Plan Now, Celebrate Later: 10 Fun, Fresh Ideas for Customer Service Week

Is it just me or does it feel like Thanksgiving was last month? Thinking about Customer Service Week in October may seem premature but trust me. Now's the perfect time. Don't let October sneak up on you! Your future post-summer suntanned self will thank you when back-to-school and peak seasons collide. Check out these 10 fun, fresh ideas to celebrate your team this year.

1. Create a word cloud for each agent. Ask a few teammates, managers and leaders to describe each of your agents in a few words. Turn their responses into a word cloud, print them, frame them and hand them out during Customer Service Week. Hat tip to Rob Dwyer for inspiring this idea in a recent LinkedIn thread!
2. Come up with theme days that have meaning. Yes, everyone loves to break out their bellbottoms for a good 70s day but what if you came up with themes that sparked some job-related creativity? Ex: Compile a list of common issues, host a "fix-it-fast" day and offer prizes. You could even host one per day and culminate it with an Olympics-style closing ceremony at the end of the week.
3. Nominate your team for an ICMI Global Contact Center Award then host a finalist party. Did you know every awards finalist earns a complimentary pass to ICMI's Contact Center Expo? What better way to celebrate Customer Service Week than with a team celebration before the big event?! Hurry though. The deadline to submit is May 30.
4. Mini-Mentoring Bingo: Create a bingo board filled with quick-hit activities like "shadow a peer for 15 minutes," "share your favorite customer win" or "teach someone a keyboard shortcut." Agents can complete them solo or in pairs. Bonus points if leadership plays too! The first person to bingo gets a prize but everyone walks away with new skills and stronger connections.
5. Mystery Shoutouts: Collect kind words from customer surveys, internal shoutouts or Slack praise then anonymize them and post one daily. Let the team guess who it's about before the big reveal. It's a fun way to spread positivity, build camaraderie and spotlight small wins that might otherwise go unnoticed.
6. Create a Gratitude Wall: Sometimes the best morale booster is knowing your work matters. Set up a wall (physical or digital) where agents, leaders and even customers can leave notes of appreciation. Include customer kudos, internal thank-yous and leadership shoutouts. Bonus idea: hand out sticky notes all week and encourage people to write one note daily to a teammate. It's simple, heartfelt and incredibly impactful.
7. Host Your Own Version of the Dundies with Ridiculously Specific Categories: Roll out the red carpet, literally or figuratively (the trip to Chili's is optional - IYKYK) and host an awards ceremony with categories that reflect your team's quirks and strengths. Think: "Best On-Hold Playlist Curator," "Fastest Mute Button Reflexes" or "Most Likely to Calm Down an Angry Customer in 10 Words or Less." Have teammates nominate each other and give out handmade trophies or humorous prizes.
8. Desk Makeover Drawings: Each day, draw one or two names for a surprise mini-desk makeover. Let winners choose from fun upgrades like a new mousepad, a mini succulent, a candy stash or even a chair massage coupon. For remote agents, offer to send a care package or Amazon gift card for a little WFH refresh.
9. Create a "Customer Confessionals" Video Reel: Set up a simple space (or Zoom link for remote teams) where agents can record short videos sharing their proudest customer moments, funniest calls or most creative problem-solving stories. Edit them together into a short "highlight reel" and play it during a team meeting or post it internally. It's a celebration of the work by the people doing it.
10. Build-a-Playlist: The Soundtrack of Support: Ask each team member to contribute one song to a shared playlist that pumps them up before a shift or helps them reset after a tough interaction. Share the playlist with the team as "The Soundtrack of Support" and play it during breaks or huddles. You'll learn something about your teammates and might even find a few new favorites.

Customer Service Week doesn't have to be cookie-cutter. With a little planning and creativity, you can celebrate your team in meaningful, memorable and fun ways. Whether you go big or keep it simple, what matters most is making your agents feel seen, valued and energized. So bookmark this post, set some deadlines and get ready. October will be here before you know it!