Getting ready for Veganuary

A fringe philosophy not all that long ago, veganism has surged in popularity in recent years.

Over the past decade, Britons have cut their meat consumption by 17%. More people are on plant-based diets than ever before, and plenty of omnivores are swapping out animal products for vegan alternatives.

One factor behind the boom is Veganuary – an annual challenge to follow a plant-based diet for one month. Since it began in 2014, participation has grown from just 12,800 people to 582,538 in 2021.

The aim of the event is to promote a vegan lifestyle and the ethical, environmental and nutritional reasons for giving veganism a go. But it also presents an opportunity for businesses to trial novel products and potentially tap into a new market.

If you’re interested in Veganuary there are plenty of ways you can get involved.

Sell more vegan products

First things first, take a look at your offering. Veganuary is a great time to introduce some new vegan products or champion old ones.

Of course, when we think about veganism and Veganuary, we think about a plant-based diet. But veganism isn’t just about what you eat. Being vegan means fully avoiding all animal products, from leather accessories to feather-filled pillows.

Cosmetics can be particularly tricky. Make-up brushes are often made from animal hair, while ingredients such as beeswax and lanolin (from sheep wool) often make it into balms, creams and moisturisers. See if any of your products contain sneaky animal ingredients and try to source plant-based alternatives.

Other options to expand your vegan product catalogue include vegan merch, like tote bags and clothes, as well as books and gifts. Offering a greater range of vegan products throughout the month-long challenge could make your participation more profitable.

Offer deals and discounts

Once you’ve got your vegan products ready, entice customers with deals and discounts. One of the key aims of Veganuary is to introduce non-vegans to vegan products, and by reducing the cost you make these products more accessible.

It’s also a great way to increase post-Christmas sales in a month where many consumers expect to see discounts. And if you get in touch with the charity behind Veganuary, they may feature your promotions on their website, increasing your reach to thousands of potential new customers.

Shout about it

With your products and promotions sorted, you now need to tell the world you’re supporting Veganuary.

The Veganuary logo is free for you to use on packaging, in print and at point of sale. If you’re a bricks-and-mortar business, create an in-store feature space or eye-catching window displays to grab customers’ attention.

You can also use the brand assets online, whether on your website or on social media. In addition, there’s a good chance that the Veganuary team will share your social content if you use the hashtag #Veganuary2022.

Try the Workplace Challenge

One final way to get involved is to take the Workplace Challenge. This means encouraging your colleagues to take up the Veganuary gauntlet.

Alongside the potential environmental, ethical and health-related benefits of going vegan for a month, the challenge also provides a fun opportunity for team-building and promoting a positive company culture.

And if you’re marketing your involvement in the event through new products and promotions, what better way to put your money where your mouth is than take part in the challenge yourself?

Veganism can no longer be dismissed as a simple fad, with the movement towards more plant-based products presents a real space for potential growth for not only firms in the food industry, but a wide variety of businesses, and Veganuary provides the ideal opportunity for them to dip their toes into the market.