The festive season is here, and for small businesses, it’s a mix of excitement and chaos. The Christmas rush brings loads of customers and opportunities, but it can also get overwhelming if you’re not prepared.
Plan Ahead
Planning for Christmas will make the chaos Get your game plan sorted early—the sooner, the better! We get started on Christmas plans around August/September. It can be anything from ordering timber or hardware to staff training. You don’t want to be doing anything other than building in November/December.
We’ll always put out a few feeler social media posts mentioning Christmas orders in September. We’ll also have a cut off for orders sometime in October depending on how much we have on the books. Having a cut off date doesn’t mean you can’t squeeze in another couple of pieces of furniture in. You’re going to want to fit as much in as you possibly can.
I can guarantee you’ll get a call or two a few weeks out from Christmas with a customer asking for a dining table before Christmas. If you’ve planned ahead and you have the time/space. Do it. Make it happen. Get the sale. That customer will appreciate you rushing something through last minute and will, hopefully, be having Christmas lunch at that new table. They’ll tell everybody about it.
Dealing with Christmas rush stress
Customers will call you to see where their pieces are. Don’t let it get to you. Give them an honest answer as to when you think it will be ready. Most customers only want a rough idea of a completion date. Try and keep them happy and reassured it will be ready in time for Santa. You may get one that is being difficult but there is nothing you can do with them. They will always be difficult no matter what you say or do.
It is important to set boundaries. You need to say to yourself “I’m not going to answer any work calls, texts or emails after 7pm” or something like that. I am definitely guilty of breaking those rules but it’s important to try and stick to it. You need time to chill out and spend time with family and friends no matter how busy you are.
It may be your most busy time of year but it is important to get out of the workshop and de-stress. Wether it is going to the gym, going for a walk or going for a surf, get out and about. You’ll go nuts if you just work work work for November and December and you’ll be completely knackered by the time you get to take time off.
SANTAAAAAAAA!!
Once Christmas arrives take some time off. Make sure your staff have a break. Don’t contact them about anything work related. They’ll be buggered as well. Give them space and time to relax and recharge. In previous years I have gone into the workshop during the break and tinkered on a piece or two for myself or work on a new design. Only for fun. Nothing business related.
Once you’ve had a decent break, take stock of the previous year. What worked really well? What didn’t? Start to get a bit of a rough plan for the year ahead. Chat to your staff about what you have planned for the year so they know what to look forward to. Game on. Lets go.
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