The year’s end is upon us, and that can only mean one thing: here comes the holiday rush! There’s no better time than now to start preparing your restaurant for the holidays.
To best prepare for the holiday season, pull out your records from past years. Seeing what was needed in previous years will allow for more accurate predictions this time around. Trends like inventory needs and staffing requirements are easier to anticipate with a refreshed mind.
Look into these four major areas of your operations when preparing for the holidays: staffing, operations, service, and location.
1. Staffing
Your staff is the backbone of your restaurant, so make sure they are prepared for the holiday season. Here are some staffing factors to consider:
Scheduling. Shift and schedule planning are some of the trickiest parts of holiday planning in restaurants. Make sure to take into account both the anticipated increase in volume of guests and changes in operating hours/days for your restaurant. You might need to redistribute staff shifts, hire some holiday help, or implement double schedules. Early planning is the key to a smooth transition into your holiday schedule, so encourage and incentivize your staff to submit any holiday schedule requests early.
Employee Uniforms. Incorporate holiday themes into your restaurant uniforms for a fun way to celebrate the season. You can make these themes as subtle or bold as you want. Try switching up your apron colors or adding Santa hats.
Other Needs. Expect your employees to be inundated with more work during the season. Try to keep their working conditions ideal and productive. Consider accommodating longer breaks, providing better-equipped shoes, or using anti-fatigue mats.
2. Operations
Business during the holidays requires some operational rearrangement to make the most out of the season. You’ll need to play your cards wisely to maximize profits and minimize problems. Here are some pointers:
Accommodation Adjustments. Catering for functions and Christmas parties is a great way to make an extra profit. See if you can incorporate event catering into your restaurant operations.
Inventory. The holiday rush is an inventory nightmare. Make sure you never run out of valuable supplies. Things to account for are ingredients, restaurant linens, paper and restroom supplies, etc.
Community Relations. The holidays are full of opportunities to connect with your community. As it is known as the season of giving, consider partnering with local charities for holiday specials. You can also have events/activities that your diners can participate in for a better, bigger impact. Try having gingerbread house making, Santa visits, holiday buffet spreads, etc.
Marketing. Everyone within your restaurant circuit will be competing for the market’s attention. Boost your sales with better social media engagement.
3. Service
Give your diners great service, and they’ll be sure to appreciate it! The holidays are the perfect time to connect with your clientele.
Holiday Menu. Tailor-make a special holiday menu that will give your diners a unique experience.
Schedule. Announce your schedules early. This is especially important for restaurants that will open on major holidays when no one is sure who is open and who is closed. The last thing you want is to lose invested time and money onto holiday operations due to poor marketing.
4. Location
What’s a restaurant holiday service without holiday decorations? Boughs of holly, santa stickers, and trees are not the only options when it comes to dressing up your restaurant for the holidays.
Decor. Pick inclusive and holiday-neutral decorations to accommodate a wider variety of diners to your restaurant.
Linens. Incorporate colors and designs in your choice of linens that remind your guests of the merriment that comes with this season. Keep the stack of clean linens coming to accommodate higher turnovers.
Facility Maintenance. With a higher volume of guests, expect your restroom supplies to go faster as well. Make sure to keep a full stock with the help of a facility maintenance service provider. That way, you get complete supplies without having to waste valuable time or run to the store last minute.
Economy Linen is Your Holiday-Ready Linen Supplier!
Get the support you need for your holiday preparations with Economy Linen! We have a full range of linen, uniforms, and paper and restroom products to help ease your business’s transition into the most wonderful time of the year. Contact Economy Linen today at 1(800) 536- 1000 or request a quote here!