With just over 100 days between now and Christmas, today is a great day to start preparing for your end-of-year wrap-up. As a business owner, your holiday closure requires careful planning and communication to minimise disruptions and ensure a smooth reopening in January. Here are ten steps to help you get ready:

 

Decide on the specific dates your business will be closed for Christmas. Christmas and Boxing Days fall on Monday and Tuesday respectively this year, so a neat end to the year on Friday, 22 December could be an option.

 

If getting your team and/or suppliers together is a part of your end-of-year tradition, now is the time to get in early and lock in a venue. A ‘save the date’ sent out in October is always a good idea.

 

It’s good practice to notify your employees or contractors about your closure dates well in advance. This allows them to plan their time off or make necessary arrangements for family functions, child care, etc. 

 

Update your website, social media profiles, and physical store signage to reflect your pending holiday closure dates and adjusted hours. Ensure your clients are aware of your schedule to avoid any inconvenience. 

 

If regular posting on your social media channels is essential to your visibility, start planning ahead. Schedule a series of posts for the period in which you won’t want to be scrolling your business profiles.

 

Send out emails or notifications to your client well in advance of your closure. Let them know when you will be shutting up shop, how they can reach you in emergencies, and any special offers or promotions for the end-of-year or new year season. And remember that a not-so-gentle prompt about the looming holiday period can instigate some decision-making momentum, so be prepared.

 

Manage your cash flow to cover expenses like employee salaries and office overhead bills during your closure. If you haven’t been doing so already, start setting aside funds to cover your income-lean period.

 

Notify your suppliers about your closure dates and make any necessary arrangements for deliveries or pickups before you close the doors.

 

Take time to evaluate your year’s performance. Analyse sales data, seek and review client feedback, and assess any challenges you encountered to make improvements for the following year.

 

Develop a plan for reopening after your Christmas break. Consider your evaluation and reflections above, and make sure you allow some goal-setting time so you can kick off the new year with a mission.

 

By carefully planning and communicating your Christmas closure, you can help ensure a smooth transition into and out of the holiday season while maintaining a positive client experience and minimising disruptions to your business operations.

 

What have we missed? Do you have some must-do end-of-year tasks that you would add to the above? We’d love to hear your thoughts below.