It’s January! And you know what that means… it's also Veganuary! That’s right, the month that’s all about not eating or using any animal products (like meat, fish, eggs, cheese, and leather etc). It’s been going for over a decade now and has been growing in popularity, so it’s not surprising that businesses are getting involved. But how can you make it work for your small business?
Here’s a few ideas on how to try going plant-based for 31 days (or more, if you want to keep going!)...
Go plant-based this Veganuary
What does going vegan mean? A vegan diet is based on plants (such as vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits) and foods made from plants. Basically, vegans don't eat any foods that come from animals, including dairy and eggs, and also don't use any products made from animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
So, what vegan products do you already have in your range? Start by promoting these - whether it’s meat and dairy-free items on your menu or animal-free ingredients in your skincare line, highlight what you've got and tell customers about them, either through an email campaign, social media post, or just by putting info on your website.
You might be surprised at how much of your range is actually already animal-free, or how making small changes (like switching dairy milk to oat or almond milk) can turn something vegan. And, you can use Veganuary as an opportunity to test any new products or services and gather feedback - you never know, popular items could become permanent fixtures!
Make a bundle
Once you’ve got your vegan products, you could then bundle them into a 'Vegan Starter Pack'. This is a great way to introduce customers to your plant-based products, and allow you the perfect opportunity to show off your expertise by letting customers know what products go well with what. We all love things that make our buying decisions easier after all, right?
For example, if you own a grocery store, sell dairy-free cheese, plant-based snacks, and vegan recipe cards together. If you’re in beauty, put together a kit of animal-free skincare essentials, and add a note to explain how to use them.
You could also offer out free samples of your vegan products in your store - and if you're selling food you could even setting up a blind taste test and challenging customers to spot the difference between vegan and non-vegan items. Not only is this a fun, interactive experience, but it also helps dispel myths about vegan food being bland or boring (because it definitely isn’t!).
Package them up
Of course, vegan products need vegan packaging! At Tiny Box Company we have a whole host of vegan packaging products, like seed paper boxes and note cards that customers can plant after use. They'll grow into beautiful wildflowers - how's that for a gift that keeps on giving? We also have compostable mailing bags for posting out products, shredded zig zag paper to cushion while adding a pop of colour, wood pulp ribbon to add that perfect finishing touch, and more. Why not take a look at our vegan packaging here?
Feeling social?
Social media is always a great way to create a bit of extra buzz around any event, so if you are doing a taste test or challenge for Veganuary, share any photos and videos on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook etc, and go live to reach a broader audience! You could also partner with some social media influencers - they'll have a loyal, engaged following and can bring new customers to your business, as well as fresh ideas on how to embrace Veganuary.
When customers have purchased your vegan products, encourage them to share how they've used them with your brand hashtag. Offer a prize, like a gift card or free product, to the most creative or inspiring posts. These kind of challenges foster community engagement and can increase your brand’s visibility. Need some hashtag ideas? Try ones like #VeganWith[YourBusinessName] #PlantBasedChallenge #VeganuaryAdventures.
Have you heard of the Veganuary Workplace Challenge? It's quite self-explanatory - basically encouraging your team to try going vegan for the 31 days of January. It's a great way to get everyone involved (especially if you want to try it yourself but don't want to go it alone!), and do a little team building. Perhaps you could go for a team lunch or dinner or bring food into the office, and then share how you're doing on social media!
Embrace Veganuary this January
Veganuary after all is a great way to experiment with plant-based trends without a long-term commitment. Try it out, and embrace it for your small business too this January! And who knows? Your creativity might even convert a few lifelong vegans in the making!
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Step into 2025: Setting small business goals for the New Year