Celebrate Small Business Week 2022
National Small Business Week began in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy signed a Presidential Proclamation recognizing the entrepreneurial spirit and the critical role small businesses have in our country. The tradition has been carried out by every President since.
Gallagher believes in the power of Small Business and we believe in you. Small businesses make up 99.9% of all businesses in the U.S. employing 49.2% of the nation’s workforce. Your business is important and all of us at Gallagher salute you. We want to continue our support by offering ideas on how to celebrate National Small Business Week May 1-7, 2022. There are a lot of low-budget ideas to help you promote your business, celebrate your employees and show appreciation to your customers.
Here are a few ideas that won’t break the bank:
Share Your Story
It’s a great time to go back to your roots and tell the story of how you became a successful business owner. You can make a video, write a blog or tell a story in photos. Then share it everywhere! Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are great places to let people know who you are and where you came from. Letting people into your world makes them feel connected to you and builds loyalty and trust. You could be inspiring the next generation of small business owners!
Partner Up
Promoting can be a two-way street. Is there another local small business that you can team up with to support and promote? Offer a discount coupon to each-others customers, do a community service project together or offer your employees gift certificates to the other business. Teaming up can be fun and it’s a great way to build relationships and goodwill.
Start a Community Service Project
Serving your community by filling a need has many intangible rewards. Getting active in your community shows that you are grateful for how the community has supported your business and you want to “pay forward” this appreciation. There are many ways to help, but figuring out where to start can be overwhelming. First, ask yourself:
- What are my skills and talents?
- How much time can I devote to this project?
- Will I need help?
- How much money will this project take?
Once you have those questions answered, it will help narrow your focus on what is practical to accomplish. You don’t have to change the world with one community service project. Your project could be as simple as cleaning up your local park, having a charitable fundraiser or planting a community garden. But if you have your eyes set on a long-term project, work on building excitement and get others involved. Bringing your community and other small businesses together for the greater good can be a beautiful and fruitful venture.
Host a Contest
Build excitement by hosting a give-a-way. This can be a gift card or a popular piece of merchandise. Make it fun by having the customers interact in the contest. You could have the customers make a short advertisement for your business and have them submit the videos on your website or for voting. Stay top-of-mind on social media, by having your customers post a photo or a video in front of your building or using one of your products. Then they can upload the video to social media and hashtag your business. Then you can compile all the entries and draw a winner.
Give Your Employees an Upgrade
You could offer your employees new work attire, or a small stipend to update their workspace or provide them with online training of their choice. Many resources offer short and meaningful training that will build confidence and loyalty. Online courses such as Udemy, Coursera and Skillshare are a great place to start. The small things make a difference.
Have a Party
We have a lot to be grateful for and there are never enough reasons to celebrate. Take some time during National Small Business Week to eat, laugh and have fun. Let your clients and your staff know you care. Saying thank you goes a long way.
Shop Small
Support other small businesses in your area, by stopping in and sharing the love. Make a purchase and introduce yourself. You could make a new friend or even gain a customer.
We know that small business owners, like you, dedicate your heart and soul to your business. The last couple of years have been tough on small businesses. In the spirit of perseverance and dedication, you made it and you have a lot to be proud of and plenty of reasons to celebrate. We hope that you make time for yourself and enjoy the fruits of your labor this coming Small Business Week. You work hard. Have fun and celebrate!
To learn more about National Small Business Week, visit sba.gov.