While spring began officially some ten weeks ago, the weather is finally breaking here in the Northeast. So spring fever, while late, is hitting a lot of us; and, those tulips cannot bloom soon enough. After a long winter and a soggy spring we cannot wait to take off our coats and feel the warm sunshine.
A client asked me what I did for the Memorial Day holiday and I told him we were finally able to get the deck painted and put out the outdoor furniture. He felt that sounded too much like work and proceeded to tell me that he went fishing.
For me, the spring season more than any signals new beginnings particularly with house and lawn projects. Consumer research shows that we delay our spring DIY projects due to bad weather. Yet, when it is good weather we run out to our local hardware store or big box to start on those spring DIY projects. It is a domino effect. Good weather gives us energy, it gives us hope but most importantly it inspires us to do something (with the house and lawn); and, to take the time, invest the money to get those projects completed.
It’s a time of renewal when we start working on our spring DIY projects. Here’s my top three symptoms (categories) of spring fever when it hits my household:
#1. Lawn & Garden. We (My husband and I) walk the property to see what shrubs survived. What do we need to replace or even nurse back to health, if possible? It was nice to see that we only lost one shrub this past winter.
#2. Outdoor Living. Flowers, flowers and more flowers to spruce up the outdoor space. And, what about the cushions, umbrellas and decorative items? Are they in good condition for another season or do they need replaced? And, we can’t forget to give a little tender love and care to the mailbox that has been abused all winter by the snow plow trucks.
#3. Storage & Organization. It is time to put away winter “stuff” and pull out spring “stuff”. Are my storage bins up for the job? Oh yeah, and what about my laundry room organization products? Summer time means picnics. Do we have storage containers to take food to outdoor parties or to the beach?
Once the review and evaluation process is done in each category we start tackling the projects where needed. It always feels good to feel the sunshine and the sweat of work. We try and DIY as much as possible. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes the results are a big dud. The important point for us it that we tried; and, it is ours to make the mistakes and learn how to fix them.
So, while our spring fever kicked in a little late, we are glad it came and we are enjoying every symptom. Hope you are enjoying your spring too!
Sonya Ruff Jarvis, is the Managing Member of Jarvis Consultants and the Founder of the eRetailer Summit and JC Event Group. Sonya has spent most of her career visiting headquarters across global industries. An expert in the field, Sonya has been published in numerous retail industry b-to-b publications. Sonya shares her experiences in her upcoming book series: Mindful Minutes, A Marketer’s Journey through Business: is now available to purchase on AMAZON.
Sonya has a M.B.A. in Marketing. She is married and has a daughter and they live in Fairfield County Connecticut.
Follow Sonya on twitter at @jarvisconsult or @eretailersummit.