Summer isn’t just a season, it’s a catalyst for consumer activity, lifestyle changes, and major purchases. For businesses in Consumer Services, Retail, Travel, and Home Improvement, summer represents a powerful opportunity to connect with customers at moments of high intent and engagement. 

While many industries slow down during other parts of the year, summer is a revenue-driving engine when supported by timely, targeted marketing strategies. In this post, we’ll explore why summer strategies are essential for key industries, and which channels can help brands break through the noise. 

Consumer Services Marketing

The Summer Move Boom  

• Half of all residential moves in the U.S. occur during the Summer, presenting an opportunity for businesses to capitalize on consumers that are, or will soon be, in need for new home and personal services.  
• Most new movers begin the process of establishing new accounts for Telecom services 2–4 weeks before move-in.
• 70% of new movers look for new Healthcare providers, like dentists, within 6 months of relocating.
• New movers are 3x more likely to try a new Fitness studio or gym compared to established residents.

Why Market to Consumers Now? 

• Time‑sensitive decisions – moving often means choosing new telecom, gym, and health & wellness providers. 
• High openness to change – willingness to try new businesses and locations. 
• First-mover advantage – being the first provider they encounter matters!

Top Channels: 

• Trigger Marketing: online and offline tactics that reach pre-movers and new movers. 
• SEM: reach consumers actively searching for Internet service providers, gyms, or healthcare providers in specific zip codes or communities. 
• Digital Display: leverage multiple tactics like competitive geofencing, audience curation, and location geofencing to target consumers who are planning or have recently moved. 

Summer Retail Spikes

Key Categories with Summer Growth: 

• U.S. consumers spend 15–20% more on Groceries during summer months, driven by cookouts, vacations, holidays, and kids being home from school.
• Outdoor/DIY items like plants and landscaping supplies sales increase 60% in Summer, along with general Home improvement sales.
• Multi-channel marketing is vital for Retail sales, including apparel and school supply sales, during the back-to-school shopping season. While 91% of parents shop for back-to-school in-store, 69–88% also shop online or via mobile.

Why Market to Consumers Now? 

• Capture seasonal shopper needs – groceries, DIY supplies, outdoor/entertainment, back-to-school.
• Combat summer slumps – avoid revenue drops by staying top of mind. 
• Build momentum into Fall campaigns – maintain brand engagement through Q4. 

Top Channels 

• Display Ad Site Retargeting: show ads to users who have previously visited your website but did not convert. 
• Keyword Search Targeting: serve display ads based on keywords recently searched for products you offer. 
• Search Engine Marketing: reach high intent consumers actively searching for products and services you provide. 
• Digital Out-of-Home: target consumers visiting locations like shopping malls, entertainment venues, and grocery stores.  
• Email – increase customer acquisition by alerting new consumers to flash sales and seasonal items. 
• Shared Mail – deliver local offerings to a targeted group of households.  

Home Services & Remodeling

Engage Customers During Peak Season 

• Home improvements for painting, roofing, landscaping, kitchen/bath remodels peak in summer.
• 76% of homeowners research home improvement projects online before hiring or buying.
• Summer is peak season with 58% more home improvement activity and a 22–30% increase in DIY product sales, making this the most critical time to capture consumer attention.

Why Market to Consumers Now? 

• Capture high-intent customers who are actively searching for contractors, remodelers, and DIY solutions. 
• Competition is fierce! Staying top-of-mind is a priority during peak home improvement season. 
• Maintaining visibility throughout the summer builds brand familiarity and trust, which leads to more quotes requested and contracts signed. 

Top Channels: 

• SEM: reach consumers actively searching for home services/remodeling, driving those consumers to a form fill capturing interest and demand. 
• Display Retargeting: audiences search for relevant content and then visit your site to explore offerings; from there, branded display ads are reserved. 
• Email: increase customer acquisition by alerting new consumers to seasonal sales and promotions. 

Travel & Entertainment

The Summer Surge in Travel 

• Americans spend over $150 billion on summer travel and entertainment, with more than 80% of U.S. travelers planning at least one trip between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  
• Online searches for “things to do near me” spike by up to 65% in the summer months.
• In the U.S., 38% of adults vacation in summer, with families spending an average of $2,000 per trip.

Why Market to Consumers Now? 

• Reach purchase intenders – travelers are actively researching trips and experiences to book. 
• Capture seasonal tourism demand – adults and families have options for their travel, dining, entertainment, and adventure/specialty experience needs. 
• Build momentum into fall campaigns – maintain brand engagement through Q4. 

Top Channels: 

• SEM: reach consumers actively searching for travel deals, driving those consumers to a form fill capturing interest and demand. 
• Social Media: use your first party data to create and target look-a-like audiences with compelling ad offerings. 
• Email: increase customer acquisition by alerting potential travelers to seasonal deals and last-minute offers. 

Final Takeaways

Summer offers a perfect storm of opportunity: increased consumer intent, lower competition, and seasonal relevance. For Consumer Services, Retail, Travel, and Home Improvement sectors, summer ads aren’t optional, they’re essential. Campaigns launched and optimized now will drive bookings, sales, and leads far beyond their seasonal window. 

By investing in the right channels—search, social, CTV, shared mail—businesses can meet consumers at pivotal moments: planning vacations, relocating, stocking up for the school year, or renovating their home.  

Next Steps

• Run a channel audit to identify opportunities and gaps in your summer funnel. 
• Measure ROI and cost efficiency across channels. 
• Scale winning campaigns quickly to dominate your category. 

Download helpful industry-specific resources or Contact us to learn how Mspark can support your next steps to make it a very hot summer!