Since 1963, National Small Business Week has been observed each year to highlight the importance of small businesses.
Considering that 99% of businesses in the U.S. are small businesses, this week celebrates the countless contributions and arduous hard work put in by business owners and entrepreneurs every year.Keep reading for everything you need to know about National Small Business Week, how to observe the holiday, resources, and some motivational quotes to inspire your goals. Subscribe to The Blog for more timely tips and advice on growing and running your business below!
Each year, National Small Business Week is typically observed every year during the first week of May.
This year, however, the Small Business Association is hosting a National Small Business Week Virtual Summit in the fall. The summit will take place from September 13 to 18, 2021 to not only celebrate the contributions of small businesses but to provide owners with tips, expert advice, and resources to help them run and grow their business.
As a business owner, Small Business Week is a great way to gain some local support and show your appreciation for your team and customers. Below are a few ideas to help you make the most out of this week.
Nurture employee and customer loyalty by sharing your journey. Share any successes—both big and small—you’ve experienced recently on your social media channels or through email. Use this as an opportunity to thank people for being a part of your business’s success.
If you wish, you can also share any failures and learnings you’ve gained from such a collectively difficult period. Being transparent with your team and customers is a good way to increase retention and show that you care.
Show your support for fellow local business owners. Whether you include them in a newsletter, add their business card in your packaging, or collaborate in some other kind of cross-promotion, championing other businesses is a kind way of observing Small Business Week.
Highlight those who work alongside you and contribute to your success. Depending on your budget, treat your team to lunch, coffee, or give them a shout-out on social media. Even if you’re a team of one, consider sending a thank you message to any vendors, contractors, and freelancers you’ve worked with—after all, they’re often small businesses too.
Boost sales and bookings by rewarding your loyal customers with a discount or small gift. A good way to extend the benefits of the holiday is to offer a future promotion for any bookings or purchases made during Small Business Week.
Small business supporters are always looking for ways to help their local businesses. Ask your customers, employees, and vendors to observe this week by sharing your messaging and promotions, leaving a review, or referring a friend to your products and services.
Whether you’re preparing for this week or want to gather some inspiration for next year, the resources below offer valuable insights and organizational tools to make the most out of National Small Business Week.
To help you feel inspired to pursue your business goals during Small Business Week and the rest of the year, here are some motivational quotes from successful business leaders and entrepreneurs.
“There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for whatever success I have attained has been the result of much hard work and many sleepless nights.”
—Madam C.J. Walker, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and Political Activist
“It’s fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”
—Bill Gates, Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Microsoft
“If you are committed to creating value and if you aren't afraid of hard times, obstacles become utterly unimportant. A nuisance perhaps, but with no real power. The world respects creation; people will get out of your way.”
—Candice Carpenter Olson, Co-CEO of Fullbridge
“Give credit where credit is due: Simply said, if you want loyalty and best effort, you must be thoughtful.”
—Estée Lauder, Co-Founder of Estée Lauder Companies
“The American dream belongs to all of us.”
―Kamala Harris, U.S. Vice President
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