How to Celebrate International Women’s Day

If you’re thinking about celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD), you’re in good company. Started in the early 1900’s in New York, the holiday is celebrated in many countries around the globe. IWD encourages reflection on the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women.  As a small business, what to do for International Women’s Day at work can range from an email to customers and team members, to giveaways and special events. Your International Women’s Day activities can include outreach, content, and International Women’s Day freebies that underscore your commitment to women in your business and community.   

Maybe your business supports women every day. Perhaps you are a woman-owned business. Perhaps your target audience is women. Or maybe you just care deeply about empowering and advancing women within your community and around the globe. How to celebrate International Women’s Day is filled with options big and small. Our ideas will help you to personalize the holiday so your customers and employees feel your support not just on IWD, but all year long as well.   

Social Media and IWD

Ensure customers and prospects know where your heart and your brand are with an International Women’s Day social media post.  

• Use stats to underscore the number of women involved in your industry. For instance, 60% of salons in the U.S. are owned by women, according to Professional Beauty Association. National Restaurant Association tells us that women are full owners or co-owners of over half the restaurants in the U.S. The U.S. Census shows that overall, 36-39 percent of businesses in the U.S. are owned by women. This is up from just seven percent in 1976. This is progress worthy of sharing as you plan out how to celebrate International Women’s Day!
• Share women-centric information specific to your business or industry. Highlight benefits you offer that support a healthy lifestyle for mothers and kids, including maternity leave, on-site day care, and flex hours to support kids’ school and sports.
• Encourage women to normalize challenges that tend to impact women in the workplace, including balancing work and family, putting mental health first, and practicing empathy while running a business like a rockstar.

Are YOU that Business?

If your business is women owned, celebrating International Women’s Day must include some self-promotion!

• Use promotional signs and social media to tell your story. Offer International Women’s Day freebies to customers who stop by your store, restaurant, or service.
• To increase leverage, team up with other women-owned businesses to celebrate and cross-promote. At checkout or via email, offer a coupon to a fellow women-owned store. Offer a percentage discount or a “Buy One Here, Get One There at 50% Off” deal.  Arrange a Scavenger Hunt where receipts from four female-owned businesses mean a coupon at any participating store.

Put Your Money on Women!

Choose a charity that supports and empowers women and donate a portion of sales as part of celebrating International Women’s Day. Top charities that support women’s literacy and gender equality are Malala Fund, National Women’s Law Center, and Women for Women International. Choose a local cause or charity, including a neighborhood women’s shelter, medical center, or school.  

International Women’s Day Freebies

Everyone is more likely to get behind a holiday when a customized giveaway is part of the occasion! Consider these personalized gifts to help customers and employees empower women—not only while celebrating International Women’s Day, but all year long as well.  

Mineral Alpha Soft Touch Pen with Rose Gold Trim: As sturdy as it is sophisticated, this stylus pen promises to advance your branding as you celebrate women.  

Design Wrap Colorama Extreme Pen: Sing their praises from the roof tops—and from every angle of this Design Wrap pen, where your IWD messaging covers the entire barrel for non-stop celebrating. 

Full Color Bright Jesse Notebook: Take note! Women journal Four times more women than men keep diaries (source: Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society), and this cheery notebook will encourage the practice while advertising your business.  

Eco 8.6″ x 6.5″ Kraft Spiral Notebook and Pen: The eco-friendly notebook comes with a pen for instant journaling in a group, conference, or classroom.  

11 oz. Stainless Steel Gia Wine Glass with Laser Engraved Imprint: Empower women while celebrating International Women’s Day with this luxurious portable wine glass that makes kicking back an act of elegance.  

18 oz. Florence Stemless Wine Glass: Empowered women like their wine, and this stemless wine glass means fewer spills and stains to clean up after the relaxation has given way to the inevitable regrouping. 

Non-Woven Prism Tote Bag: Superstar women tote stuff around, and this affordable bag lets you celebrate IWD with a practical gift that won’t break the (women-owned*) bank. *According to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, there are currently only 13 women-owned banks in the U.S., so let’s get empowering!   

How to celebrate International Women’s Day? Simple: Show You Care.

Whether you’re looking for last minute ideas or planning a year in advance, celebrating International Women’s Day is as easy as a sign in your window or a banner on your website. Send a coupon in the mail and include an International Women’s Day freebie to ensure every envelope gets opened. Empower women, call your Mom, give your daughter a hug and tell her a good day is one where she annoys a grown-up by demanding what she deserves.  

For more on this important holiday and women’s rights, check out these blogs: 

• International Women’s Day at Pens.com
• National Women’s Equality Day at Pens.com