“For the whole world is Irish on the Seventeenth o’March!” proclaimed Irish American poet Thomas Augustine Daly. This year, St. Patrick’s Day can have even more meaning as people are longing for something to celebrate. With some states loosening restrictions, and temperatures warming, people may be able to either safely celebrate the end of a very long winter, or virtually revel in the holiday. This can present the perfect opportunity to promote one’s business with Irish items such as fedoras, top hats, headbands, shot glasses, fanny packs, buttons, masks, and body flags decorated with shamrocks, wearing of the green and other Irish themes.
John Short at WOWLine espouses Daly’s wisdom when it comes to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. “Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and everyone wants to be part of the fun,” he affirms. “For us, we have a large number of St, Patrick’s Day party supplies. It really depends on how much someone wants to spend on items such as these. There will probably be a lot more virtual events this year for St. Patrick’s Day, but that will remain to be seen. Things can change between now and then.”
While Short acknowledges that demand has been a little slower than normal due to a number of cities cancelling their St. Patrick’s Day parade as well as Mardi Gras parades, he is optimistic that things can change.
Showdown Displays has seen an increase in custom displays, yard signs, and boulevard banners (municipalities) ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, according to Adam Ziskin. “Demand for yard signs and flags have been strong during the pandemic,” he elaborates. “The parades have not materialized yet as schools are just reopening, but we are planning on seeing a quick uptick as more and more schools go back to normal.”
Here are some exciting new and best-selling St. Patrick’s Day products that will add the perfect touch to any type of celebration. WOWLine’s new items include shamrock-shaped no-touch tools, masks, and a fanny pack, Short says. “Shamrock-shaped medallion beads have been our best seller so far and I am sure that we will have others that will sell well at the last minute,” he adds.
Showdown Displays has a 3 by 5 foot body flag perfect for St. Patty’s Day. “You put your arms in the sleeves and wear it like a cape,” Ziskin explains. “It’s a fun product.
“We do a lot in the parade space, which we have parade banners for,” he continues. “We are the industry leader in floral sheeting, twist garland, and fringe skirting in the parade and party space. This product line comes in our standard matte or metallic material. Our floral sheeting consists of punctured petal shapes on a backer, and it comes in 3 feet by 15 feet and 3 feet by 30 feet rolls.” This sheeting is extremely popular for backdrops, table overlays, table and stage skirting, wrapping building columns, and of course, used with parade floats, Ziskin adds.
In addition, the company’s twist garland and fringe skirting can be used as streamers, backdrops, bordering, skirting, wrapping handrails, mailboxes, door frames, and many other decorative ideas—both indoors and outdoors—and of course, on parade floats, Ziskin continues. “These products come in an array of colors, and we see plenty of green, white, and gold used during St. Patty’s Day,” he says. “You can also order custom mixed colors.”
To promote these products, there are more places to reach out to beyond traditional bars and restaurants, WOWLine’s Short recommends, adding that venues such as city halls and schools should also be considered. “I am sure that there are a number of these places that are looking for products to celebrate this,” he states.
Ziskin at Showdown Displays also weighs in. “The world is leaning toward being outside more and reopening inside spaces slowly,” he comments. “So, showing user cases for outdoor events, and planting those seeds of celebrating outside, is your best recipe for this year’s celebration.”