Small Business Week is nationally recognized from April 30 to May 6, 2025, and it's the perfect time to celebrate your hard work, creativity, and the contributions your business makes to your customers and community. Celebrating this special week isn't just fun—it's a strategic way to connect with your customers, team and fellow small business owners. 

Ready to make the most of Small Business Week 2025? Here are some creative ideas to get you started: 

1. Host a customer appreciation event  

 Show gratitude to the people who support your business by organizing a special event like a pop-up sale, product launch, or an exclusive in-store experience. Offer discounts, free samples, or personalized thank-you notes to make customers feel valued. 

Put it into action: Create a guest list and send personalized invitations. Set up decorations and plan a few special surprises to make the event memorable. 

 

2. Collaborate with local businesses 

Team up with other small businesses in your area for joint promotions or events. Whether it's a shared giveaway or a neighborhood market day, collaboration builds a stronger community and expands your reach. 

Put it into action: Reach out to potential partners and brainstorm creative, mutually beneficial ideas for collaboration. 

  

3. Spotlight your team’s achievements 

Celebrate the people who keep your business running. Share your team's stories on social media, host an employee appreciation lunch or give out fun awards that recognize their dedication. 

 
Put it into action: Interview your team members for social media features or design custom achievement certificates to give during the celebration. 

 

4. Share your story online 

Let your audience know what makes your business unique. Create a blog post, video, or social media series about your journey, challenges, and successes. Use hashtags like #SmallBusinessWeek2025 to connect with wider networks. 

 
Put it into action: Use your phone to film an authentic behind-the-scenes video and add a caption about what it means to be a small business and how important community support is to you. 

 

5. Offer educational workshops or classes 

Share your expertise with the community by hosting a workshop or class related to your business. If you run a bakery, teach bread-making; if you own a fitness studio, offer a free session. Education builds trust and attracts new customers. 

 
Put it into action: Choose a specific topic, prepare materials and promote the event through emails or flyers. 

 

6. Support local causes 

Give back during Small Business Week by donating to or volunteering for a local charity. Customers love businesses that care about their communities, and it's a terrific way to make a meaningful impact. 

 
Put it into action: Research local nonprofits and schedule time for your team to participate in their events or initiatives. 

 

7. Surprise and delight with prizes 

Use this week as a chance to offer time-limited deals, contests, or giveaways. For example, you could run a "Surprise a Day" promotion on social media where you give away a gift certificate to your business if people engage with your business online or in-person. 
 

Put it into action: Design promotional materials and share them on all your platforms to get customers excited. 

 

8. Reflect and plan for the future 

Take time to celebrate your achievements while setting goals for the next year. Host a brainstorming session with your team or create a vision board that defines your future success. 

 
Put it into action: Schedule a team meeting and provide materials like sticky notes and markers for a dynamic planning session. 

 

9. Engage your online community 

Whether it's live Q&A sessions, behind-the-scenes videos or exclusive online discounts, find ways to connect with your followers virtually. Small businesses can make big impacts online. You can also follow and engage with your fellow small business owners and institutions that support you, such as your accountant, bank, lawyer and others to grow your centers of influence online. 

 
Put it into action: Plan a live-stream event and announce it in advance so your audience can join. 

 

10. Don’t forget to celebrate yourself! 

One last tip for you as a small business owner--don't forget to celebrate yourself during Small Business Week. After all, you deserve recognition too! Take a few hours for yourself to do something you enjoy. Be sure to schedule your celebration in your calendar! 

Running a business is no small feat. Be proud of yourself for all that you have accomplished and know that we appreciate you and wish you continued success!