About MidCity Dog Days

Saturday, August 5

The annual Logan Circle and U Street corridor sidewalk sale is back for its 24th year!

This annual sale brings shoppers from all across the District to Logan Circle and U Street. This is the biggest sales event of the year for many businesses in Logan Circle and U Street.

Not registered yet?

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Step 1: Decide what you will be doing for Dog Days.

Will you have last season's items for sale on the sidewalk? Will you be mixing up an exclusive dog-themed cocktail in front of your store?

If you aren't sure what would be best for your business, check out the ideas on our Sidewalk Sale Ideas page below.

Step 2: Register Your Business. Click here to register.

When you register, you will be asked to provide us with the details of what you'll be doing or offering for Dog Days so that we can help promote your business!

Step 3: Promote, promote, promote!

Once it gets closer to the date, we will provide you with a poster to put in your window. We also highly encourage you to promote your participation on social media. We have provided images you can use here.

You don't have to offer a discount, but you do definitely want to make it feel "special" and you do want to have a presence OUTSIDE of your store in order to take full advantage of the foot traffic. It is a sidewalk sale, after all!

Make sure you have enough staff to take care of sales both inside the store and outside. During the sale, don’t forget to take notes about what worked and what you can do better next time.

The sidewalk sale is a proven way to build traffic, create happy customers, and increase sales and can also be a great way of cleansing your inventory of past season and overstocked items.

If you use the 4 feet in front of your business, you do NOT need a permit. Just put out a table or a tent.

Ideas for FOOD & DRINK BUSINESSES

• Do you sell baked goods? Set up a table outside with your baked goods to take advantage of the foot traffic.

• Do you sell beer or wine? Set up a table where you sell a tasting flight!

• If you sell drinks, set up a drink stand outside your store so that folks can buy a quick drink to cool off while they shop without having to go inside.
  

• Have a special dog-themed drink (e.g., Rintintini or Sirius Sangria) on the menu that you sell at a table outside your store.

• Do you sell pizza? Set up a table outside where you offer pizza by the slice for the day. Shoppers will be hungry—and pizza is the perfect grab-and-go food!

• If you sell hot, made-to-order food and can't have it on display outside, that's okay! Consider having a table of free samples of some of your most popular dishes to entice customers.

Ideas for SERVICE BUSINESSES

• Do you offer massages? Move a massage chair or two outside your storefront and offer short massages for a discounted price.

• Hold a giveaway! Set up a table outside where passersby can learn more about your business and enter a raffle to win a gift card or free service.
  

• Are you a hair salon? Set up a tent or table where one of your stylists can offer free consultations—providing hair cut and style advice.
  

IDEAS FOR RETAIL BUSINESSES

• Have old merchandise you need to move? Set up a table or two, and offer your old merchandise at a discount.
  

• Promote your best sellers. A sidewalk sale can be the perfect time to bring out some of your most interesting pieces.
  

This year, we're making it easier than ever to promote your Dog Days sale to customers! Below are images and pre-written messages you can use to promote your participation in Dog Days. We've also provided template images you can personalize to promote the details of what you'll be offering.

Template Images

Add your logo and sale details to any of these three images and share them on your website and social media. >>

If you have Canva, use the links below each image to personalize each one for your business.

If you do not have Canva, click here to download the image files.

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Canva template

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Canva template

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Canva template

Pre-Written Social Media Posts

Below are images and pre-written messages you can use to promote your participation in Dog Days. Feel free to adapt and add in your own details!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE IMAGES BELOW