Small business events

Top tips to boost your sales in 2025 and 2026

Send a parcel
Customer sat at a desk posing for a photo and smiling. Multiple parcels are shown in the foreground.

Knowing the key dates in the year for micro and small businesses can help you connect with customers and boost your online sales.

While big events like Black Friday and Valentine's Day are well-known, there are plenty of other local, regional, and international awareness days and events that can be just as impactful, especially for businesses selling online. Mark your calendar for some of the key dates in the upcoming months.

A close-up of a customer's hands as they are crouched on the floor, applying a label to their parcel. They are surrounded by lots of parcels.

1. Independent Retailer Month (July 2025)

Independent Retailer Month is a global campaign to support and celebrate independent businesses throughout July. For small businesses, this is an excellent time to highlight what makes your store unique and why shopping with you is different from buying from larger retailers.

Consider running exclusive deals for loyal customers, showcasing new products, or hosting an online event to celebrate Independent Retailer Month. It’s also a good time to encourage your customers to support other small businesses they love.

Top tip: Use hashtags like #IndieRetail to promote your participation on social media and encourage customers to shop small during this month.

Two female business owners in a stock room seen handling parcels and smiling

2. Green Friday (28th November 2025)

An eco-friendly alternative to Black Friday, Green Friday encourages conscientious shopping and highlights businesses that prioritise sustainability. If your business sells eco-friendly or ethically made products, this is an excellent opportunity to connect with like-minded customers.

Share your commitment to sustainable practices on social media, and consider offering special deals on environmentally friendly products. You could also participate in initiatives like tree planting or recycling programs to show how your business is making a positive impact.

Top tip: Promote your participation in Green Friday with hashtags like #GreenFriday and encourage your customers to shop sustainably.

At Evri, we’ve made great strides in reducing our carbon footprint and helping businesses like yours do the same. We’re committed to net zero by 2035 for direct and indirect emissions. By investing in our fleet of biofuel, electric, and zero-emission transport, we’ve reduced carbon per parcel by 21% in 2024.

Plus, innovations like sustainable packaging, packageless returns, digital calling cards, and options for your customers to divert parcels to ParcelShops and Lockers - all help reduce your carbon footprint by up to 45%. Choose Evri as your sustainable delivery driver this Green Friday.

An artist is painting a multi-coloured lion on canvas with an easel propping it upright in a street. You can see colourful paintings displayed in the shop window behind

3. Artists Sunday (30th November 2025)

Following closely after Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, Artists Sunday is a growing movement largely in the USA that promotes buying handmade, artisan, or locally crafted goods. For small businesses or crafters, this is the perfect day to showcase your creative products, whether you sell pottery, jewellery, or custom art prints.

This event is especially useful for international sellers on marketplaces like Etsy and Not on the High Street. Consider offering a discount or highlighting the craftsmanship behind your products to attract buyers.

Top tip: Encourage your customers to share photos of your products on social media using the hashtag #ArtistsSunday to increase awareness.

Did you know you can integrate with popular marketplaces and e-commerce platforms like Etsy, Not on the High Street, Amazon, eBay and more? Our Bulk Send tool means you can manage your orders and send multiple parcels at once, saving you time during busy periods like Small Business Saturday and Artists Sunday.

Business owner sat at a desk in their home office using their laptop to book multiple parcels
A customer holding their mobile phone with a large Black Friday sale sign in the window of a shop visible in the background

4. Cyber Monday (1st December 2025)

Cyber Monday is an online-focused shopping day, giving eCommerce businesses the opportunity to extend their Black Friday sales. It’s especially beneficial for online sellers who don’t have a physical store but want to capitalise on the busy shopping weekend.

Running a 24-hour flash sale or offering free shipping on this day can help attract last-minute shoppers. Remember to use email marketing and social media to promote your deals and drive traffic to your store.

Top tip: Consider extending your promotions across the weekend to include both Black Friday and Cyber Monday for a bigger impact.

A customer sat on a sofa in their lounge, holding their mobile phone and looking at their screen with a mug in their other hand.

5. Giving Tuesday (2nd December 2025)

Giving Tuesday is all about doing good after the consumer-driven frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It encourages charitable donations, volunteering, and community engagement. For small businesses, this can be an opportunity to give back while also building stronger relationships with your customers.

Consider donating a portion of your sales on this day to a local charity, or create a special ‘charity product’ where the profits go directly to a cause. Promote your participation in Giving Tuesday on social media, and encourage customers to support your efforts.

Top tip: Highlight how purchasing from your business on Giving Tuesday helps support a good cause. This can encourage customers to feel good about shopping with you.

At Evri, we’re proud to partner with Scope, the disability charity, as part of our commitment to making a positive difference and helping Scope’s mission of creating an equal future for disabled people. We're providing accessibility training for our couriers, employment opportunities for disabled people, and improving your customer experience.

A customer sitting in a wheelchair is outside their front door smiling as the courier hands a parcel to them.
A female business owner sits at a counter in a retail environment and smiles for the photo. Clothes hanging on a rack can be seen behind the subject with other accessories on display under the counter

6. International Women’s Day (8th March 2026)

International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women worldwide and can be a great opportunity for female-owned businesses to share their story. Use this day to highlight the women behind your brand and connect with customers who are keen to support women in business.

Consider running promotions for products made by women or creating a special collection for International Women’s Day. You can also collaborate with other female entrepreneurs to reach a wider audience.

Top tip: Share your business’s story and how it supports women on social media using the hashtag #IWD2026.

A female courier hands a parcel to a recipient. The recipient, an older woman, is smiling.

7. Earth Day (22nd April 2026)

Earth Day is the perfect time for businesses focused on sustainability to promote their products. If your business offers eco-friendly goods, zero-waste solutions, or sustainable packaging, use Earth Day to show off your commitment to the planet.

Consider running promotions on your green products and use social media to share how your business is helping to protect the environment.

Top tip: Highlight your green credentials and offer a discount on sustainable products to celebrate Earth Day.

A customer is crouched on the floor of their apartment, sticking down the seal of their recyclable packaging.

At Evri, we’re committed to helping businesses send sustainably, which is why we’re bringing you eco-friendly packaging options that are both effective and kind to the planet.

Our parcel boxes, made from 70% recycled material, are 100% recyclable and biodegradable. Whether you're shipping books or sending shoes, these sturdy, FSC-certified boxes offer protection without harming the environment.

Some eco-friendly products you’ll love:

  • Hexcel: A brilliant alternative to bubble wrap, made from 100% recycled FSC® paper. No need for tape, and no plastic waste.
  • HexaFil: For non-fragile items, use this 100% recycled paper to fill voids in your boxes and reduce movement.

By buying our packaging products, you’re making a conscious choice to cut down on waste without compromising on quality. It's the perfect way to make your business greener this Earth Day and beyond.

Make every parcel count towards a sustainable future!

Customer carrying multiple parcels inside a ParcelShop store, ready to drop off for delivery

8. Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday, held on the last Saturday of November in North America and the first Saturday of December in the UK, is a grassroots campaign that encourages people to support small and local businesses. This is an ideal day for promoting your online shop, especially if you're an independent seller on platforms like Etsy, eBay, or Vinted. You can get involved by advertising on 'small business finder' social media groups and pages. There is also a ‘small business finder’ tool on Small Business Saturday UK where you can register your business and make your business visible nationally. In addition, you can create sales events and social media shout-outs to promote your small business in the lead up to the big day.

Small Business Saturday also marks the start of the holiday shopping season, so consider running a special promotion to kickstart your Christmas sales.

Top tip: Use the hashtag #SmallBizSatUK on social media to boost your visibility and encourage customers to shop local.

A woman is sat at home at her desk smiling looking at her laptop screen. She is also on the phone.

9. Local business weeks (various dates)

Across the UK, there are various local business weeks that promote shopping locally and supporting small enterprises. These events are often organised by local councils or chambers of commerce and can provide great exposure for your business within your community.

Getting involved in these events can help build relationships with local customers and boost your brand’s visibility. Consider hosting an in-person event or offering local delivery discounts to attract nearby shoppers.

Top tip: Reach out to your local business network to find out when your town or city’s business week is and plan a promotion to coincide with it.