How Small Businesses Can Empower and Amp Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Key Takeaways

Celebrate with intention: Honoring Asian Pacific American Heritage Month should come from a place of genuine respect and connection, not just marketing.

Support AAPI businesses: Collaborating with or promoting local AAPI-owned small businesses is a meaningful and practical way to show solidarity.

Educate and grow: Use this month as an opportunity to learn more about AAPI history and culture, and invite your team to do the same.

Amplify AAPI voices: Share stories, spotlight customers or entrepreneurs, and give space to perspectives that deserve to be heard.

Make it ongoing: Let Asian Pacific American Heritage Month be the start of deeper, year-round inclusivity in how you run and grow your small business.

Celebrate APAHM with Your Small Business

If you’re a small business owner, you already know the power of connection. People choose your business not just for what you sell, but for who you are. And there’s no better time to deepen those connections than during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

I’ve been coaching small business owners for over three decades. And one thing I’ve learned? When you celebrate the richness of our communities, your business grows—because your heart is in it.

Let me show you how you can celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in a way that’s real, respectful, and good for your business too.

Why Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Matters to You

May is a special time. It’s when we recognize the contributions, culture, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. This community has long shaped entrepreneurship, arts, technology, and local economies—including your own neighborhood.

Honoring Asian Pacific American Heritage Month isn’t about being trendy. It’s about acknowledging your community, your customers, your team—and the stories that built this country.

And here’s the truth: showing up for others always pays off.

Support AAPI-Owned Small Businesses

One of the most direct ways your small business can get involved in Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is by supporting AAPI-owned businesses.

Here’s how:

• Partner with a local AAPI-owned restaurant or shop
  
• Share their stories or products on your social media
  
• Purchase from AAPI vendors and feature them
  

You don’t need a big budget. You just need intention. A simple shout-out goes a long way.

Educate Yourself and Your Team

This month is also a great time for growth—yours and your team’s.

Try this:

• Host a lunch-and-learn featuring an AAPI speaker
  
• Share a book or podcast by an AAPI author with your staff
  
• Reflect on what diversity means in your own business practices
  

During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, learning is a form of respect. And your customers will notice your effort to do better and be better.

Highlight AAPI Voices in Your Business

Use your platforms—whether it’s a storefront, email list, or Instagram page—to amplify AAPI voices.

Feature:

• AAPI customers and their testimonials
  
• AAPI entrepreneurs who inspire you
  
• AAPI traditions that connect to your brand
  

This doesn’t mean appropriating. It means appreciating. Always give credit. Always invite conversation.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a perfect opportunity to elevate others while staying true to your brand.

Host or Sponsor a Local Event

If your community is holding an event for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, show up. Better yet, sponsor or host one.

Ideas include:

• A panel discussion with AAPI business owners
  
• A cultural appreciation night in your store or café
  
• A local fundraiser supporting AAPI youth programs
  

It’s not about how big the event is—it’s about being visible, open, and supportive.

Share Your Own Story

Are you an Asian American or Pacific Islander entrepreneur? This month is your moment to shine.

Tell your story. Post about your journey. Talk about your roots and what inspired you to start your small business.

People want to know the human behind the brand. And during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, your voice can inspire others—especially the next generation of AAPI entrepreneurs.

Be Mindful and Authentic

A quick word of caution: don’t just do something because it’s “the thing to do in May.”

If you’re going to post about Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, make sure it aligns with your values. Avoid tokenism. Avoid jumping on the bandwagon without doing the work.

Start small. Start honest. That’s how you build trust.

Encourage Your Customers to Join In

You don’t have to do this alone. Bring your customers into the celebration.

Here’s how:

• Run a special promotion where part of the proceeds go to an AAPI nonprofit
  
• Create a community wall where customers can write or draw their favorite AAPI figures
  
• Share a weekly story or positive experience about Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in your newsletter
  

People love being part of something meaningful. Give them the invitation.

Keep the Celebration Going Year-Round

Here’s the big secret: honoring Asian Pacific American Heritage Month shouldn’t end on May 31st.

Make it part of your year-round values:

• Continue supporting AAPI vendors
  
• Keep learning and listening
  
• Keep telling diverse stories
  

Inclusion is not a campaign. It’s a commitment.

Final Thoughts: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

You don’t need to do it perfectly. You just need to begin.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month gives your small business a chance to show up—with purpose, with heart, and with community in mind.

Start with one step. One post. One partnership.

Because when you celebrate others, your small business becomes more than just a place of work—it becomes a place of belonging.

And that’s the kind of business that lasts.

If you’re starting to feel the effects of the recently announced tariffs, read my article to learn some ways that might help your small business.

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