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 embrace the plant-based revolution for 31 days: (Or more, if you want to keep going...)
Go plant-based this Veganuary
What does being vegan actually mean again? A vegan diet is based on plants (such as vegetables, grains, nuts, and fruits) and foods made from plants. Basically, if you're vegan you won't be eating any foods that come from animals, including dairy and eggs, and you also won't be using any products made from animal-derived ingredients or by-products.
So, what can you do for your business? An easy place to start is by promoting the vegan products already in your range - 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. Do this through an email campaign, social media post, or just by popping 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 vegan products and gather feedback - you never know, popular items could become permanent fixtures!
Make a bundle
Once you’ve got your fabulous vegan goodies, a great way to sell them is as part of a 'Vegan Starter Pack'. This will introduce customers to your plant-based products, and allows 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? (I know I do!)
For example, if you sell food, combine dairy-free cheese, plant-based snacks, and vegan recipe cards together. Or, if you’re in beauty, put together a kit of animal-free skincare essentials, and add a pretty note (made from seed paper, for example) to explain what's in them and how to use them.
And you know who loves a freebie? Everyone. Offer samples of your vegan products in-store - and, again, if you're selling yummy food you could even set up a blind taste test and challenge 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 just so happen to have a whole host of vegan packaging products to go with your wonderful vegan goodies, like seed paper boxes and note cards that customers can plant after use. That's right - these plantable products grow into beautiful wildflowers, how cute is that for a gift that keeps on giving? We also have compostable mailing bags for posting out products, shredded zig zag paper to cushion goods while adding a pop of colour, wood pulp ribbon to add that perfect finishing touch, and oh-so-much more. Why not take a lil peek at our vegan packaging here?
Feeling social?
Social media is perfect for creating an extra buzzzz 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 even 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.
You can also use social media to educate your customers on your vegan products - telling them about all the fab animal-friendly ingredients in them and how they can use them. Film quick tutorials for your socials, perhaps featuring customers trying stuff out for the first time (with their permission, of course!).
Then when customers have purchased your lovely vegan products, encourage them to share on their socials using your brand hashtag. Offer a prize, like a discount, to the most creative or inspiring posts. This kind of challenge fosters community engagement and can increase your brand’s visibility. Need some hashtag ideas? Try ones like #VeganWithTinyBox (but with your brand name), #PlantBasedChallenge, or #VeganuaryAdventures.
And 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 in the process. 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 is a great way to experiment with plant-based trends without a long-term commitment. So why not 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!
More blogs from Tiny Box Company:
Step into 2025: Setting small business goals for the New Year