-Bike page coming, here’s an existing E-Bike Page - see all of our Premium Content Packageshttps://youtu.be/xAC5EuPYeXo - Debunking ecommerce mythshttps://blog.workstand.com/bicycle-chain-case-study - Case Study Be sure to email your questions to [email protected]. We read all emails sent, and we look forward to hearing from you.If you're a Workstand client with questions about your subscription, email [email protected] or call 303-527-0676 x 1. If you are not currently a Workstand client with questions about how our programs work, email [email protected] Us on LinkedInMark Still, Senior Business DevelopmentDavid Martinez, Key Accounts AdvisorWe also publish Around the Workstand on our YouTube channel if you'd like to watch while you listen. Here is our Around the Workstand playlist.If you have any questions about the topics discussed in this episode of Around the Workstand or if you have ideas for new topics we can cover, schedule a time to meet with Mark Still here or email [email protected].